The Mdantsane Way Magazine Way is a new kind of online magazine: authentic, personal and interactive, with engaging long-form storytelling profiling the second biggest township in South Africa - Mdantsane.
WELCOME TO THE MDANTSANE WAY MAGAZINE
Mdantsaneis a unique, vibrating, eclectic, African place. Follow us on a pilgrimage to Mdantsane to discover the street culture, fashion, food, people, music, homes, taverns, humor, businesses, history and what's hot in the second biggest township in South-Africa, located close to the city of East London in the Province of the Eastern Cape. Join us on this journey while we capture the spirit of this amazing place for you in the here and in the now. We are going to introduce you to many individuals, artists, musicians, groups and associations.
They are the HEROES OF DAILY LIFE. They are the people who create, innovate and improve their life and their stories deserve to be told. This is a place for only good and positive stories of humanity, that will send out a message of courage, endurance and strength to the world through their pictures and words.
Today we have a great and rare piece of music for you. And we want you to read this article first, because we are pretty sure that you will enjoy the song even more after knowing what is the story behind it.
We thank them for digging into the background of this great piece of music. Every African music lover should check out their blog.
50s South African Jazz punts skin lighteners
The
insidious impact of mass media in shaping our identities and preferences
goes way back and more than skin deep! Take this 78rpm South African
Jazz record from 1956, singing the praises of skin lighteners and
Vaseline. “Who’s that girl” … “the best looking girl I ever did see”
performed by the "Basin Tone Drifters" and sung in the style of the
Manhattan Brothers in English and Zulu extols the virtues of Pond’s
Vanishing Cream and Blue Seal Vaseline.
A further twist in this fascinating early advertising tale is that the
composer is registered under the pseudonym “Mafutha Amahlope” –
literally meaning “Fat Whitey”. At least the real author Christoffel
Nicolaas Du Toit had some sense of humour? The U.S. Library of Congress
Catalogue of Published Music also records that Melody Music of
Johannesburg registered these two songs on 1st October 1956.
South Africa’s first commercial radio station, Springbok Radio, was
launched on 1st May 1950. African language broadcasts to the
metropolitan areas began in 1953. We wonder if these recordings were
paid-for advertising jingles or passed off as Kwela jive harmony hits?
There can be no doubt though, this record must be amongst the first
examples of purpose-made music/advertising aimed at South Africa's black
consumers.
Despite being banned in South Africa in 1986, skin lighteners are still
used, and the broader debates around skin lightening, identity, beauty
and aspirations continue. Going by a recent article in the Sowetan, these debates are changing though.
“More than ever South Africans
are realising that black is beautiful. As a nation we have overcome the
baasskap mentality that suggests that anything dark is ugly and
therefore undesirable.
“Politically we are maturing and we are taking pride in who we are.
This is filtering through to the modeling industry and the media,”
Mazibuko says.
Sudanese Supermodel Alek Wek
Mazibuko
observes that the curse of the darker skinned woman was broken by
African model Alek Wek, (right) a Sudanese refugee who made her US
modelling debut a few years ago. She has since become one of the most
sought-after models in the business.
In
addition to her magazine covers, Wek has modelled for scores of top
designers, walked in major fashion shows all over Europe and the US
opening shows for huge names such as Ralph Lauren.
Mazibuko
adds that the Africanist ideals of people such as Thabo Mbeki and
former Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah have influenced the way a lot of
Black South Africans think about themselves.
Amalope Mafuta Who's That Girl Label
Amahlope Mafuta Blue Seal Jive Label
Now looking at 2013. Just this month Ponds has launched a new face cream called BP and the advert running every evening a dozen times on TV goes like this; " I want radiant and flawless skin in an instant"......., said by a stunning beautiful girl of very light skin tone.....
What does the name Mdantsane mean ? Where does it come from?
Nobody knows. It does not mean anything. Really, we don't know. It's just a name.
We have heard that more than once.
But it was rather hard to believe for us! In Africa every name has a meaning! Every name comes from somewhere. In Africa behind every name there is a story. In Africa every name has significance and stands for an event, a place, a great happening or a story. Like the guy, named ambulance, whom we met and who in works in an upholstery in town. His mother gave birth in an ambulance. That is logic, that is real! That's a great story!
So we asked again and again most of the time receiving the same answers - until we came, across a document about the history of East London and Mdantsane, that satisfied our curiosity!
MDANTSANE = UMDANZANI
Mdantsane is said to have received its name from the farm Umdanzani on whose ground it was established
By the 1940s, living quarters for black East London workers were hard to find and the existing locations and the already big township Duncan Village were overcrowded. Duncan Village is a township, that existed long before Mdantsane.
More Residential areas for black labor were needed and lengthy discussions took place on the level of the town council concerning the most suitable location for another "Bantu Residential Area". More information can be found in our article The Origin of Mdantsane.
In 1954 the City Engineer was requested to find space for expansion, especially on suitable land adjoining Duncan Village.
