IZANDLA EZIHLE ZABAZALIKAZI

Abstract

The exhibition “Izandla Ezihle Zabazalikazi” meaning “beautiful hands of motherhood” was activism for single parenting motherhood presented through actionism artistic discourse. It sought to present the argument that single parenting motherhood is a by-product of Gender Based Violence (GBV), a scourge destroying our moral fibre which is of concern to all South Africans. The featured works presented stories from 65 mothers who single parented or are parenting their children without fathers from six African countries including South Africa. These stories were told verbatim but anonymously and in their original voices via QR codes to capture the viewers’/listeners’ attention. The stories are accompanied by messages from the participating mothers to their daughters and sons advising them about life in general and issues surrounding domestic abuse and GBV. The messages were not only meant to be a therapeutic process for these mothers, but to also encourage dialogue between mothers and their children to come naturally, and not be regarded as a taboo. This is because most mothers usually hide issues surrounding the absence fathers from their children sometimes out of shame and or believing to be protecting the children.

During the collection of the stories from the participating women their hands were photographed and used forming various art pieces featured in this exhibition. Some of these hands were transformed through printmaking and some are portrayed and arranged as mark-making unedited giving authenticity in an unpretentious manner. HANDS were problematised to epitomise freedom, authority, responsibility, giving, intervention, submission, caring, action, acceptance, solidarity and wisdom. They also were referencing the Indian Goddess Maa Durga who is considered in Hindu religion to represent the feminine epitome of strength, power, determination, and wisdom as the mother protector similarly to the single parenting mothers. The artwork entitled “Umfazi wamashumi asithandathu anesithandathu” (woman/mother number 66) a performance captures the image of the goddess Maa Durga, depicting the artist wearing an amour on her back with 64 arms shouting stance condemning the acts of GBV, femicide and child molestation. The 66 arms including the artist’s two arms each represent the 65 women who participated in this study and the artist. This performance represented a monumental sculpture in honour of single parenting motherhood. This was necessary because these mothers tolerate unspeakable deeds, and in some cases their children, for whom they sacrificed their happiness are sometimes the source of unhappiness. Thus, this exhibition was a campaign not only to bring about social change, but to honour single parenting mothers for their tireless caring and unconditional love for their children despite the difficulties that surround their lives. Its main objective was to provide a healing platform for the participants through journaling. According to Gladding (2001) “journaling can provide clients with new insights into problems they are already working to resolve”. This is because most people when experiencing difficulties usually think that their circumstances are bad, but when listening to other people’s stories realise that those are worse than theirs. I believe that sharing our stories in this manner lead to some healing allowing a release of painful emotions, initiating an acceptance, and righteously honouring our difficult responsibility towards mental and emotional wellness. The stories told in this exhibition came with lots of weeping, discharging painfully shared experiences, hence I believe this platform contributed to healing.

In addition, the participants were from different socioeconomic classes, such as women working in professional jobs, and those in less formal or less paying jobs like domestic servants and hustlers. I choose to title my exhibitions and featuring works in isiXhosa my mother tongue to strengthen the theme of advocacy/activism, and extending the visual narratives making them accessible to the ordinary people I am advocating for. The title “beautiful hands of motherhood” is symbolic of the good and genuine intentions that all mothers universally have for their children. The unfortunate part is that mothers have no control over what their children become as they (children) also have responsibility to make the most from the opportunities and resources provided by their parents. Finally, the exhibition was to send strong message to young generation about single-parenting issues, while allowing the participants to accept the phenomenon as something beyond their control, and do their best.