AMAQABA: Vol. 1
The title of the show derives from an old term that has found a 'new' meaning in recent times. The term 'i-qaba' (pl: ama-qaba) originates from the 18th Century when British missionaries were affecting the way of living for amaXhosa. Amongst this transformation of native people into European education through evangelical religion, a transformation which included how people dress, there was resistance from some amaXhosa who decided against this assimilation of westernisation and chose to uphold traditions kwaXhosa. The people who continued to use the red ochre, for which amaXhosa were known as 'The Red Blanket People', which is applied to skin by rubbing or 'uku-qaba' in isiXhosa, were considered 'uncivilised'. Hence the term 'i-qaba', which exists in modern times as an insult towards someone who is considered ignorant.
The idea of the show becomes an investigtion of oneself within their own culture; for us, being amaXhosa. The space becomes a space of learning and manipulation of knowledge, tradition, and customs. The way we intend to manipulate these themes is to reimagine and re-examine certain knowledge we have and don't have about ourselves and our culture. It’s a free space where we can be amaqaba without it having any negative connotations associated with it. It’s a claiming of the term where it's okay to not be fully intact with your roots and embrace fluid black identities. It's a chance for us to mock ourselves in a critical sense, but more importantly, a chance to learn about ourselves.