But the survey was refused by the national government and the area was declared to be for white people only.
Areas near Newlands, Macleantown, Kwelegha and a farm with the name “Umdanzani”, were examined.
The latter was found to be suitable as it lay alongside the national road and railway line, and in 1958 the new site was declared.
The municipality undertook the planning which was based on the "neighbourhood concept" of a garden city, first suggested by E. Howard in 1898. This envisaged a central CBD (Central Business District) with neighbourhoods clustering around it.
In each neighbourhood there would be low order central areas, which would house shops, churches and educational facilities.
The nature of the topography, ridges and valleys, dictated much of the layout, which tried to avoid the formal grid pattern and worked around curves, loops and triangles.
By the end of 1963 the first 300 residents occupied the new houses.
In 1966 it was proclaimed a "Ciskei homeland" town and excised from East London. The advantage at least was that this did allow for freehold title. It was originally only intended to make provision for 120 000, but it grew very rapidly and today it is divided into eighteen zones which are still expanding, with the newest unit known as Unit P.
The original Name Umdanzani transformed over time to Mdantsane.
Another Very Beautiful Shade Of Normal - Mdantsane NU 12
On the 1st of February the Mdantsane Way Magazine had the pleasure to attend the ceremony of the handover of a 12 meter container funded by the National Development Agency NDA for the Imizamo Yethu For Elders Group in Mdantsane in NU 12 ( we are working on the article at present).
On this occasion we could witness one more time how much the township Mdantsane is an expression of the young democracy and its values, that has been established in South Africa in 1994.
During the ceremony the guests were surprised with an amazing performance of four beautiful South African children. The performance had been organized by the beneficiaries of the container.
Celebrating Diversity And Different Kinds Of Beauty in Mdantsane
Our young democracy, although a rule of majority has firmly embedded in its constitution the protection of the minorities in the society. For a country, that has no century long history of developing democratic values but has instead been dominated by a regime of suppression this process can be a challenge.
We have published these wonderful pictures for you today because they truly demonstrate how much South Africa has advanced and is constantly making progress on the path of democracy and celebration of diversity.
Mdantsane's Beautiful Children Performing At The Handover Ceremony Of The Imizamo Yethu Container For Elder Persons In Mdantsane In NU 12
The topic of albinism is one that lies close to our heart and it is one for which we would like to create awareness in the community.
In the South African black population, about 1 in 3900
people have oculocutaneous albinism while in the white population it is
less common (1 in 15 000 people). There are about 10 000 affected
individuals in South Africa.
There is still a certain amount of stigmatization of
people with albinism in the community. For some people affected by albinism mean "bad luck".
The more we were happy to see on that day that prejudice is challenged by many now on a daily basis.
Delighting The Public With Their Performance in NU 12 in Mdantsane
Albinism has been defined as an inherited absence of
pigment (hypomelanosis) that is limited to the eye (ocular albinism), or
involves the eye and skin (oculocutaneous albinism) and in which
nystagmus (fast, rhythmical movement of the eye), decreased visual
acuity and photophobia (fear of light) are present.
Oculocutaneous albinism is more common than ocular
albinism and is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. In
addition to poor vision, people with oculocutaneous albinism have
hypopigmented skin which sunburns very easily and is highly susceptible
to skin cancer. Although young children with albinism may be slower to
crawl and walk due to visual problems, it is important to remember that
their intelligence is within the normal range.
Creating awareness and educating the public about albinism in Mdantsane
Both public education about the
condition and counseling for affected individuals and their families
are required.
A small parent support group in Johannesburg has been
functioning under the auspices of SAIDA with more than 30 members all
over the country.
The objectives of this group are to educate the public
about albinism, to provide support for affected families, and to
support research into the condition. A second large group ( with more
than 200 members) has also been established in Soweto.
We are re-publishing an article, that has caught our attention written by Johannesburg based David Smith for the Guardian on 2 of November 2012. This article profiles the fashion top model Thanda Hopa who has the condition of albinism.
South African model with albinism challenges prejudices
Thando Hopa is wowing the fashion world, but suffered prejudice as a child for condition others have been killed for having
As a child with albinism, Thando Hopa was called names by her peers
and regarded with superstition by the elderly. "Some saw me as good
luck," she says, "and some saw me as bad luck."
Recently all eyes
were on Hopa again. This time she was striding confidently down the
catwalk and earning newspaper accolades as South Africa's "the new face of fashion" and "fashion's new colour".
The
23 year old is among a growing number of models with albinism
challenging prejudice on a continent where the inherited condition –
lack of pigment that affects the eyes, hair and skin – can lead to
discrimination and even death.
Hopa grew up south of Johannesburg
with constant reminders to wear hats and sunscreen to protect her
sensitive skin. She credits a strong and protective family for keeping
her self-esteem intact. A full-time legal prosecutor, she had no
thoughts of modelling until a chance meeting with fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee at a shopping mall.
