Meet Lorenzo, our adopted puppy.

You're making me wear this?

   We got married. We adopted a puppy. 

Adventures with Lorenzo

 Our friend Ross said, "Countdown 9 months and you'll be pregnant before the 9th month.  That's what happens when you get a puppy."  I have to say I'm love drunk for this fur-lined heartbeat creature.  But I am not convinced I'll love a unfurry human baby more.  Unless they come out hairy with a furry back.  Chances of that happening are high with Greek blood running 75%.  I'd hashtag myself #I don't-have-a-maternal-gene except for cute adorable puppies. We named him Lorenzo and we think he is the best dog anyone could ask for!

   So I made this video clip for his fan-club overseas and across the country.   This was a mission we did in our first week as puppy parents.

   He has grown to walk easily on a lead and cruises through the city with me so easily.  I took Lorenzo on an epic city walk into Cape Town Centre.  We visited the Castle of Good Hope, went shopping in the Grand Parade, and he managed to sniff out every KFC Chicken Licken chicken bone that gets thrown on the street after 1pm lunch.  Needless to say, his 1 hour cruise means he's cuddled up right next to me on the couch as I write this.  Another hashtag moment #nothing but love for the pupson.

The moat around the Castle of Good Hope

Puppy parent supplies

His winter jersey by the Vredehoek Ravine

August 23rd, why do I think he looks so mature?

Just the daily chill.

This is Lorenzo's pretty mom.  And maybe his dad behind her!? She is a Staffordshire  Terrier and dad is believed to be a pavement special: German shepherd, Africanis, mix!

First day at our home, Aug 7th.

Took this for size reference. I'm a size 8UK/9.5US.  He looks like a furry chicken deer.

This was our first sighting of him on African Tail's Facebook page.  He is 10wks here.   

  If you can adopt a dog, foster a dog, sponsor the welfare of a rescue dog or simply donate to

African Tales

Click through and make a difference.  

Afterwards, tell me your happy furever story.

   

     

Athens Graffiti Art Tells a Tale: Anti-Violence, Anti-Racist, Anti-Xenophobic

  I used to work in Exharia, Athens-Greece.  I read the walls from the Ommonia Metro station all the way to Exharia's platia.  For me, reading the walls shared the visual pulse of the city, the issues, the political climate, the stories unheard. Today, I don't read the walls.  I live in South Africa.  But today I read the Athens News from the internet: "Racist violence escalates." Citizens hating citizens, humans attacking humans within these man-made borders we create.

  The unrest in Greece is not isolated there.  The messages I read on the walls in Greece reaffirmed why I love graffiti.  They portray different headlines and display opinions in different syntax without a web address or a printing press.  Just some spray paint, a marker or a sticker will do.

  They are public forums.  Tales are told.  I took these photos last summer and the messages still ring true.  Anti-violence.  Anti-Xenophobic.  What is Xenios Zeus, the Athens police campaign to kick out anyone without govt. papers, going to do for the betterment of our world?   To all the writers in Athens: Keep pasting, keep writing peace on Athens streets and advocate for change.

A wheat paste paper sticker on the wall with the image of HATE.  Eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

This is my favorite of our cultural pluralism.  Freedom is a global right.

Greedy servings of the pie.  Austerity serving anyone?  Pro-Hemp stencil on the top right corner.

Anti-Nazi stencil, Anti-Prejudice, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobic!

The Television will not be Revolutionised

"Running from the thoughts, I keep bumping back into it, trying to get away-keeps dragging me into"
Note: look are the Burqa stencil and then the X over it. 

In the streets near the public university 

Anyone is a Citizen member

Pissing on the Golden Dawn (far-right political party in Athens, Greece)

   

 


  

Athena and Chris Go to Madagascar.

  Husband and wife team weave visuals and syntax about Madagascar.   Read all about it here on Wavescape's breaking news story:  I Like to Move it : In depth about the Malagasy travels!

 and yes, it was our honeymoon.              Thank you TrueBlue Travel for organising a sweet trip!

Pirogues in in Fort Dauphin Tolagnaro-Libanona Bay

Beer at Talinjoo

Young Malagasy girl braving the warm yet winter Indian ocean

Learning French and Malagasy along the way in order to get a meal!

We thought this Lemur reminded us of Desmond Tutu-blessing us with his wisdom of the forests

What Madagascar produces: Vanilla

Young Malagasy boy fishing from a handline in Fort Dauphin Tolagnaro

Reef fish off the coast in Fort Dauphin, Tolagnaro

Ring-tailed Lemur in the Nahampoana Reserve

South African dance documentary films: "I dance as if I have gun to my head" Pop, Lock 'n Roll

There are incredible stories to be told.  And dancers who use their body to express and encapsulate emotion is a language, a story in itself.  I filmed African Cypher Dance Session on my phone at Fly on the Wall Production House in Cape Town, December 16th, 2011: Dance crews that perform and compete at contests like the Red Bull Beat Battle in South Africa and around the world.  Check the trailer link below.

  I have always been captivated by music and dance.  I couldn't resist the urge to film on my phone in the dark warehouse above Roeland St in Cape Town.  The pantsula artists had woven a whole sequence of comedy, sex, violence and gender roles with innovative movements that put the whole cypher into a hypnosis.
Now, another fresh young filmaker, Ziggy Hofmeyr, is raising funds to share a story with the world about dance, love and quest.  Pop, Lock 'n Roll -- Indiegogo: http://igg.me/p/191398

  If we support filmmakers, creactivists, dancers: Culture . . . then we will be preserving a tapestry of identity.   Go on to IndieGogo and support the projects that speak to you. Or better yet, tell us when your next project is!

