My Political Contribution of Art Exhibitions To South Africa's Liberation Against Apartheid Struggle. Isaac Khonjelwayo Paintings and Art Collection reminisce the fight against Apartheid - Since 1976. On my arrival at the South African refugee camp I was received and hosted by Mr. Lefifi Tladi & Khush. Lefifi was from Garankuwa and Khush, his colleague as I had known him came from Soweto somewhere in Tladi or Naledi. They were custodians and important political hosts who connected local guys with overseas escape travels and routes to Africa and parts of USA, Canada and UK. They showed me around the camp and who was who from South Africa in Gaborone - Botswana.
The camp was truly a place of solace for these youth who got displaced in the capsule of time. I was relieved to see my cousin Simon Kgasi, he too was shocked to see me. Lefifi Tladi and Khush interviewed me to establish my plan and intentions for coming to Botswana. They explained the rules and conditions for camp life and also terms of engagements, rules and repercussions for staying or leaving the country. They accommodated me at “The Russian Embassy” for a while so that I can take time to make up my mind.
The Russian Embassy Art Collection Episode
It took me 7 days while staying at the Russian Embassy in Botswana under the care of Mr. Lefifi Tladi and Khush to make up my mind about whether to skip the country or remain behind. I was touched and a little disturbed by how S.A. Soweto students refugees leaved in Botswana. Their living conditions and desperate situation. I was not prepared to give up on life; nor surrender my intuition for reaching out to help rescue our ordeal. I volunteered my passion about fundraising and community outreach projects to sell my art and raise money to save the day. After-all it was the only creative means and way for me to show my support and solidarity to the struggle in those days.
My decision was easy. I told Mr.Lefifi Tladi and Khush my plans. I already possessed paintings that could sell to raise more money for the comrades at the Gaborone Camp. The situation for most refugee residents was becoming desperate and disheartening. The money could help buy food, cloths, soap, cigarettes and sundries, under the “TUKA" cultural unit foundation. Over $159,000 about R1,200,000 RANDS was raised to help South Africa students political refugees leave Botswana to different countries abroad. Some of my paintings were contribution to be exhibited in the “Pan African Arts Festival” in Nigeria. Watch the Video HERE.
I came back to South Africa to collect a few more of my paintings and draw a couple more again, because I was already inspired. After about a week or two, I went back with a few paintings to be auctioned at the Russian Embassy for this reason. My mission and forward plan was to continue doing this political deed for other comrades living in Swaziland as well. For those who do not know - The sister Ntsiki Makhubu to the boy who is carrying Hector Peterson was my colleague and classmate at Orlando High School Soweto. We set and shared the same desk in 1973.
So my contribution was to sustain the agenda fund the "art" and "poetry" revolution and encourage our youth to move on and fight the struggle from outside. I traveled several journeys to and from Botswana doing this exercise until danger almost caught up with me. Rumors of threats to bomb the refugee camp became rife. It became evident that I change the modus operand to support the cause.
The Struggle Proactively Shifts to Swaziland Comrades around 1978
For a while my political activity slowed down temporarily to cool off the heat and calm down the "BOSS" storm of hunting fiercely Black Students and African political activists in most parts of the townships.
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| ABOVE PICTURE: NTSIKI MAKHUBU |
My artistic ability was losing its inspiration because of the cat and mouse police hunting games. It was until I saw an advert in the Star & Rand Daily Mail Newspapers, about Fikille Magadlela’s Art exhibition to be held at Joubert Park Museum, the theme titled “Dance of The Second Creation”. I attended that exhibition and was in awe when I personally met Mr. Fikile Magadlela after many years since our church youth days.
Fikile Magadlela introduced me to Thami Mnyele a poet and an African Artist with great talent and artistic repertoire. My inspiration shot to the roof. These guys were my heroes creative and artistic geniuses and inspired my love to continue painting. On the night of the exhibition Fikile invited me to his girlfriend’s house for a drink and long-haul reunion in Mofolo Village Soweto. With inspiration from Thami Mnyele to use art as a form of mobilizing black consciousness, I became an ardent follower of the struggle against oppression and self-expression.
This is were I met and was introduced to Thami's girlfriend for the first time Ms Zikalala. Ms. Zikalala was the lady to connect us with student refugees in Swaziland. The celebration of Fikile's art exhibition went late into the hours of the morning in Soweto - Mofolo Village. Below are my new works never before exhibited anywhere to give the public a glimpses of the past, present and future.
EVENTUALLY I PAID THE PRICE OF SERVING TIME IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT!
The long and short of my contribution to South Africa's Apartheid struggle was to be arrested in Swaziland border gate. Sent to Ermelo prison and later on transferred to DAVEL Police Station in Mpumalanga in the late 70's. Interrogated and ultimately became one of the culprits to feature in the Library of BOSS political activists arch files.
By: Isaac Khonjelwayo
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