Creative Knowledge Resources

🗓️ 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧 | Join CKR Fellow, 𝗦𝗶𝗵𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗮 ( ) in merging her creative and intellectual interests through a project titled 𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘰 𝘚𝘦𝘻𝘶𝘭𝘶.

On 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟯 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 from 𝟮-𝟰𝗽𝗺 at the Durban University of Technology (), 𝗦𝗶𝗵𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝘀𝗮 and artists 𝗣𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗲 ( ), 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗡𝗴𝗶𝗱𝗶 () ss well as another CKR Fellow, 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗲 (.hlongwane) discuss 𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘰 𝘚𝘦𝘻𝘶𝘭𝘶, working through epistemic and aesthetic modes to understand the social disharmony of KZN as a function of geological, industrial and ecological extraction.

𝘐𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘰 𝘚𝘦𝘻𝘶𝘭𝘶 translates to weather in isiZulu — the most spoken language in South Africa. Weather, black critical studies scholar Christina Sharpe describes as that set of conditions under which black life is constructed and constrained. Violence has shaped the ontic contours of blackness and mapped out the possibilities for black life.

Black life is also indexed to a myriad of ecological and geological entanglements. Black life is made particularly vulnerable to climate change and ecological decline, indicating that the crisis of racial capital modernity has far reaching consequences.

💌 You’re invited to come feast 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 🇵🇸 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 prepared by Cape Falasten (). This is for the conclusion of the exhibitions 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 by Gazan artist, Mai Elshaer (); and 𝙄𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 featuring the South African Foundation for Islamic Art (). The closing feast is from 𝟭𝟳.𝟬𝟬 on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟯𝟬 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 at the 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘆 (𝗥𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆) 𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗖𝗧’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀.

Both exhibitions are still currently on at The Michaelis Galleries () until Thursday, 30 October 2025.

Come join us as we present two new exhibitions at Michaelis Galleries () on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟱 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 from 𝟭𝟳.𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟭𝟳.𝟬𝟬!

𝙄𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 is in collaboration with the South African Foundation of Islamic Art () and unifies multiple genealogies and heritage, some of which span more than 2000 years in Africa and the Middle East, while others, like Ndebele mural art, were developed in the 19th century.

Meanwhile, 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 is a solo exhibition by CKR fellow and 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝗠𝗮𝗶 𝗘𝗹𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗿 (). Her exhibition explores the experience of internal exile and psychological displacement within the context of Gaza’s ongoing siege and humanitarian crisis. Through four large-scale oil portraits and installation, 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 reflects on the personal and collective journey of survival under genocide, siege and trauma.

Professor in Art History and Visual Culture at the University of Cape Town, Nomusa Makhubu –– alongside some SAFIA members and Elshaer –– will give remarks to formally open both exhibitions as part of research initiative, CKR.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗦 🔔 | As part of an Islamic Art exhibition programme coming up in October, we have teamed up with the South African Foundation of Islamic Art () to bring a series of workshops at Michaelis School of Fine Art - for free!

The first workshop is on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟰 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟭𝗮𝗺-𝟭𝗽𝗺 and is on the unique fusion of 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆, hosted by 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗵𝗮 𝗝𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺-𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁 (). Space is limited to 12 participants and advanced bookings are neccesary!

Meanwhile, on 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟭 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 we’re hosting a 𝟮-𝗶𝗻-𝟭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 with back-to-back sessions on drawing 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 as well as 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗶 & 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 facilitated by 𝗜𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗿 ( ) and 𝗭𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺 () respectively.

‼️ 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆.

𝗧𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 📧: [email protected]

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗦 🔔 | As part of an Islamic Art exhibition programme coming up in October, we have teamed up with the South African Foundation of Islamic Art () to bring a series of workshops at Michaelis School of Fine Art - for free!

The first workshop is on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟰 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟭𝗮𝗺-𝟭𝗽𝗺 and is on the unique fusion of 𝗔𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆, hosted by 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗵𝗮 𝗝𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺-𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁 (). Space is limited to 12 participants and advanced bookings are neccesary!

Meanwhile, on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟮𝟭 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 we’re hosting a 𝟮-𝗶𝗻-𝟭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 with back-to-back sessions on drawing 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 as well as 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗶 & 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 facilitated by 𝗜𝗴𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗿 ( ) and 𝗭𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺 () respectively.

‼️ 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗦𝗩𝗣𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆.

𝗧𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 📧: [email protected]

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗥 ✍🏾 | In this poetic mixed-medium poetic interview, valiant / waiyaki / wamuoyo () interviews three of the women they consider their “art-mothers”, veteran vessels of art in East Africa: Chelenge van Rampelberg, Theresa Musoke, and Tabitha wa Thuku.

