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CCD Showcase by Horn of Africa Youth. VCA
The showcase by the horn of Africa young people in collaboration with the CCD department was an interesting, engrossing and challenging presentation. I loved the sincerity of the participants as an African and as an African in Australia, it was a buzz to see the stories of the old home land being brought to life with such vividness. This new land we call home can be tough, the pressures of settlement have the potential to scatter time and the urge to create. It was inspiring then to see these young people grappling with diverse issues take the time to reflect on their journeys and experiences to and in Australia. As Artist, I admired the energy that was on show between the young people, their work and the Director, Shaheen.
Invoking ghosts of the past can be traumatic, the story of the journey through war death, loss and love to Australia was bold and entrancing. The effect of the narration and enactment of these experiences were evident in the presentation, I do wonder how these emotions and trauma was counselled and addressed in the process. In working with communities, it is a clear challenge for the Artist to be able to know what to do when faced with these emotions. In the showcase, the process itself appeared therapeutic to the storyteller and participants. Was the process itself then therapeutic? Was the participants counselled accordingly in the investment of these emotions into the production? Or was it a natural progression in the creative process that once the door was opened, so to speak, the journey and ride was inspired by this recollection and the attached emotions?
One young participant's presentation was firmly entrenched in the grind of modern day life. Bullent's short film of the working dogs posed a challenge to an audience that most already struggle with balancing the everyday life and its demands. The insight and initiative to reflect on this modern day tragedy in its simplicity added a dimension to cultural perspectives. In Africa, In Zimbabwe at least, in the rural areas I grew up in , most of the chores during the day were centred around food, preparation, cultivating, battering etc many rituals and ceremonies were entrenched in these chores, but outside of this play and fantasy long ritualised was a cornerstone to day balance. The loss of this time to reflect, play and fantasize could be argued is the thread in the short film, the day to day grind of modern life.
It was not lost to me that out of about 10 participants in the showcase, only one was a women. This might not be a clear indicator of the participants as some were not on stage but it did stir some up conversation amongst a group in the audience. It seems the women/girls in the African community still shoulder a bit of responsibility and pressure in relation to family. Baby sitting, traditional constraints, and managing households in non English speaking households were some of the things raised in discussion as potentially limiting female participants. In developing a project and researching intended participants, some of this factor require consideration especially in some African Communities, might be a research paper waiting, who knows?
In conclusion, whilst a struggled a bit to reconcile my Artistic criticism and Afro centred beliefs in watching this showcase in relation to stereotypes, young people finding a voice through the arts, Anglo-centric consumerism highlighted more by the tea ceremony in the foyer vs. the possibility of having an Indigenous welcoming ceremony, the balance of presented experiences in Australia, watching the showcase was a great welcome to the program and to some acted as a catalyst and introductory stage to the enquiry model of learning.
Invoking ghosts of the past can be traumatic, the story of the journey through war death, loss and love to Australia was bold and entrancing. The effect of the narration and enactment of these experiences were evident in the presentation, I do wonder how these emotions and trauma was counselled and addressed in the process. In working with communities, it is a clear challenge for the Artist to be able to know what to do when faced with these emotions. In the showcase, the process itself appeared therapeutic to the storyteller and participants. Was the process itself then therapeutic? Was the participants counselled accordingly in the investment of these emotions into the production? Or was it a natural progression in the creative process that once the door was opened, so to speak, the journey and ride was inspired by this recollection and the attached emotions?
One young participant's presentation was firmly entrenched in the grind of modern day life. Bullent's short film of the working dogs posed a challenge to an audience that most already struggle with balancing the everyday life and its demands. The insight and initiative to reflect on this modern day tragedy in its simplicity added a dimension to cultural perspectives. In Africa, In Zimbabwe at least, in the rural areas I grew up in , most of the chores during the day were centred around food, preparation, cultivating, battering etc many rituals and ceremonies were entrenched in these chores, but outside of this play and fantasy long ritualised was a cornerstone to day balance. The loss of this time to reflect, play and fantasize could be argued is the thread in the short film, the day to day grind of modern life.
It was not lost to me that out of about 10 participants in the showcase, only one was a women. This might not be a clear indicator of the participants as some were not on stage but it did stir some up conversation amongst a group in the audience. It seems the women/girls in the African community still shoulder a bit of responsibility and pressure in relation to family. Baby sitting, traditional constraints, and managing households in non English speaking households were some of the things raised in discussion as potentially limiting female participants. In developing a project and researching intended participants, some of this factor require consideration especially in some African Communities, might be a research paper waiting, who knows?
In conclusion, whilst a struggled a bit to reconcile my Artistic criticism and Afro centred beliefs in watching this showcase in relation to stereotypes, young people finding a voice through the arts, Anglo-centric consumerism highlighted more by the tea ceremony in the foyer vs. the possibility of having an Indigenous welcoming ceremony, the balance of presented experiences in Australia, watching the showcase was a great welcome to the program and to some acted as a catalyst and introductory stage to the enquiry model of learning.
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