WITHOUT any knocks on the door, no pamphlets, no billboards, no late-night hotlines or viral video campaigns, an unnamed cultural movement, embracing a more afrocentric approach to health, cuisine, hair care, and even spirituality has been growing among black people, locally and in the diaspora.
On Sunday, Morningside’s Sutton Park played host to the Black Sundays Afrikan Market, a new initiative organised by Abantu Abansundu.
The organisers say the market is aimed at transforming the fleamarket space and economy in Durban, and to celebrate black excellence in business and culture.
“Let’s be honest. All fleamarkets in Durban are lily-white in their ownership and organisation. In fact, the whole economy is profoundly anti-black. Let’s not be castigated therefore for creating spaces that celebrate African culture and ingenuity. Of course we invite everybody to attend, but all businesses featured here will be unapologetically 100 per cent black-owned,” said Thobekile Mbanda who is part of the organisers.
A yoga session kicked off the morning’s activities while fashion, food and home decor stalls added to the ambiance.
Visitors were also treated to poetry, music performances and conversations.
Legendary guitarist, Madala Kunene headlined the music and entertainment acts. Bafo (brother), as Kunene is affectionately known, took the audience on a musical journey adding entirely new riffs and impromptu adaptations of songs he has already written.
“Although we play across the globe, to different crowds I was so happy to be asked to grace this event, that I even brought the guitar I play with internationally,” he said.
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“This event comes on the heels of a devastating state of the union address by President Ramaphosa who described the country’s economic outlook as “extremely bleak”.
Centuries of economic plunder and dispossession have continued to produce criminal inequality among blacks and whites in South Africa. Study after study confirms that post-1994, median incomes between racial groups (not to mention wealth) have remained stubbornly unchanged,” said organiser Bash Gxabhashe.
“There are many empty references to ‘social cohesion’ focusing on multiracialism. Black Sundays promotes better communication, unity, and love between black people. The essence of this market is love, unity, and support among black people. We are working on a database and a website to profile excellent black businesses and service providers,” she said.
The market was a welcome relief to many.
“As black people, we always insert ourselves in other people’s spaces and we complain of not being seen or respected. Yet we spend money on people who don’t respect us. I’m thrilled to participate in this event that is birthing a space for collaboration, co-creation, sharing for our community. I look forward to this and future events that will create lasting consciousness and activism about black issues. I’m delighted to be part of designing sustainable solutions for our communities and families,” said one of the attendees.
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