BLACK WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA CELEBRATED AT AFRIBEAT.COM!

FROM afribeat.com

An ode to the  traditional woman of Africa, in honoring our heritage and  identity.
	ZULU SUNRISE The woman is a traditional Zulu elder, photographed at the annual Zulu Reed Ceremony, whereby 10's of thousands of young Zulu maidens join in the ceremony to pay respect to the Zulu King.
	XHOSA WOMAN IN FIELD The woman is a Xhosa elder, who lives along with the Royal Xhosa family in the Transkei. Her body and face is painted in an ochre powdered clay.
	XHOSA AND NDEBELE WARRIOR Each woman represents a separate culture. The left woman is Xhosa, who was able to spilt tone her voice and the woman on the right is a well-known Ndebele musician. This was one of the first art pieces I put together, in 1993. Which is why the canvas is scratched :
	BARK TORSO The woman in this picture is a traditional Xhosa woman, photographed whilst getting dressed for performance with the San people in Namibia. She plays the mouth-bow instrument and sings.
	SAN SMILE Marcellla lives in the Kalahari. She is a traditional San woman, she is a mother of 5, sings as well as a healer and trance dancer.
	ALOE HEAD This woman is from a cultural group in Benoni. The aloe on her head represents the vast plant life that the woman, work with for healing in their communities .
	MADOSINI Madosini is a traditional Xhosa Woman, who has introduced the globe to the Uhadi instrument. She has performed at the WOMAD music festivals across the globe.
	NGQOKO THROAT SINGER : This traditional lady of the Transkei has the rare ability to do split throat singing.
	ZULU SUNFLOWERS Young Zulu Maidens photographed at the annual Zulu Reed Dance. Approx 15 000 virgins gather to celebrate their heritage at the dance.
ARTIST MOTIVATION : LIANNE COX In 2010 Lianne completed the documentary film !Gubi the Bushmen of the Kalahari, their philosophy and healing through trance. READ MORE In 1995, I went to spend time with a traditional Healer in the Transkei. My motivation was to come to understand this deep secretive knowledge and strong identity that the people in my country always projected in the most humble manner. During the time with the traditional healer, I had a dream. The dream consisted of traditionally dressed woman, standing on orange earth; I flew gently above them, passing each woman. The Healer told me the following morning that one day I would help these people. My motivation comes from this deep appreciation of these woman, who I have observed their strength over many years. It is my only way to give back to them what they have given to us, being the children of South Africa, and them our mothers. On a personal note, as a child growing up, the majority of our time and joy was spent with a Sesotho woman, who so honourably bought us up. Perhaps this is where the deep love started and never left. Only now I see a country that is fast forgetting the value of these mothers, and really believe that the spirit that is born through this work will do all that it can to keep it alive and protected. In doing this project, the aim has two purposes 1.Making prints of each art piece that they can be sold and the people or community in each picture will benefit financially. 2.To Celebrate South Africa. That people of our country will remember and respect the value of tradition, as the knowledge is gigantic. Hence carry more pride in being South African and less in being American.
for more information contact Lianne Cox