#Ndebeles

[draakart]

A Better World is Possible.

Solarpunk City for Andrewism's Solarpunk Collaboration. This is my dream for South Africa. A post-capitalist society that exists at peace with the natural world.

This is a city based in Namaqualand, a region in South Africa renowned for the stunning fields of wildflowers that rise after the first spring rains, transforming the landscape.

The houses are based on the Ndebele houses, which are constructed of clay, wood and thatch, with the walls sealed by animal fats to keep the buildings watertight. These buildings are excellent for the South African climate (go-figure), trapping heat in the walls during the day and releasing it during the very cold nights.

Most of the city's energy comes from wind turbines and solar-panels. The main transport system in the city is the web-like overlay of trams, each interconnected by wide footpaths. These footpaths are also used by emergency vehicles, should the need arise.

Some seasonal crops grown include pearl millet and cassava. The year-round food sources are cattle, poultry, sour fig and groundnut. During dry spells, where other crops fail, there are ample fruits from marula, sourplum and monkey orange.

The large dogs in the painting are Boerbols, which were traditionally used for lion hunting, but now act as guardians, especially to the children. The smell of livestock is bound to attract predators to the settlement, especially during lean times.

The guinea fowl are companion animals to the chooks, acting as sentries.

It may be a bit utopian, but we need utopias to spark our imaginations and to imagine what could be so that we can inform our decisions here and now. We have everything to lose. But we also have everything to gain. It's worth fighting for an egalitarian and just future.

For inspiration, see notes. I will attach some YT videos that helped keep me optimistic.

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, 2024. The latest BMW Art Car combines colour-change technology developed by BMW with the artistic language of South African Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu. In 1991, Mahlangu designed the 12th BMW Art Car, based on an E34 series BMW 525i – becoming the first woman and first African artist to do so. In the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, which is named after Mahlangu’s first son, sections of film that can be electronically animated are applied, with two strips each across the roof, bonnet and rear section, as well as the vehicle’s sides. The new car has been presented at the Frieze Los Angeles art fair

[urtopia]

[kemetic-dreams]

[ec-phrasis]

Esther Mahlangu, Ndebele Abstract, 2019

[portraits-of-afrikan-beauty]

[boredomdlux]

esther m 👑🪷💖🌍🌏🌎🌐✨💫

⏪ (((do u remember?)))

-the- art car... plz

'91 '91 🎶

[soweirdsonormal]

[itschaniesims]

Introducing: Chenge Ncube

She’s a spunky radio presenter who knows her way around the DJ booth and can play an electric guitar so good you’ll burst into tears.

Chenge is the daughter of a household name music legend in another part of the world, and she moved away from home at 19 to start her own life and career in Sarare. Now, being the child of such a person graced her with the skills to make it, and make it BIG as a music personality in town.

She occasionally records artists at the Media Studio and is said to have been part of the team that produced for the iconic Lady in Red.

When she’s not rocking out she’s either picking fights with Marie in the club

… or smugly stealing her invisible newspaper.

Honestly, she’s a busy woman.

I still haven’t figured out what her traits are but I’ll edit this to add them in later.

[workinprogress14]

home sick Matopos, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe

[postcard-from-the-past]

Ndebele leader from South Africa

British vintage postcard, mailed to The Hague, Netherlands

[floof-ghostie]

I'm so glad my family never told me the rock music was "yt ppl shit", as a matter of fact, many members of my family like rock music and introduced me to bands like Linkin Park at a young age.

[de-prototype]

Traveling my country is always an eye opener 😌

[ayandasays]

Public art.

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

[ec-phrasis]

Francina Ndimande, Composizione

[portraits-of-afrikan-beauty]