Watch the film African Cypher, and support South African films like Pop, Lock 'n Roll to be made.

Nonstop Dance Moves

Watch this video and by minute 2 you feel like you are watching him underwater, defying gravity and moving your screen.  Skills and Respect!

Video Love collage on our Beach Wedding Day: June 30th 2012

Our wonderful friend, Claire Homewood created this beautiful video montage of our wedding festival and ceremony on June 30th, 2012.  It is still so touching to relive those moments of supreme happiness and celebration with our family and friends.

 Umtamvuna River Lodge, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

You Can't See Me: South Africa Passes the Secrecy Bill

"You  must be going blind"

Criminalizing investigative journalism...a democracy-demolishing. This Tuesday's soundwave is sponsored by the Secrecy Bill passed in South Africa today "You can't See me."  The passing of the secrecy Bill in South Africa seeks to create a law-so that larger governing bodies to local municipalities, can classify a document 'secret' and place harsh penalties on whistleblowers.  Eish!

Bahamadia-Legend MC

   How come it took so long for me to come across the cunning crisp wordpoetress!?  This is what happens when you share music on a Sunday afternoon-you get the missing links to your music library.

  I'm inspired by her rhythmic flow and the platforms from which she expresses her wordplay. Manic Xsplosive Spontaneity.  Well explained, pure art form in lyrical soulfood.

 Her track, CommonWealth (Cheap Chicks) had me laughing, taking me back to my teenage years inside TJ Maxx.


   Play here:
 
   Bahamadia & Hezekiah: Gypsy Slang Track

Spontaneity cut

When I shine-Bahamadia & The Herbaliser

Quite a White Ou - Ndingumlungu - Full Version - YouTube

Quite a White Ou - Ndingumlungu - Full Version - YouTube: 'via Blog this'  The Music Video Link.

 HayiBo!

I had a lot of fun helping style some uMlungu outfits with Quite a White Ou.  So cool to see how everything came together. Thanks to Ubuntu Bridge, I got also go to up my Xhosa speaking skills to a Level 2.  It was a lot of useful learning.

In this video, eMzantsi definitely shows her true style around the Cape Peninsula.

 “Learn the Lyrics” video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogoLeUj2Y2U)

Or the lyrics can be found below:

INTRO:  Mamelani eh eh mamelani eh eh  x 2  – Listen y’all!

 CHORUS:

Ndisafunda isiXhosa                                    (Im still learning Xhosa)

Ndithetha kancinci.                                      (I speak a little only)

So Khawuzekelele                                       (So Please talk slowly)

xa uthetha nami                                           (when you speak with me)  X 2

VERSE 1:

Ndithetha kancinci kuba ndingumlungu*
I talk a little xhosa because I’m a white ou.

Ngikhuluma kancane kuba ndingumlungu
I talk a little zulu because I’m a white ou.

Andikwazi ukujiva kuba ndingumlungu
I don’t know how to dance because I’m a white ou.

Andikwazi ukucula kuba ndingumlungu
I don’t know how to sing because I’m a white ou.

REPEAT CHORUS:

VERSE 2:

Andithathi iteksi x2 kuba ndingumlungu
I don’t take taxis because I’m a white ou.

Ndiqhuba Mercedes x2 kuba ndingumlungu
I drive a Mercedes because I’m a white ou.

Andikwazi ukushela kuba ndingumlungu
I don’t pick up girls because I’m a white ou.

Ndithanda ukukempa kuba ndingumlungu
I love to camp because I’m a white ou.

Ndinxiba ishortsi kuba ndingumlungu
I wear shorts because I’m a white ou.

REPEAT CHORUS:

VERSE 3:

[Andiqondi (I don’t understand), andikuva (I don’t get you) x3, eh, andiqondi]  x 2.

VERSE 4:

Cool and Nice                                    Hot and Spice

Like vanilla ice                                    like pap n rice

You know I’m down,                        Come get down

Umlungu waseCape town                with ingamla yaseCape Town

(White guy from Cape Town)        (with the Whitey from Cape Town)

Hayi bo!!                                                Hayi bo!!                                                X 2:

  

The 10000m dash of the 13th IAAF World Championships and the spirit of community

  

This morning I watching the men’s 10,000 metre dash of the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea 2011.  We watched the athletes run with various paces and wondered about the strategy that goes through the runner’s minds on what lap to push yourself. What goes through your mind when you are on your last lap giving your all?  Great Britain runner, Mohammed Farah, was in the lead for the last two laps with the two Ethiopian competitors, Ibrahim Jeilan and Imane Merga, strides behind.  Then in the last lap, Ibrahim Jeilan, lengthened his strides and picked up his speed to win the race at 27:13:81. Click here for results.

   The two Ethiopian winners, 1st and 3rd, were celebrating together and ran with the proud red, yellow and green Ethiopian flag together around the track. The smiles and happiness in both men's eyes reminded me of the beautiful celebration as community, because of many, we are one.  If you had not watched the race you couldn't tell which of the Ethiopian athletes won 1st place, they shared extreme happiness as they were both winners.  There is pan-culture in the world that emphasizes the ‘me’ commonly found in Western countries that are focused on a capitalist-money dictating government that creates a culture surrounding those ideals.  But there are many people around the world, in and outside the ‘me’ capitalist systems that practice a culture of community.  The Ethiopian champions running a victory lap together was a beautiful physical representation of the culture of community support.  Instead of I am; We are.  We celebrate who we are because of each other!  I hope we continue to live in a world with these communal ideals.