MindMap-SA Issue 7

FeatureThe strugglewill bewords byYolisa SamuelsdocumentedImages courtesy of ChimurengaChimurenga is acollective organizationthat aims to dissectAfrican culture,thinking andperspectives. Theorganisation hasbecome renownedfor its journals andpublications themedaround variousissues on the Africancontinent.During the day Long Street isbusy with various arts andcurios being sold, local andinternational cuisine arealso a common sighting andthe accumulation of smells is a testamentto this, street vendors also take advantageof the beautiful Cape Town weather in anattempt to make a quick buck. In the nighttime the mood of the street changes. Theparty goers come out and this is what LongStreet is notable for. Nestled in the legendaryLong Street is the Chimurenga publication,in the eccentric Pan-African Market.The first two floors of this building iswhere different sculptures, paintings andcurio pieces are displayed and also up forsale. To be freely artistic and being able tothink freely was once against the law inSouth African and many other parts of theworld. It is now enshrined in our constitution,freedom of speech; this allows one tobe able to express their political views andones artistic nature with no holds barred.The Chimurenga publication helps in doingthis. Shona is a language spoken mainlyin Zimbabwe, the word Chimurenga isderived from this language, when looselytranslated the word means struggle. Somemight even say it means struggle for freedom.This is something many South Africanand many other parts of Africa are familiarwith. Many parts of Africa are stillexperiencing tremendous amounts of politicalstruggles. Civil wars are a commonexample of this, on a much smaller scalecorruption in government and in politicscan be put under the same scope. This issplashed across news broadcast, newspapersand more recently on online news.People need a place to express how theyfeel about different things going on intheir country, whether it is politically,culturally or on the art side of things. Ifpeople don’t feel confident enough todo so, journalists can be their voice, andthey can help let their stories be heard.The Chimurenga Magazine does justthat. “It provides an innovative platformfor exchange of free ideas and politicalreflection by Africans about Africa”.The Chimurenga library was opened inJohannesburg in 2011. This is an extensionproject of the work the organisation hasalready done in Cape Town and other partsof South Africa.