Zenzele in Cameroon

Zenzele Chulu is currently in Cameroon as part of artist Goddy Leye's Art Bakery residency programme.

Below follows an update on his experiences...

Arts Collaboratory.

Cameroon and Zambia.

VISA FREE AFRICA

The meeting of Goddy Leye and Zenzele Chulu at the Art Bakery Open Studio in the night was a milestone of how important exchange programme works. The two discussed for the first time in almost three hours of information exchange , sharing information concerning their networks which they are pioneering, they shared at great length the skills of managing the networks, with different but similar experiences of artists development in the local setting.They shared the bitter experience of the VISA story, they analyzed it in socio – political and in artistic terms.

Zenzele missed the very important email which could have avoided the Douala International Airport stress. Before departure from Lusaka he had to go the bank, attend a women’s art exhibition planning meeting and handover key Insakartists responsibilities to Vincentio Phiri and Mulenga Chafilwa. Broadband internet had stopped working at Henry Tayali Visual Arts Centre, so it was followed that Zenzele could not even check his email all the way through to Addis Ababa and then to Douala, as the travel plan was based on the earlier email of getting VISA upon arrival at the Airport advised by Goddy, but not knowing that VISA application had changed. He had to go and get forms from Yaounde, the Cameroon capital city.

Knowing things wont be easy, Goddy quickly sent Zenzele email to explain the new complex procedure of getting a VISA, but it was too late because Zenzele was aleady in Cameroon as Goddy was half way to Yaounde to get VISA authorization letter from Ministry of Home Affairs offices. Zenzele arrived at Douala at midday , he spent over two hours wondering where Goddy was, he did not have his phone number on only if he could access his email account which had Goddy’s mobile phone and telephone details. By fate line of events, there was no internet even at Douala International Airport, “ the economical capital of Cameroon”. It was second day for Zenzele without access to internet because of traveling connecting flights from Zambia to Ethiopia and the Cameroon. The panic and concern grew wide and far beyond Douala and Yaounde. He tried to call Alessio at Triangle Arts and he was not available, he then called back to Zambia ask Mulenga Chafilwa and Vincentio Phiri to open his email account and get Goddy’s contact details and text them by mobile phone, Chafilwa managed to send Goddy’s cell number by texting.

It was then that Zenzele called Goddy whilst detained in the Commissioners office at Douala airport after two hours of struggling to get his cell number. Until that time he understood the reason why Goddy was not at the airport to welcome him, Justine Gaga came after an hour later, but could not succeed solving the issue, another two hours was spent trying to reason and negotiate the release of Zenzele from stress of being at airport. Permission was granted way into the dark side of the evening and finally Zenzele and Gaga were on Douala yellow taxi on the way to the village of Bonendale, leaving the passport in the commission office, though the air ticket transcript was given back to him. He made himself home with humble hospitality of Justine and Estella, with a meal of roasted fish from near by Wouri River and miondo a local cassava paste strips wrapped in banana leaves. Man has to endure the offerings of social encounters and survive for the next day.

Zenzele ‘s prime destination, Art Bakery, is a small but dynamic art centre, has grown with the community of Bonendale village from the very beginning and is seen as the community friendly art institution, bringing artists from inner city of Douala and beyond and enrich the village full of creative spirit hovering around. It has existed within the neighborhood for six years with its own inspirational history as a centre for community based art synergy, has stimulated the growing interest in this artistic humble retreat . The village has over ten artists settled in it , including the first contemporary artist to set up a studio near Art Bakery, Joel Mpah Dooh whom Zenzele Chulu met in Abuja, Nigeria in 2007 during the first ARESUVA Conference and Exhibition. Artists have the responsibility to develop the culture of Bonandale by restoring many abandoned houses and using the artistic advantage of transforming them into art studios, residency, library, and cosy garden harmonizing with the aggressive forest, the natural force is so strong that it can engulf an entire building with trees and grass, pushing the cemented floor out of their way.

Goody Leye a well known Cameroon video artist, who decided to claim the present day Art Bakery building from the embracing forest, he is the pioneer of the Art Bakery idea, It was a tough hard working effort to transform abandoned structures. These houses were built in colonial days by wealthy Africans who benefited from the riches brought in by Wouri River merchants, some by Portuguese stock, who created a fresh water stop over for their wide sea voyages, Germans, French and other sea adventurers made Bonendale a prosperous village hence its no ordinary village. Today, history can be seen through the tired looking old houses, most being brought back to life by artists. Art Bakery is one of the them. Bonendale will in future become one of the world’s best known renowned art centres, a foremost artists colony in the country. It has a rich historical heritage which blends well with artists ambition. One day, one out of every five people there will be an artist in Bonendale.



