Buyaphi University

Cape to Cairo including Madagascar. We were young and we swore by our words. Tommy is a big hearted Malagasy fellow. We shared a fruitful warm brotherly moment as photographers( student- teacher) for two years . If you say foreigners , I am not listening. On this day he came to Buyaphi university to say a simple meaningful thank you. We made a beautiful interactive tour of the neighbourhood.
The folly of borders.

Eve T is a Cameroonian living in Canada. She visited Buyaphi University 3 to 4 years ago. The tortoises took her on a neighbourhood tour. In exchange for her allowing them to use her one small film camera. Each participant had an opportunity to make 2 to 3 frames. Since the film has 36 frames. Everybody learned and exchanged ideas as equals. Upon arival in Canada, Eve T mailed back our processed film. She understood where it belongs. The visual history. And not having capacity to own a camera and unused film does not translate to being rendered powerless. A year or so later we entered into a 'collaboration' with Market Theatre Photo Workshop. They reluctantly provided 25 expensive cameras for 4 weeks. Reluctantly because "townships" are dangerous and unsafe. Kids did not even have to put extra efforts in guarding those cameras. Our community is educated in how kids should grow. The cameras were returned all in conditions they came in , safe and sound after 4 weeks. It is the images that the kids made that were not returned. That seems to be the dangerous and thuggerish part not out "township" . Our neighbourhood. The Market Theatre Photo Workshop continues to seek and find funding worth milions using our images. We as Buyaphi University community dont have those images. Over a 1000 images . Our life.Our history. Our memory. The matter pursued legally the Market Theatre Photo Workshop legal team would be paid by the parents of the 25 tortoises. As a overseas funded and state funded organisation/NGO/company. We are grateful to Eve T for showing respect for history in our neighbourhood.
Busang dinepe tsabana - Buyaphi University

Image: Eve T

" Busang dinepe tsa bana !!!" - Buyaphi University
Justice for Buyaphi University . MarketPhotoWorkshop must return images that were made by our 25 participants. 13 years at the time, now 15 years.
Participants have photographed over a 1000 images of their neighbourhood. Their family members. Their neighbours. Their humble homes including shacks. Their sacred places (imisamo) . Their games and more. Future Historical Visual Documents.
Market Theatre Photo Workshop has disappeared those images.
Between our inconsistent unsuccesful e mail correspondences the director of the institution suggested that why i am wanting old images of past project so late. Why only now.
This is a worldwide appeal for help to recover those images.
There is no photography without justice.
We are most grateful in advance.
"Who no know go know"
Image : Buyaphi University

"Who no know go know":

Till today we have not received over a 1000 images made by our 13 year old 25 kids at the university over 2 yrs ago. After Buyaphi University collaborated with Market Photo Workshop( MPW). We have not recieved our images from Bekie Ntini, Khona Dlamini and Bongani Mahlangu . These NGOs are not run by auto pilots. Individuals with kids and friends run these places. We have alerted the MTF CEO and former board of directors. We have alerted MPW former directors . To no fruition . MPW a subsidiary of the Market Theatre Foundation , MTF is a state organisation.. After numerous attempts we are nearing a conclusion that both institutions are corrupt to the core. A premise that the general public is going to find hard to believe even with proof clear. People generally want to be associated with power. Power cannot fail, faulter and be corrupt. That is besides the point . The crux is we want our photographs and we dont have our photographs. And we wont tire in seeking our history. Our almost reality is that when you are associated directly or indirectly with MPW, you are associated with corruption. Till our images are delivered! The most damaging effect any imstitution can have on its students , workers, colleagues , greater audience is for them to be unable to comment critically on an issue or a matter for fear of being excluded.Unfair monopoly on people s minds. Photography is about critical thinking not injustice.

"Kite on the wall" exclaimed one local pensioner. As Kutlwano Moagi is demonstrating his prompt art on the Buyaphi University wall today. Make art visible in the neighbourhood.

Siyazibongela

Buyaphi University is looking for legal minds to help us in recovering images made by our committed 25 participants,13 yrs olds in 2018/19 in collaboration with MarketPhotoWorkshop.Market Theatre Foundation subsidiary.Every mind is a legal mind. The stories made over a period of 5 weeks.Holding those cameras gave hope.Initially those cameras were not suppose to be kept in the neighbourood. "Townships are dangerous ".A misconception the kids disppelled with grace.All 25 expensive cameras were safely returned.Who is dangerous here? We have not recieved one image from that collaboration. We have in the last two years tried every possible means amicable to also have a share in those photographs. Unsuccessfully.

The reaction has been as laughable as the director of MPW naively telling us 'why have we taken so long in wanting our images.' Putting expiry date to photographs.No respect for neighbourhoods,history nor the very photography that the school(MPW) is known to train.
Prince Clause (European) , Open Society Foundation(US) , DAC(South African tax payer) would be indirectly involved,they financially support MPW projects.Rewarded often with most valueable project images.Images we dont possess.
Buyaphi University would tirelessly embark on worldwide demonstrations. Physically and online. MPW prides itself in having a strong legal team. Against 25 tiny bodies,creaters of the visual narrative. A strong legal team that is paid by parents of the kids.Since MPW is government funded institution.
In the language of Thomas Sankara we are a people who stand upright.We are not a poor township previously disadvantaged case.As we proved with our numerous self funded humble project that attracted even MPW. Open parents and community meeting soon to follow on this matter.
Justice is the cornerstone of photography!