Artists fight xenophobia through poetry
ALEXANDRA - Alex artists are raising public awareness against xenophobia said to be a permanent feature of every day life and likely to erupt again when instigated.
Alex artists are working on raising public awareness about xenophobia.
They are engaged in an artistic WhatsApp initiative, Art Without Borders – My Words Count. It involves educating society through poetry and messages on the role of immigrants and migrants from other provinces in contributing to building the city of Joburg to its current metropolitan status.
Vika Mjoka, of Arts Smart Brand, said xenophobic attacks could easily re-ignite because citizens were not aware of migrants’ contributions in making the city what it is today, its enormous economy, thriving social life, and cultural places and events.
“Every decade they [migrants] come as mine conscripts, gardeners, farm workers, drivers, waiters, bartenders, and as entertainers, athletes, politicians, teachers and other professions,” said Mjoka.
“Eventually they marry and integrate into society to become part of us. To a normal person this should make it very difficult to single out any one of them for abuse, as they could be a relative deserving a share of the city’s wealth deriving from their blood, sweat and tears.”
Mjoka said the initiative would articulate key issues of conflict and raise consciousness to help stem xenophobic attacks. The poems and messages would highlight migrants’ aspirations, the implications of social hate, and the divisive nature of Afrophobia.
Social hate, he said, was never part of the African way which has seen incessant migration and reconfiguration of societies as people sought better-resourced areas.
“The messages are to encourage people to learn from and embrace diversity, which is beneficial for social cohesion and development. We need to eradicate the daily expressions of hate between neighbours and at the workplace which trigger the simmering xenophobic violence,” said Mjoka.
The messages and poems have been collected through a WhatsApp network platform launched on 16 June, and will be posted on various media platforms on Mandela Day.
Details: Arts Smart Brand 071 404 6516.
