Art and Social Justice School workshop held at Bashokuhle Primary School

Learners with AFH Facilitator, Lethuxolo Langa analysing
the banner

On the 14 May, Art for Humanity headed to Umlazi’s BB Section to host the second Art and Social Justice School Workshop for 2012 at Bashokuhle Higher Primary School. 

The workshop started at 10:30 am and consisted of an exuberant 40 learners from grades 5, 6 and 7.  The workshop was facilitated by AFH Director Jan Jordaan, Manager, Lungile Gumede, Art administrator Lethuxolo Langa, Media Administrator Thireshni Sanasy and Poet Brian Gumede.  The workshop began with an introduction by Jan Jordaan, thereafter the learners were taken to the banner installed on their school building by AFH. The banner showcased the artwork “The Sound of an African Drum” by Nigerian artist Joseph Madisia, together with a poem also entitled “The Sound of an African Drum” by Luness Mpunwa-Mhlope.  The gathering of learners led to much excitement and most of the students were not afraid to voice their opinions concerning their interpretation of the artwork and poetry. 

A learner during the workshop

Once the learners were back in the classroom, they got down to documenting their ideas and thoughts in the form of art and poetry.  Creating artwork on various social topics such as aids, violence and abuse, the young learners proved to show great knowledge and observation to the problems around them.  Grade 6 learner, Nosipho Decarlos said, “My artwork is about blooded hands and people fighting with each other and killing each other as Africans.”  She added that she would really like for AFH to host another workshop because through the workshop she has a chance of showing her talent. 

The response from the learners during the workshop were all positive and most of the students showed much excitement towards the workshop.  12 year old Thuli said, “I think the workshops are good because they make our dreams come true.”

Vuyisile Mqedlano (12) reciting her poem

 The poet, Brian Gumede took the spotlight as he performed poetry.  The crowd which consisted off the learners and various subject educators were impressed with his performance.    Brian set the tone for the learners performances as they showed no shyness when having to recite their original poetry.  A grade 7 seven learner, Thuli recited her poetry which was based on “people selling their bodies and their lives”  she made mention of how young girls today dress in short skirts and do not realise that their morality is being lost by their choice of fashion.   

Tiny Vuyisile Mqedlano (12) also of grade 7 showed off her drawing of the South African Flag and wrote a poem based on the significance of the flag.  Adding that she thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.

The workshop ended with AFH facilitator Lethuxolo Langa being flanked by the learners who wanted a hug and to know of the return date of AFH.  

Art for Humanity (AFH) shall be hosting an Art and Social Justice School workshop at Bashokuhle Primary School (BB Section, Umlazi) at 11:00 on Friday (11/05/2012). 

Banner installed 

Bashokuhle Primary School is one of the schools chosen for the AFH Art and Social Justice Workshops 2012.  The 2 hour long workshops are in aim to advocate human rights and social justice issues through art and poetry and allow the learner’s the freedom to fully embrace their creative and imaginative side, by expressing themselves freely through art and poetry. 

The Art and Social Justice School workshops have had all positive reviews in the past and this project has been in operation since 1998 with workshops being held at various schools within KwaZulu-Natal.   

About the workshop

The Art and Social Justice School Workshop consist of a permanent high quality banner being installed on the school premises which visualises art and poetry from AFH projects/portfolios, in the case of Bashokuhle Primary School, two banners were installed on request.   The workshop is facilitated by AFH Director- Jan  Jordaan, Manager- Lungi Gumede, Art Administrator- Lethu Langa, Media Administrator – Thireshni Sanasy and Hip Hop Poet – Brian Gumede.   

The workshop, depending on the size of the group of learners, 20 - 40, the group is divided into two, (i.) the art group and (ii.) the poetry group. The artists will then workshop with the learners facilitating their response through their own drawings and paintings to the art and the messages. (AFH supplies the art materials and paper.)

Banner installed within the school building 

The poet in turn facilitate the learners responses to the poem on display through the learners own interpretation of the poem. Art for Humanity journalism and fine art interns/students from the respective Durban University of Technology departments assist the pupils to create their own responses to the art and poetry banners on display at the participating schools.

A representative from the South African Human Rights Commission also gives a presentation to the learners and a discussion takes place on the importance of human rights and responsibilities. 

Refreshments for the learners are provided by AFH and Learners present their art and poetry, resulting from the workshop, to the rest of the learners, teachers present and the AFH facilitators. 

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ietmxZvShBg

For more on the AFH school workshop please visit our website:  www.afh.org.za / http://www.afh.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=294&Itemid=135http://www.afh.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=294&Itemid=135

Below are images of the Banners which was installed on the premises of Bashokhule Primary School 

Art and Social Justice School Workshops 2012 Set to Take off!

It is that time of the year again, when Art for Humanity sets out on our adventurous Art and Social Justice school workshops!  Our first stop for the year is at Umbilo Secondary in Wentworth on the 05 May! 

