Friday Late, June: Afropolitans

24 June 2011

An evening exploring African photography, fashion, style and identity in celebration of the exhibition Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography.  This event looked back to image-makers who captured the excitement, optimism and sense of freedom of post-independence African nations from the 1960s, and forward to a new generation of Afropolitans, global tastemakers whose sensibilities are rooted in their African identities. 

All events are free and places designated on a first come, first served basis, unless stipulated otherwise.
Filming and photography will be taking place at this event.

Music

Spoek Mathambo Live
South African house music star Spoek Mathambo appeared in the UK for the first time, performing a live set with his band, direct from Cape Town. Spoek describes himself as ‘part of a new wave of energy in Africa, which is intent on nurturing a sense of progressiveness while maintaining a pride in culture’. We enjoyed the Afro-futurist sounds of this young rapper and DJ in the V&A Garden.
With thanks to ARISE, Africa’s global style and culture magazine

DJs Vamanos
DJs Vamanos (Ghetto Bassquake and Secousse Sound System) entertained in the Grand Entrance, playing contemporary African house and electro music including kuduro, Balani, coupe decale, souks, Kawaito, Pretoria House, Soweto funk and Funana Shangaan electro.

Installations

Salon by Hassan Hajjaj
Morroccan photographer and designer Hassan Hajjaj (previously shortlisted for the Jameel Prize) transformed the Grand Entrance into a North African-style salon where you could relax and enjoy a special cocktail from the Benugo bar.

Mr Somebody and Mr Nobody
Mr Somebody & Mr Nobody, an installation created by the South African-born, US-based design team of Heidi Chisholm and Sharon Lombard, offered a visual romp through an eclectic post-colonial landscape. Drawing on immigrant outsider experiences and playfully appropriating cultural icons from either side of the Atlantic, the designers explored cultural constructions, nationality and ex-pat identity. 
 
MsAfropolitan Presents the Rise of Afropolitan Fashion
Minna Salami (Founder of MsAfropolitan), assisted by creative director Ola Shobowale, presented a special, for one night only fashion show. We experienced the rise of an Afropolitan fashion aesthetic with outfits specially styled for the evening by top African designers such as Duro Olowu, Tiffany Amber, Jewel by Lisa, KemKem Studio, Eki Orleans and many more. Accompanied by a Kora instrumental by Jally Kebba Susso.

Screenings

Chris Saunders PHARA PHARA Films and Photographs
Short films and photographs documenting The Real Actions Panstula Dance Crew from Orange Farm, South Africa ran throughout the evening, complementing the house and electro sounds played by DJ Vamanos. Photographer and film maker Saunders investigated how this crew has transformed the lives of its members through dance.

Dolce Vita Africana (2008)
Dolce Vita Africana is a documentary about celebrated Malian photographer Malick Sidibe, whose iconic images of his country from the late 1950s to the 1970s captured the carefree spirit of his generation asserting their freedom after independence. The filmmakers travel to Sidibe's studio in Bamako to witness him at work and meet his sitters, whose personal stories also tell the history of Mali. Directed by Cosima Spender.

Stocktown South Africa (2011)
Directed by Teddy Goitom and Benjamin Taft, Stocktown South Africa takes viewers beyond the stereotypical stories coming out of South Africa. The documentary introduces metal band Ree-burth, the Soweto style setters, the Smarteez, and limpop music genre innovator Gazelle, amongst others, capturing the creative energy and street vibes of Cape Town and Johannesburg. With introduction by Goitom.

Workshops

African Portrait Photography Studio
We had our  portrait taken by Sal Idriss in a monochrome, Malick Sidibe-inspired West African portrait studio. We were inspired by the geometric backdrop of this specially-made studio and strutted our stuff for the camera. And we took away a souvenir print of our sitting.

