PORTFOLIO

This portfolio is part of my Honours thesis. Kindly note due to size restrictions, few pages have been selected. The full thesis is a 63-page hardcover book titled

‘Movement’ An African migrant’s story, which contains designs, photographs, and articles that I consolidated.

‘M O V E M E N T’ An African migrant’s story

D I D I O N W U

I was born a foreigner. I met Eladius and Jeighman at a time where my identity was heavily contested by so-ciety. This is not my story. It is however, about two men whose journeys seem so different but are intricately similar. In late 2008 and early 2009 South Africa was rocked by xenophobic attacks. African foreigners were

the targets. Six years later, the narrative is still the same. Migrants and immigrants have an interesting position in the multicultural landscape that is South Africa. It is my hope to document a narrative that is prevalent within the South African context in terms of socio-economic, social and political identity. As the world deals with the migrant crisis across Europe, it is my hope that we all have the power to build bridges to be crossed. Even if my neighbour does not understand the language that I speak, the religion that I practice or even the politics I believe in, he can understand my story. If he can understand my story then he can understand me a little better. This is a 10-month journey of an African migrant’s movement.

“I only left because I wanted a better life. How can people like me be killed for something as simple as having hope for something better? Are we not all dreamers and hopers?” - Eladius

PREFACE

to Cape TownSeveral weeks earlier, I had been

listening to the radio and stumbled upon a story that had been

showcased for Africa month. It was Eddy’s (Eladius) story; a young man who left Tanzania for South Africa hoping for a better life. Surely, there was more to the story. I intended to find out. I’d known Eddy for four years. He was the friendly man at the food shop in the university’s cafeteria. It was like his smile enticed you more so than the food that was being sold. He was extremely friendly and welcoming. So, I knew when I approached him about my idea to interview and document parts of his life, he would not resist. Or if he did, he would be very polite about it. My interest in Eddy’s story is not out of randomness or sheer curiosity, it is founded in the issue of migrants in South Africa. In late 2008 and early 2009, parts of

South Africa broke out in xenophobic attacks; and in late 2015, history

repeated itself. Most dictionaries define “xenophobia” as a hatred or fear of foreigners” which combines the Greek words ‘xenos’ (foreign) with ‘phobos’ (fear). In South Africa, we’ve come to understand it as the often-violent dislike of foreigners who are frequently referred to as “the makwerekweres”.

Violent attacks aren’t restricted to xenophobic “hotspots” such as townships as one might often hear. Localised competition for political and economic power is also a trigger for such attacks.The vast majority of South Africans are not necessarily evicting foreigners from their neighbourhoods; nevertheless xenophobic attitudes are more prevalent

than many are ready to admit. As Xenophobia became the buzzword

and was traded over glib conversations, I pondered the idea of documenting an African migrant living in these times. I thought about my immediate community friends of friends who were immigrants or migrants themselves. What was their experience? What interesting stories did they have to tell me? It was then that I realised, through my own naiveté that I was looking for someone so “different” from the rest of South Africa, to help me tell the story. But in reality however, being a “foreigner” myself and a naturalized South African at the same time, I realised a lot of the foreigners I had come across have tried to embrace the South African culture whilst also trying to hold on to their own customs and traditions. So, finding a story in Eddy proved to be the best approach in enticing my curiosity with questions of identity and amalgamation.

“Xenophobic attitudes are more prevalent than many are ready to admit”

Cape Town, 2015“Stay True”

You know, I just want to inspire the younger ones. I lived on the streets for two years. I was beaten up by police becuase I didn’t

have the right papers and all I wanted was a better life and to follow my dreams. You have to be patient and trust it will be better. My bruises and scars are reminders that I have to keep on pushing. I never take anything for granted.

“ “

Cape Town, 2015

The WorkThe Walkand BeautyIn documenting Eddy’s story, I was further inspired and sought to seek out more stories of

migrants. Jeighman was one such story. Jeighman welcomed me with quiet wonder and vast intrigue. He is a young man who moved from Zimbabwe to South Africa. Maybe his narrative perhaps may seem somewhat monotonous but there is beauty in everyone’s journey and this is Jeighman’s version of assimilating into South Africa and it’s culture.

Newlands, 2015

Newlands, 2015Jeighman spent many months perfecting the art of making good coffee from a fellow Zimbabwean