The meeting
room in Nerina woman residence was filled with excitement as the first of the “In
conversation” series launched. The great Zakes Mda, author and artist, would be
the first to facilitate conversation between students, using books as the catalyst.
A celebratory
feasting waited on the tables in the room in the form of light snacks, juice
and Leopard’s Leap wines; to be enjoyed as an aftermath.
As we
familiarised ourselves in the space, the man of the hour came into the room
with his infectious laughter and warm personality. Zakes Mda is truly a
people’s person. He walked directly up to us and struck up a conversation. He
is a noble human who is not affected by the praise and celebration of the oeuvre
of his writing.
And so, after
an introduction by Nicole Goldbeck the writer sat awaiting the conversation to begin.
Wayde Groep discussed the newly published novel, The Sculptures of Mapungubwe, with Mda.
In the
conversation, Mda states that his novels set in Africa are his way of mapping
out South Africa. He referred to his previous works explaining this statement. Heart of Redness set in the Eastern Cape
among the Xhosa people where The Madonna
of Excelsior deals with the Basotho and the Afrikaners in the Free State. A
work set in Hermanus in the Western Cape is The
Whale Caller, which critics identify the gives voice to the coloured
community – although the novel itself does not state mention any race
specifications.
The Sculptures of Mapungubwe is another
journey to another part of South Africa. It is set in Limpopo and tells tale of
the kingdom of Mapungubwe a thousand years ago. The narrative is about to
brothers who are the heirs of the royal sculptor and whose rivalry grows alongside
their talents.
Mda
researched his subject matter closely from ethno-archaeological findings from
the site of the once prosperous city. He also researched oral stories and
traditions passed on from one generation to the next.
One of the
prominent themes in the novel is art and its power. This is where books become
the mirror of contemporary society and where conversations with authors reveal
commentary on our current state.
Mda discussed
how specifically the labelling of art in the novel is emblematic of the labelling of art in the present.
He draws attention to the scenario where Minister
of Arts and Culture Lulu Xingwana refused to open the exhibition of
internationally acclaimed South African photographer Zanele Muholi. She
labelled Muholi’s work pornographic. This label was accepted by many people
without seeing the work and thus the work as such was condemned
pornographic. Labelling, according to
Mda, is dangerous because “it stops people to think”. Exploring this notion in
the novel, is one way in which Mda uses the present to recreate the past and
thus focussing a critical lens on modern day South Africa.
By asking
questions stripped from literary jargon the chair, Wayde Groep, managed to
create a conversation accessible to students from all disciplines. Mda
commended him on a particular question where he read parallels between the
journey of any individual and the journey of the characters which Mda did not
intentionally construct. Such a reading
and the response of the author suggested that literature is not an art for
dissecting only by scholars and trained readers, but it is stories for all to
read and enjoy. Mda also commented of the value of stories and that “storytelling
is life itself – we are all stories”.
Furthermore, the
event succeeds in facilitating conversations between students in a
non-threatening and non-academic environment.
With a very
interesting and enriching conversation with Zakes Mda, the SRC of Stellenbosch University
succeeded in bringing one of our cultural jewels to the young minds of South
Africa.
Many of us
had our book copies signed – a holy relic which, on the bookshelf, will remind
us of Zakes Mda’s laughter, humility and genius.
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