School Banner installed Bonela Secondary 

Ogwini Technical School learners during the 2010 workshop

The Art and Social Justice School workshops was formed in 1998, and are in aim to advocate human rights and social justice issues through art and poetry within schools.  Each school receives a large banner which has artwork and poetry from the various AFH projects such as 'Women for Children, Break the Silence, UDHR and the Dialogue Among Civilizations Print Portfolios.  The workshop then consists of AFH facilitators assisting a group of learners whilst they participate in the workshop by making art and writing poetry which the finally perform to the class at the end.  In the past four years, AFH has hosted numerous workshops through out the KwaZulu-Natal area and the response from educators and learners of the schools have up to date been phenomenal, with many of the schools asking for us to return.  Learners who had lacked confidence took to the stage of the school workshops performing poetry and showing off the artwork they had done.  

AFH shall be hosting a minimum of 13 Art and Social Justice school workshops this year! if you wish for more information on the workshops, please email us at afh@dut.ac.za 

AFH Director Jan Jordaan with learners during a 2010 workshop

Freedom from Discrimination

Freedom from Discrimination:  A right vital to us all! 

A documentary by BBC news, looking back on the "beginning of the end of apartheid"  20 years after Nelson Mandela was released from prison.  

Universal Deceleration of Human Rights International Print Portfolio:

Article 2: Freedom from Discrimination

Yeda Maria Correa De Oliveira "For a Human World" (Brazil

320 x 475mm aquatint 607 x 428mm paper size

Artist statement: Yeda Maria Correa De Oliveira 

Regardless of colour, sex and creed, all people are entitled to a decent life, which is beyond equality in employment, medical care and leisure.
Above economic and social rights, every human being on this earth has the right, to have his / her dignity protected and preserved but that will not be achieved until ethnocentrism and imperialism and sexism are swept off the planet. Until then, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will not be fully understood

Freedom from State or personal Interference

As Freedom Day looms, AFH takes you through the Universal Deceleration of Human Rights International Print Portfolio.  The first image for the week:


Article 30: Freedom from State or personal Interference"

Faiza Galdhari "Irony" (South Africa) 

570 x 255mm linocut 607 x 428mm paper size 

Artist Statement:  

"My visual response to the article was interpreted in terms of a lino-cut. The softness of the lino block was preferred to wood.
This, I felt, lent itself well to the issues which I grappled with in the subject matter, viz. commentary on the rights of women and Muslim women in particular, in relation to the idea of state and personal intervention regarding the bill of rights.
Since this article is very broad in that it deals with non-intervention in any of the other 29 articles, I thought it would be acceptable to comment on the idea of women’s rights from an Islamic perspective, bearing in mind the article concerning freedom of religious beliefs etc.
I have used the idea of the hand, the eye and the barcode, all symbols which are quite universal and useful as means of identification. These symbols highlight their purpose in a world where not only material items but human beings are coded, recorded and quickly categorised or identified. The posture of the hand and the official nature of the symbols was meant to comment on the idea of non-intervention, either personally or through the State.
The fact that I have chosen to use a woman’s hand, complete with wedding rings, reinforces the importance of woman universally and the sanctity of marriage in the Islamic context. I have also used the work as a platform to play on the ironies that exist regarding "freedom" in the present world and the irony surrounding western misconceptions about "oppression" in the Muslim world."

About the UDHR IPP: 
AFH's second portfolio, UDHR IPP (1999) contains artwork from various, talented artists from around the world.  The prints are drawn from a variety of cultural and historical perspectives yet send a universal message of human rights.
For more on the UDHR IPP visit our website

"Banned" used as Mask.

Ela Gandhi with three people sporting the "Banned" masks.  

The Durban based Amnesty International Group held a reading of Liu Xiaobo's poems on Human Rights Day  this year.  
The reading which was a worldwide initiative was held to 'highlight the unjust imprisonment of Liu Xiaobo and the incommunicado status of his wife.' - Coral Vinsen.  


Ela Gandhi granddaughter of Gandhi who attended the event read one of Liu Xiabobo's poems whilst being flanked by  people wearing masks  that had the artwork, "Banned" by Tibetan artist Gonkar Gyatso (right), which is part of Art for Humanity's Universal Declarations of Human Rights (UDHR) Print Portfolio.  


The artwork was done by the exiled artist for the "Right to Freedom of Speech" clause under the Universal Deceleration of Human Rights.  


For more information on the UDHR portfolio, please click HERE 

The Dialogue Among Civilization (DAC) Print Portfolio

The Dialogue Among Civilizations Print Portfolio which focuses on issues such as xenophobia, racism and refugees will be exhibiting at the FADA Gallery in the University of Johannesburg, from the 26 March-27 April 2012.

The exhibition is centered around building and informing the public's knowledge on how to combat affairs such as xenophobia, racism and the influx of refugees that stare South Africa in the face today. In essence, they affect and prevent all South African's from potentially growing into a nation which symbolizes civil rights and unity in diversity.