Details
- Object type
digital artwork
- Title
pasichigare:we are nature
- Artist/Maker
Tawona Sitholé maker
- Place Associated
Scotland, Glasgow (place of manufacture); Africa, Southern Africa, Zimbabwe (place associated)
- Date
2017
- Materials
digital artwork
- Description
-
Digital poem presented in form of three panels, illustrated with ink line drawings. Black on white background in portrait orientation. ‘ganyamatope, my ancestral name, expresses my human family in relation to pasichigare – all of nature as one family. the human element is only one leaf of the big tree, as reflected in this collaborative work. This work was created by the poet Tawona Ganyamatope Sitholé and the visual artist Tarneem al Mousawi-Sitholé.’
Tawona Sitholé first wrote the poetry text, after which Tarneem al Mousawi-Sitholé further interpreted it into images in collaboration with Tawona. Using the family name 'ganyamatope' rather than first names removes the self from the centre and gives direct acknowledgement to the collective. This work is a reference to ancient wisdom, but is a reminder to contemporary society that we, humans, are not masters of nature. Just as the poet has done with his name, the human 'self' is being encouraged to acknowledge the collective - the family of nature
pasichigare: Glossary
‘Before I start, can I just be very clear about the personal nature of this lifestyle, language and poetry as lived by my own family. Similar are these translations/interpretations - please do not take these as universal.
Also, coming from a tradition of poetry, you can imagine how important language and its use are. There are as many writings, interpretations and explanations as there are gusts of wind. Most articles will speak of Shona this Shona that (my father's family are Ndau speakers for one), and of religious beliefs etc. but again this is not language I would use as I find it generally lacks depth and is fraught with misunderstanding. Anyway, most important is the ancestral family name’ (Tawona Sithole, 2018)
moyo: my ancestral family root name, spoken first followed by other names of acknowledgement (some say praise names but that's not how I choose to describe them)
chirandu: further name of acknowledgement
ganyamatopé: further name of acknowledgement
dambachirashwa: further name of acknowledgement
Panel 1
ndoreva héré: should i speak (Shona)
Panel 2
kutumbuka: overgrown (Shona)
muchongoyo: a warriors' dance (Ndau)
muchakata: a fruit-bearing medicinal tree, chosen as a place of meditation (Ndau)
Panel 3
musandifunga: don't remember me (Shona)
pasichigare: all nature as one family - a spiritual way of life based on love and respect of nature, respect of ancestors, and playing your role for the betterment of the community - some of which is expressed through playing Mbira, philosophy or other practices and ceremonies. Pasi (earth) chigare (in existence) meaning, we as people will come and go, but the earth remains. Various people may have their own interpretation, but this is our understanding and interpretation.
- ID Number
A.2017.4
- Location
Kelvingrove Cultural Connections