Make it burn

22 Sep 2009

Leaving behind our urban constructs to participate in this year's Afrikaburns "Invent", held in the Tankwa Karoo National Park from 9 - 13 September, to live in a tent without access to any urban conveniences whatsoever, calls to mind a way of life at once ancient and tribal and also discomfortingly contemporary - a reminder of the millions in our midst without any of the benefits of the urban comforts many take for granted.

If nothing else this is reason enough to take up the cudgel and respond to the ideals of Afrikaburns to come together "... to make a conscious decision... to invent the world anew."

To this end, a 1500 - 2000 strong assortment of the country's most resourceful, intrepid and creative bodies and souls, brave the elements in the pursuit of anything that is the antithesis of the commercial, the commoditised and the self-indulgent.

The emphasis of the installations, theme camps, art cars, performance art, music and gifting is on community building, civic responsibility, radical inclusion, self-reliance, self-expression, respect for the environment and alternative ways of being.

Among the countless acts of selfless self-expression - the icon or symbol of the event - the Sanclan or burning man himself - was this year built in a collaboration by the guru Egon Tania, Kobus le Grange, Motsomai Moloi and associates. Other standout experiences include The Homeless Hotel by Kayden aka Zion, the Ego check booth and the Wish - built by Key AB players, Brendan Smithers and the Upsetters in 2008 - and ceremoniously burnt this year in a blaze of glory for Welcome Nobila who died tragically during the preparations for this year's event.

Apart from being seriously fun, outrageous, crazy, weird and extreme, Afrikaburn may be pointing the way to a new kind of creative economy, where nothing is of any commercial value and barter the only means of exchange. In this instance it would obviously be in one¹s best interests to have something to give in return for essential commodities such as water and beer. The event is mercifully is not recommended for the faint hearted or bystander variety of human, but perfect for those who wish to collaborate, create or contribute something of themselves for the benefit of the whole.

For more info, go to http://www.afrikaburns.com/.