In the activity and the publication of the interviews, they include readings of the ekphrastic poetry that they have written about these mothers’ work, and the work that was also present in the recent Nairobi exhibitions that featured them.

valiant / waiyaki / wamuoyo explores – through poetry and conversation – the possibilities of firmly establishing clear and true and intimate knowledge of artistic lineages in East Africa, knowledges that will not be washed away, neither by forgettings nor by masculinisations of history.
𝗥𝗮’𝗶𝘁, who also presents their creations as 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 / 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗸𝗶 / 𝘄𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗼𝘆𝗼, is a portal by nature, and a betterer by choice. They practice as a spirit artist – a knowing bridge between the realms – through their work in writing & performing poetry; in holding conversation/space; and, in inducing words & feelings to dance, to flow, and to free. They share their time as a diviner, a channel, and an activator as Mganga Msupuu, travelling the African continent and seeking to support all who receive into deeper connection with themselves, their Sovereignty, and the Benevolences that surround them. Ra’it & their work have the effect of calming, of soothing-saying, of encoding & activating: of helping us set ourselves, and keep ourselves, freer & freer.

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗢𝗢𝗡 🔔 | This Thursday, 19 June 2025 from 17h00, the musician, performer, inventor and community builder Dr Thokozani Mhlambi () presents 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙭 𝘽𝙤𝙠𝙬𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮: 𝙇𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 at the University of Cape Town’s Bindery Theatre Lab on the Hiddingh Campus.

Dr Mhlambi’s presentation begins with an intellectual sketch of Bokwe, which follows the approach of Ntongela Masilela in his New African Movement website. After the sketch, musical rendition will be performed by Mhlambi and contemporary dancer, Kholisile Theo Ndindwa as well as the launch of the music video: Plea for Africa composed by John Knox Bokwe and recorded by Dr Mhlambi (feat. Lonwabo Mafani).

This event is free of charge but RSVP is required via [email protected].

Refreshments and light snacks will be served.

𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 📬 | Between this week and the next, Creative Knowledge Resources (CKR) will be hosting two exciting events from our current fellow 𝗩𝗼𝗻𝗶 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗶 (.baloyi) and CKR PostDoc alumni, 𝗗𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗠𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶 () !

This 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟯 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 from 𝟭𝟴𝗵𝟬𝟬, Baloyi launches an exhibition she has curated — inspired by the title of Nadia Davids’ seminal play (2006), “At their Feet” — that breaks down the silos of artistic production by pairing artists and asking them to instill practices of care by being in service to their fellow colleague. The exhibition will be held at 𝗟𝗲𝗺𝗸𝘂𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘆 () in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, next week 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 from 𝟭𝟳𝗵𝟬𝟬, the musician, performer, inventor and community builder 𝗗𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗻𝗶 𝗠𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶 will be presenting “Playing John Knox Bokwe Today: Launch of Plea for Africa” at the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻’𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯 on the 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀.

For Playing John Knox Bokwe Today: Launch of Plea for Africa Dr Mhlambi’s presentation begins with an intellectual sketch of Bokwe, which follows the approach of Ntongela Masilela in his New African Movement website. After the talk, musical rendition will be performed by Mhlambi and contemporary dancer, Kholisile Theo Ndindwa as well as the launch of the music video: Plea for Africa composed by John Knox Bokwe and recorded by Dr Mhlambi (feat. Lonwabo Mafani).

All events are 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 of charge!

✍🏽 COMMISSIONED WRITER | Kim M Reynolds () reflects on questions of diasporic returns to the continent of Africa, looking at how this practice is easily ruptured, even as the contemporary logistics of “return” are straightforward, and increasingly advertised in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. She suggests that return cannot be motivated only by a desire of individual standing or collectively romanticised — that perhaps, it shouldn’t be considered so literally, or at all.

🔍 Click on our website and go to the 𝘣𝘰𝘱𝘢 tab 🌍

𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗠 𝗥𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 is a critical media scholar, writer, poet, and cultural worker from Ohio in the US, based in Cape Town, South Africa whose work focuses on the narrative and critique of Black arts and politics. Kim holds two master’s degrees in critical media and Black film from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and University of Cape Town (UCT), with distinction. Kim is currently a freelance writer and co-convening lecturer at UCT on racialised trauma and Black q***r feminist media analysis. She is also currently an artist fellow with the Octopus Programme and the Centre For The Less Good Idea. Lastly, Kim is a co-leader of the research and organizing collective Our Data Bodies, which examines how technology and big data reproduce white supremacy. Her written work has appeared in New Frame, VICE, Mail & Guardian, Black Youth Project, GroundUp News, Teen Vogue and her poetry is a part of the 2021 anthology Woven With Brown Thread.

✍🏾 COMMISSIONED WRITER | Artist Adjo Kisser ( ) speaks to CKR Researcher, Amogelang Maledu () about collective art practices and the role of eavesdropping in her art making.

🔍 Click on our website and go to the 𝘣𝘰𝘱𝘢 tab 🌍

Adjo Kisser (b. 1992) is an artist whose interest in narratives, and the archival form has resulted in recent investigations into sound, collectivity and the cultural initiatives of liberation movements across the continent of Africa. However, Accra, as one of the city-studios where national infrastructure was used in the broadcasting of anti-colonial sentiments and ideas, becomes an important springboard in her research.

Kisser is currently pursuing a PhD in Painting and Sculpture at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she lectures and remains an active member of blaxTARLINES KUMASI () – an experimental incubator for contemporary art. She has exhibited in Ghana and Germany, the most recent being UmStand der Dinge: A State of Affairs in HFBK, Hamburg. She currently lives and works in Kumasi and Accra, Ghana.