JBB: An Artblog!
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YOU ARE THE REASON
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@kosmicrose
Hey Guys,
It’s been the longest time and it’s all my fault, Azania has been reminding me to post but I’ve been extremely preoccupied.
Anyway the theme for this shoot was denim inspired(duh). Denim like the bond between Azania and I is timeless, effortless and easy to work with. Please enjoy the denim looks we created.
Moments Captured by: Paloma Ncoco
Moments Made Perfect by: Azania Forest
xx
Nick&Azania
Photo credit: Paloma Ncoco
Hot saucin' Photo cred: Paloma Ncoco
Let’s get in Formation
It is so amazing how ignorant the world is about Africa, I’d like to think that the main reason for this is because of what the media shows people. Although Africa suffers a lot from poverty and disease, the inverse is also true, some cities have beautiful skyscrapers and all the luxuries one can imagine. I want to address a painful reality of neocolonialism. Africa as a continent has gone through colonialism and independence, this does not hide the fact that neocolonialism is the black.
If you think about it, for example, Europe has no natural resource such as oil, minerals and fertile land as Africa does. Countries from the developed world still benefit greatly from Africa while its people suffer. The fact that majority of Africans have to work tedious hours to survive on minimum wage or even less than a dollar a day displays a modern form of slavery (without being beaten of course, but hey if you don’t work you will die of starvation, so it’s kinda like you have no control over you life, you just have to survive).
“ Dependency theory is the theoretic basis of economic neo-colonialism, which proposes that the global economic system comprises wealthy countries at the center, and poor countries at the periphery. Economic neo-colonialism extracts the human and the natural resources of a peripheral (poor) country to flow to the economies of the wealthy countries at the center of the global economic system; hence, the poverty of the peripheral countries is the result of how they are integrated in the global economic system. Dependency theory derives from the Marxistanalysis of economic inequalities within the world’s system of economies, thus, the under-development of the Global South is a direct result of the development in the Global North; the theories of the semi-colony from the late 19th century.” (Mandel,E. Semicolonial Countries and Semi-Industrialised Dependent Countries. New International (New York), No.5, pp.149-175)
The above piece about the Dependence Theory is very saddening. Africa has plenty, our continent is rich but somehow our riches do not belong to us. Am I advocating a civil war against the powers that be (”The Man”)? Certainly not, but I wish more of us would see this injustice and develop methods to be economically, psychologically and culturally independent.
During this shoot, Nicola and I wanted to portray sisterhood and to celebrate being black girls, in a world where we are least celebrated. There is nothing more beautiful than seeing a previously and currently oppressed people stand together. My prayer is that we support each other as Africans and rise above the standards that the world has set for us. We are beautiful and our voice is as powerful as any other people; may we truly see ourselves for what we are - queens and kings.
It’s fascinating how we are supposedly living in post-modern times when modernism is thriving, where people are still being ripped-off. I am not writing this post to stir anger, but rather to awaken the mind of an African who may read this. Mayibuye iAfrika.
Photo credit: Paloma Ncoco
For Black Girls Only
It’s been a while since we posted, forgive us for our silence but we’ve missed you guy:). Initially when Azania asked me to edit and post the pictures I was going to do just that but thinking about the event where the pictures were taken I came up with quite a bit to say but before we ramble on let’s enjoy the shots we got that weekend.
A few weekends ago Azania, a few other friends and I attended an event that goes by the name ‘For Black Girls Only’. The purpose of the event was to create a safe space for non-white South Africans to share and just be.
While we were there we got to catch a little debate between the girls on the picnic blankets next to us, one of them maintained that the event was racist and discriminatory while the others agreed but said it was justified. Many people said the event was racist and the truth is we could’ve let white people join the event but it wouldn’t have been beneficial for them.
Why, you ask? Because white girls have never had to sit in a salon for 6+ hours so that they can attain white hair length because guys like long hair and we’ve been taught that our nappy hair can’t get there so we need to relax, braid/ weave, yes I’m aware that not everyone does their hair to be like them because protective styling is key for hair growth but that’s another topic for another day. They’ve never been patronized and asked how their hair magically grew overnight. White girls have not been told that’s too much ass while watching their male counterparts exalt ladies who’ve gotten that ass in the most unnatural of ways. They’ve never had to be told they’d be prettier if they were lighter or told “you’re actually pretty for a black girl”. They’ve never had to explain why they’re late because they were using a taxi and had their white boss say “why don’t you use the gautrain”. White girls have never heard the words “wow!! You speak so well for a black girl. Lastly white girls have never heard the line “GET OVER IT.” Azania and I haven’t actually spoken about what I’d be posting but her status update yesterday fits perfectly.
It would seem to me that people don’t want to allow us time to heal or move forward the right why so that we never have to go back to where we were. The other day I had a shoot and the models were sporting Noir Culture t-shirts, some said ‘Melainin’, others ‘Noir’ and the rest ‘Because Black’. One of the photographers asked what melanin means, we explained that melanin is a polymer that is responsible for the pigment in our skin and he says “OH! So you’re the reason white people hate us(Us being black people)”. I laughed and asked if he’s saying they’re hating us for loving ourselves? My question went unanswered as there was just too much commotion from caused by his statement. I would’ve let him know that as recessive as it may be white people have melanin in them too so really the only difference between us is the outside. The only way you can hate something is once you’ve learnt all it’s negative effects/attributes, before white people even get to that point all they see is our colour and there is nothing negative about the skin we’re in, hating something/ someone you don’t know is as logical as writing a test for a subject you’ve never learnt. We’re so caught up in not trying to have other races hate us because we think being and loving ourselves is the problem but the problem will always be with the hater and not the hated.
Happy Wednesday
Nick
KR
xx
black Coca-Cola by Tony Gum | inspired by Xhosa Women.
Black Coca-Cola by Tony Gum.
Cocalines Day / photo by Philia.
rest. / ph. philia-online
99 problems.
When kings finally receive their Cokes / ph. Tony Gum
Dintuuur II / ph. Tony Gum
le playgal.
[not part of Black Coca-Cola]
wait, nah. It is.
2015 in Self-portraits–overall, great year. (:
Breast Cancer Awareness x Kosmicrose
In October it was breast cancer awareness month so Azania and I decided that we would do a pink shoot in honour of the many women who have fought and continue to fight for their lives. The pink water is a representation of the sea storm that is breast cancer many of these women become shipwrecked but continue to hold on to the drift wood they find and sail on through the storm till they reach safety which is something not many can do.
Neither Azania and I have had any encounters with breast cancer but our respect and hearts go out to the survivors and those surviving.
xx
Hotline Fling
Photo credit: Palesa Maretlane
Too Much Info: Azania
This is me Azania Forest, I am an aspiring creative. I believe in ideas, reason being, the future is now and everyone can make stuff. People don’t need to go to Nike anymore because they can make their own sneakers, so what Nike is basically selling is an idea. I interpret design as ideas because I believe that in the near future that will be what’s selling.
I must say, this year has been the most liberating for me artistically. I’m finding my voice and letting go of fear. Okay, okay, blah blah I’m done with the boring stuff so here are fun facts about me on this TMI Post:
Adventure Time!! I really like these cartoons guys.
I’m currently obsessing over Coldplay’s single, Adventure of A Lifetime, from their upcoming album A Head Full Of Dreams. They’re my favourite band.
People usually say I’m weird, and I really like that, it just means they haven’t met anyone like me haha :)
Goldfish are so cute, so are cats... oh I also like dogs :”) haha I don’t know nevermind!
Really excited about working with Nicola, she’s such a sugar bunny.
xoxo
love you lots like cheese puffs
A. F.
