This 3 channel video installation was completed as part of ‘Listening at The Edge’, a two year art project funded by Pro Helvetia and led by Christophe Fellay (CH) and Jill Richards (SA). The videos were shot on site in Johannesburg as part of the open, collaborative sessions hosted at the Centre for The Less Good Idea in August 2022 and later at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2023.

‘Movement in three parts (Isandlwana)’ is meant to be displayed as a video installation with three separate hanging screens.

The Battle of Insandlwana (22 January 1879) was a major defeat for the British forces by the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa during the Anglo Boer War. Notably it was also the last time the British would use underage boys as part of their battle regiments, a practice mostly associated with the use of drums (and rummer boys) on the battlefield. In turn modern drumming evolved partially by way of the use of drums to communicate commands on the battlefield, especially through the influence of the Swiss Army and its use of the snare on the battlefield from roundabout the 14th century onward. Today the use of snare drums are commonplace in almost all popular music around the world.

In this artwork the ideas of sound, language and history are uncomfortably brought together to reflect upon the lasting legacy of colonial policies and practices in Africa and indeed the world. For example, post-colonial nation states and their respective leaders are often deeply implicated in ongoing abuses and misuses of power, whether during times of war or (subsequent) peace. But in war there are no clean hands and children still pay the price for our unwillingness to resolve conflict thoughtfully and peacefully. Matters of restitution (of colonial spoils including art and artifacts as well as the depletion of natural resources) are brought forward by the inclusion of dancing the bird’s feet – those of an antique Turaco bird skin (or ‘Loerie’) collected and relocated to London circa 1885. I purchased the skin in London circa 2009 and brought it back with me to South Africa upon my return roundabout 2013.

Video credits:
Johan Thom (videography, editing, concept and artistic direction)
Sound editing: Christophe Fellay.
Performers: Christophe Fellay (drummer, center channel); Micca Manganye (percussion, left channel) & Thulisile Binda (dancer, right channel).

Weblinks:
https://johannesburg.prohelvetia.org/en/2022/11/07/to-gather-listening-at-the-edge/
https://lessgoodidea.com/
http://www.johanthom.com
https://www.christophefellay.com/

Special thanks: Bronwyn lace and William Kentridge (Directors Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg, South Africa) as well as the Department of Film at the University of the Witwatersrand for hosting and supporting us.

*Although molded from a real skull the mandible fragment was recast in Material One.