"After two minutes he said, 'Hi miss, are you interested in modelling?' I was open to it. SA fashion week was an overwhelming experience, a different world altogether with so much creativity."
There are hopes that positive portrayals
of albinism can make a difference. "I really hope so," Hopa said. "I
received some very positive feedback from young girls with albinism. If
you don't see positive examples, you wallow in self-pity. I just hope it
turns into another shade of normal."
Coetzee said he was bowled
over when he first ran into Hopa. "It was amazing, like somebody was
shining a light at the side of my head," he said. "She was beautiful,
with the perfect body and the perfect bone structure. She was glowing
like an angel.
"I've always wanted to do a show with someone with
albinism and never found the right girl. When I saw her everything I was
working on came together. Her skin is as white as milk, stripped of
colour. There are endless possibilities."
Coetzee added: "She was
excited that she can be role model for girls with albinism. It's
something to embrace rather than something to hide."
Hopa follows
Refilwe Modiselle, a model with albinism from Soweto who has been
modelling since age 13 and now the face of South African fashion chain
Legit. "I'm a black girl who lives in the skin of a white person and
that alone should embody what a human being as a whole should
represent," she told the BBC recently.
But
in east Africa particularly, people with albinism are believed by some
to have mystical and healing power, putting them at risk of abduction
and mutilation. Body parts are used in witchcraft or buried under
businesses to bring wealth.
Under the Same Sun, an advocacy and education group, estimated that 71 people with albinism were killed in Tanzania
between 2006 and 2012, while 31 survived machete attacks. In June this
year the body of a man was discovered with several of his body parts
missing.
Richard Mgamba, a Tanzanian journalist who has investigated the trade in body parts,
said the example of Hopa shows "there are two different worlds for
people with albinism: one where they are being hunted and killed, the
other where they are being given opportunities to live like everyone
else".
He added: "In my country they are not given these
opportunities. They are feared and treated as second class citizens. In
South Africa we see a different story – a model with albinism – and for
me that's very encouraging."
Brother And Sister Playing With A Vuvuzela In NU 12
The Vuvuzela is a small piece of South Africa. Here is a description for overseas readers:
The vuvuzela, also known as lepatata Mambu (its Tswana name), is a plastic horn, about 65 centimeters (2 ft) long, which produces a loud monotone note.
Some models are made in two parts to facilitate storage, and this
design also allows pitch variation. Many types of vuvuzela, made by
several manufacturers, may produce various intensity and frequency
outputs. The intensity of these outputs depends on the blowing technique and pressure exerted.
Traditionally made and inspired from a kudu horn, it is said (although without proof) that the vuvuzela was used to summon distant villagers to attend community gatherings.
The vuvuzela is most used at footballmatches in South Africa,
and it has become a symbol of South African football as the stadiums
are filled with its loud and raucous sound that reflects the
exhilaration of supporters.
The intensity of the sound caught the attention of the global football community during the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in anticipation of South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The vuvuzela has been the subject of controversy when used by
spectators at football matches. Its high sound pressure levels at close
range can lead to permanent hearing loss for unprotected ears after exposure with a sound level of 120 dB(A) (the threshold of pain) at 1 meter (3.3 ft) from the device opening.
There is a lot of dance and drama in Mdantsane. You just have to look for it! Some of it takes place at the Mdantsane Arts Center, that is presently going through a revival period.
The Imonti Arts Company Under V.S.T.C
On our last visit to the center we surprised the "Imonti Art Company Under V.S.T.C" during a training session. The guys and girls of the Imonti Art Company were busy rehearsing a dance and drama play, that they have created themselves in the studio of the Arts Center.
Their play is a mixture of dance, song and poetry.
Expressing the spirit of Mdantsane
A little bit surprised by our intrusion into their domain they did however not hesitate a minute to give us a taste of what they were working on. What we saw was pretty impressive!
Local Talent Made in Mdantsane
These young Mdantsanians are no amateurs. They have already traveled to Germany and performed there with their group before larger audiences.
Mandla Sanelisiswe
The group of young people share between them a whole range of talents, that combined make up a contemporary drama and dance performance, that has the power to mesmerize the spectator. Infatuating rhtymn and singing, dancing, stamping feet, mixed with poetry makes you keep your eyes on the actors.
This is no boring drama and dance play, not one of those plays where you politely wait until the end has come and you take a deep breath when outside, lucky that you can go home. No, this is not one of those. This is Mdantsane's power and talent combined and you just wish they must continue to perform in front of you..
Member of the Imonti Arts Company
The group's performance covers topics that arise from the neighbourhood, they live in. Their stories talk about the daily life in Mdantsane.
And nobody is more qualified to talk about it than they are.
Masindwa Ntsingisela (right) is the poet of the group
After the rehearsal Masindwa Ntsingisela said: "Can I say a poem for you?"
His poem talked about young people that have choosen the way of crime as their career.
Born to be a dancer
Looking at the images we have uploaded for you, you can even feel a little bit of that intensity and passion, that showers the spectator.