Compiled by

Zenzele Chulu

1 Call for Residency Applications:
THE TULIPAMWE ARTS TRUST is a community empowerment project organized under the auspices of the VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA Professional, self-reliant, dynamic artists who work in any traditional or new visual arts media are invited to apply for the Tulipamwe Residency in Namibia from 12 April – 12 May 2010. Tulipamwe’s residency program offers the artist-in-residence an opportunity to live and work in Windhoek , capital of Namibia for a period of 4 weeks, giving the visiting artist the opportunity to integrate in the local artistic community and to respond to the local situation in his/her work. Tulipamwe endeavors to facilitate cultural exchange and creative dialogue in support of the international Triangle artists’ network, to which it is affiliated. Therefore the artist is welcome (but not obliged) to collaborate with Namibian artists during the residency. Artists are also encouraged to respond to their individual experience of the Namibian cultural environment in their work. Designed as an opportunity to grow creatively and to expand cultural horizons, the residency does not offer any kind of financial remuneration. However, Tulipamwe will endeavor to cover self-catering accommodation and basic materials, plus a daily allowance for meals and local transport. Tulipamwe will also, depending on the route of travel, attempt to cover international travel costs. However, artists who are able to attract financial assistance for their travel to/from Namibia (or part of it) will enjoy priority. (Applications can be submitted to ArtMovesAfrica who may assist with traveling costs of African artists). The artist-in-residence will be invited to offer a visual presentation and/or practical demonstration of his/her work to Namibian artists, students and the general public, thereby contributing to general education. Digital or analog equipment will be available for this presentation. Towards the end of the residency, the artist-in-residence will be invited to hold an open studio day, while the residency will culminate in an exhibition in a Windhoek gallery. Application details: Only email applications will be considered. The following need to be submitted: * A brief Curriculum Vitae, detailing your nationality, country of residence, training, specialization, exhibition record and workshop experience. * A letter motivating your intent * A recent photo of yourself * 5 jpeg images of your recent artworks, not older than 2 years * Names and e-mail address of two referees. * NB: your email must not exceed 1MB, including attachments. If you cannot include everything in 1MB, please send more than one email.
Application deadline: 19 February 2010For further information
contact: Nicky nickyma@mweb.com.na or Hercules hviljoen@unam.na
Website: http://www.artshost.org/tulipamwe 2

2 Call for Community Workshop 1 applications
TULIPAMWE VISUAL ART COMMUNITY WORKSHOP IN NAMIBIA 2010 THE TULIPAMWE ARTS TRUST is a community empowerment project organized under the auspices of the VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA Self-reliant, dynamic Namibian artists who work in any traditional or new visual arts media are invited to apply for the opportunity to offer a Tulipamwe Community Art workshop from 7 – 13 March 2010. Tulipamwe’s community outreach program offers the workshop artist an opportunity to work in a selected disadvantaged Namibian community for a period of 1 week, sharing knowledge and visual art techniques with local artists of that community. Tulipamwe supports the concept of artistic growth and learning through interaction, sharing of knowledge and skills, and active participation. Therefore the workshop artist will be encouraged to work closely with local community artists during the residency. The workshop artist is also encouraged to respond to the local environment in his/her choice of theme, material and technique. Apart from covering the workshop artist’s accommodation, meals, transport and basic workshop materials, Tulipamwe offers a daily honorarium (fee) to the workshop artist. Depending on the outcome, selected artworks created at the workshop may be exhibited in a Windhoek gallery. The workshop artist will also be invited to offer a visual presentation of his/her work to artists, students and the general public, following the workshop. Digital or analog equipment will be available for this presentation. Application details: Only email applications will be considered. The following need to be submitted: * A brief Curriculum Vitae, detailing your training, specialization, exhibition record and workshop experience. * A letter motivating your intent * A recent photo of yourself * 5 jpeg images of your recent artworks, not older than 2 years. * NB: your email must not exceed 1MB, including attachments. If you cannot include everything in 1MB, please send more than one email.Application deadline: 5 February 2010For further information contact: Nicky nickyma@mweb.com.na or Hercules hviljoen@unam.na Website: http://www.artshost.org/tulipamwe