MindMap-SA Issue 7

Yinbiao Hao, spokesman for Durban’s Chinese ConsulateGeneral and for Durban Consul General Yantao Liu. At theDurban North Consulate General compoundThis publicationof art, writing andpolitics was startedin 2002. Differentbranches make upthis innovative project.The Chimurenganyanaa pavementliterature project,the ChimurengaOnline library,the African CitiesReader as wellas the Pan-Africanspace station, a musicplatform in various venues in Africa and on the internet aresome of the branches that are hanging on the Chimurenga tree.The magazine has featured works by established as well asup and coming voices; Njabulo Ndebele, Lesego Rampolokeng,Santu Mofokeng, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Gael Reagon,among others. A fictional once-off, one day only edition simplytitled The Chimurenga Chronic was released on BlackWednesday (this day is to commemorate the day the BlackConsciousness Movement and independent newspapers wereunbanned by the apartheid government) last year, 19 October2011. This once-off was released in the hopes of challengingthe history of newspapers as a tool of nationalism.This publication of art, writing and politics was startedin 2002. Different branches make up this innovative project.The Chimurenganyana a pavement literature project,the Chimurenga Online library, the African Cities Readeras well as the Pan-African space station, a music platformin various venues in Africa and on the internet are someof the branches that are hanging on the Chimurenga tree.The Chronic is a Pan-African collaborative project with Kwaniindependent publishers of Kenya and the Cassava RepublicPress of Nigeria that gives voice to all the aspects of life onthe continent and an opportunity to create a platform for imaginationand dialogue. This strategy allowed the bringingtogether of journalists and editors, writers, theorists, photographers,illustrators and artists from around Africa and the world.With the changing ways we communicate the Chimurengateam also felt it necessary to go online. With more interactivitylike the Chimurenga blog, news are now easily distributedand the topic of social media is constantly tapped into. Visitorsto the online site are able to take part in editorial discussionsand can also expand on the knowledge contained in the paper.Availability of the publication is in almost every mall, nationallyand in internationally, in bookshops and arts and cultural organizations.With a soaring readership, that is open to anybodyRantekoa of Chimurenga Magazine says, “Our readership iseveryone and no one. It is for those who are courageous enoughto unlearn, re-imagine and never stop enquiring.” A strong statementlike this is one that can persuade many to pick up the publicationor click onto their website. Getting hooked can be easy.