Growing up in various parts of post-apartheid South Africa, I have been aware of events that mark the country’s transition.
Yet in many cases, I have been unaware of the full story and meaning behind
these events, especially those that happened when I was a boy.
The rapid influx of information today only lets us glance at events and
stories before they abruptly get taken over by other happenings – which
too fade. In this process, lessons that sometimes significantly impact the
South African socio-political landscape, even subconsciously, are not
given the attention and meditation they deserve. I needed to revisit and
explore in-depth the country’s past — the circumstance and consequences
thereof.
My purpose in producing this publication was to learn more, to become
more conscious of who I am in relation to who we are as a nation.
I embarked on a wide-ranging research project, dissecting the country’s
history from 1985 to 2015, finally choosing to focus on one key event
that impacted South Africa most significantly each year. I then described
each of the thirty events in a brief and lucid write-up, visualized by one
unique illustration per event. The illustrations serve to depict raw insights,
intricacies and meanings about the events, whilst maintaining enough
ambiguity to allow the audience to personally interpret the work.
It is a history book that doesn’t look like a history book, a 30-year graphic
overview that has added dimension to my perspective. I have created
this publication in order to share this consciousness – to reach and touch
other young South Africans who, like myself, wish they knew more about
what it means to be South African.
“Umva” – Xhosa for “behind”.
Thirty Years Of South Africa Illustrated
