Afrika burns:”There is no time. There is no money.”
Feel like something out of this world that involves community participation, arts and pop-up culture? Tired of money money money work work work and bling bling [bling]? Go get amongst the GIFT ECONOMY at Afrika Burns this year and get away from it all. Thanks to Horn for the inspiring words and pics…
Afrika Burns was held for the 1st time in Africa from the 22-25 November 2007 in Tankwa town, Karoo. There is actually no town there at all. It is halfway down the most remote road in SA. Tankwa Town is 113 km down the longest road in SA that has no town on it. In the desert This is an art Festival….no ordinary art festival- It is totally participant created. There is nothing there to begin with and each camp creates something , whether it’s an art installation, a camp or just getting involved and volunteering.
Afrikaburns….the regional event for the burning man festival- is an experiment in temporary community building. Every thing that is brought in must be taken away. It’s a haven for radical self expression, self reliance and non commercialism. Nothing can be bought or sold, and you have to bring everything that will allow you to survive, encouraging the culture of environmental mindfulness, which is leaving no matter out of place.
Afrika burns is probably some of the most amazing 4 days you can have: building, creating, making friends, helping out, making a difference and going on missions. There is no time. There is no money , there are no things to buy or pay for.
So what this all means is that you get together with a bunch of friends, colleagues, strangers and you plan and build a camp. There were 28 themed camps this year with each camp having a theme to add to the whole event:
– “Camp Vuvuzela”, who were definitely the most organised, they put together a stage and a dance floor, with chill out areas, couches, pillows and all. They put on a myriad of tunes and acts on stage, from percussion to trance, they also had a mobile DJ mutant vehicle in the “vuvu van” (a mutant vehicle that was once a landrover that had decks, amps, speakers, adorned with orange and pink fur who’s sole purpose was to attended other camps events and add some tunes if needed.
– Then there was the amazing Burning Mail – they erected a fully functioning post office in the middle of the desert , complete with typewriters, especially designed postcards and delivery anywhere in the world. They also delivered to the next camp (via bicycle) or if there was no address they were burned. They had more than 2000 postcards posted. These guys also put up a balloon forest with 600 helium balloons in the desert.
– Next door was the desert Rose, who put up a saloon with a choice of 6 free cocktails for 4 days. Complete with saloon doors and a BEEG party n the Saturday Night.
– The Metal Heads were forging steel and bashing out leaves for a tree made of steel, blowing up anvils 50 feet into the air with gunpowder !
– Then there was Party-cipation who also put on music for the entire stay. There were various sculptures that were built to be burned in controlled burns with pyro guys. There was the Burning man, the Turbine, and many more.
All of these activities are free of charge. The more people got involved the more they got out of it
Community offerings range from astounding large-scale interactive art installations, through music and performance installations, all the way down to small quaint interpersonal offerings between fellow participants (the person who kindly offers wet-wipes to all those exiting toilets, a cooling spray from a water filled spray bottle on a hot day). This “gift economy” means that here is no commercial exchange at the event – no vending, no cash bars and no branded promotion of services or products, the aim being real social interaction. It is an exercise in total self-reliance: participants camp for four days and provide entirely for themselves, including all their water, shelter and food needs. The entire festival is created by voluntary participants who invest their own personal skills, resources, time and money in the shared project of self expression and creating, for a few days: a Utopian vision. If you come to Afrika Burns, you must participate in whatever way you can. There are no spectators.
This is the most fun I have had in years (and I like having fun ), it is not a hippy trance party, it is the best thing you can do in 2008. Remember go big, everyone else will be, and every person that was there this year will be bringing 30 of their closest friends, it is that good !!!!! Come and play next Year check out www.afrikaburns.com
