Most of Vuyo Booi’s one bedroomed house is dedicated to the children he works with. The walls are plastered with colourful paintings created by the often 40 strong group.
Most of Vuyo Booi’s one bedroomed house is dedicated to the children he works with. The walls are plastered with colourful paintings created by the often 40 strong group.
Booi is one of the founding members of the Sakhuluntu Cultural Group and has been involved in the project since 1998. Since 2008 the project has been using his house as a meeting and practice place.
Sakhuluntu aims to keep kids off the streets away from drugs, alcohol and violence by awakening their creative sides to give them a brighter future. Booi’s small room fills quickly and continues to fill throughout the afternoon.
The stamping feet, swaying arms, jumping bodies, singing voices and beating drums overwhelm you, compelling you to join in.
The heat boiling up and out of these little bodies into the room is smothering. I feel proudly African. In the room we are united through happiness and smiles.
The bright clothing doesn’t have a stitch on the brilliant yellow energy these bouncing bodies exude. Glitter and sweat jewel the children’s faces a perfect collaboration of nature and art.
As bodies move around the room like spinning tops, the breeze finds its way through my clammy hair. Kadungadunga kadungadunga kadungadunga, boom!
My heart flutters in the heat. It tries to resist the urge to abandon its life-giving rhythm and follow this African beat.
The energy within choreographer Michael Baird finds its way out of his body, drips to the ground, where it is quickly seized upon and swallowed by the earth.
The sun shines through the window and sweat drops shimmer as the light pierces through them. Everyone and everything is desperate to enter this paradise of African soul.
“None but ourselves can free our mind,” says Bob Marley speaking from a poster on the wall.