Textiles Workshop: From Africa via London with Love
Textile designer Emamoke Ukeleghe helped us create our own unique scarf using simple screen-printing techniques. We printed colourful patterns onto Vlisco Dutch wax fabrics, and come away with a bold and beautiful scarf, great as a hair accessory or necktie!
Fabric provided by Vlisco

Talks

Panel Discussion: What is an Afropolitan?
A discussion on what it means to be an Afropolitan and what defined this generation of Africans and Diasporans. How does the group incorporate the cultural voice of Africa? How is it changing the socio-cultural perceptions of Africa, and is there such a thing as an Afropolitan aesthetic?

The discussion was chaired by Tolu Ogunlesi, an award-winning journalist, poet and fiction writer who is also a regular commentator on politics, arts and culture. Participants included: Hannah Pool (journalist, TV and radio personality, author and commentator on fashion, race and the politics of style); Lulu Kitololo (artist and designer with a passion for Africa and the arts); and Minna Salami (founder of MsAfropolitan, writer, blogger and consultant on African culture and gender related projects).

Textiles Talk: Expressions of Independence
Doctoral student Nicola Stylianou delivered an illustrated talk exploring how clothing was used in Nigeria and Ghana during the late 1950s and 1960s to celebrate independence and express cultural confidence. Nicola has been researching the V&A’s collections with a focus on how West African textiles are represented in the Museum.

Tour of David Goldblatt: Lifetimes Under Apartheid
A curator-led guided tour of the display Lifetimes Under Apartheid. Photographer David Goldblatt explored the social landscape of South Africa since the late 1940s. This display looks at those images that focus on the later years under Apartheid rule. It complements the exhibition Figures and Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography currently on view in the Porter Gallery.

Contacts

Spoek Mathambo
www.spoekmathambo.com
ARISE Magazine
www.arisemagazine.net
DJ Vamanos
http://ghettobassquake.com/
Hassan Hajjaj
www.hassan-hajjaj.com
Heidi Chisholm
www.heidichisholm.com
Minna Salami (MsAfropolitan)
www.msafropolitan.com
Chris Saunders
www.chrismsaunders.com
Teddy Goitom
www.soeasy.se
Benjamin Taft
www.taft.se
Sal Idriss
www.sal-idriss.com
Emamoke Ukeleghe
http://emamoke-ukeleghe.blogspot.com
Vlisco
www.vlisco.com
Tolu Ogunlesi
http://toluogunlesi.wordpress.com
Hannah Pool
www.guardian.co.uk/profile/hannahpool
Lulu Kitololo
www.lulukitololo.com

Also on tonight

Tickets for exhibitions can be purchased at the Information Desk in the Grand Entrance. Last entry is 20.45.

Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography
This exhibition presents the vibrant and sophisticated photographic culture that has emerged in post-apartheid South Africa. It features works by some of the most exciting and inventive photographers living and working in South Africa today. The photographs on display respond to the country's powerful rethinking of issues of identity across race, gender, class and politics.
Sponsored by Standard Bank

Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji Yamamoto is a visionary designer who has made a vital contribution to fashion, challenging traditional norms of clothing with his avant-garde style. This is his first major solo show in the UK and is an installation-based retrospective showcasing over 80 women’s and menswear garments.

The Cult of Beauty: The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900
This is the first major exhibition to comprehensively explore Aestheticism, an extraordinary artistic movement which sought to escape the ugliness and materialism of the Victorian era by creating a new kind of art and beauty.
Sponsored by Bank of Amercia Merrill Lynch
With further support from Liberty

Coming up

Web Weekend
Friday, 15 July 18.30-22.00
Saturday & Sunday, 16 & 17 July 10.30-17.00
An exciting weekend of free, fun and interactive events to celebrate the launch of the V&A’s new website.

FRIDAY LATE Summer Camp
Three Friday Late evenings come together this summer for a season of events unpicking the design process.  Workshop ideas, develop projects and work with designers to create your own designs.

IDEA
Friday, 29 July
DESIGN
Friday & Saturday, 26 & 27 August
MAKE
Friday, 30 September

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Souvenir ‘wrap’ for the menu created by Heidi Chisholm.