Tapestry of my Ancestors

Africa is known for its bold, unapologetic use of colour. Stories are told in pigments, tones and hues; a kaleidoscope as diverse as the cultures and peoples of the continent. For the initiative Colours of Africa, a collaborative project with Google Arts & Culture, we asked 60 African creatives to capture the unique spirit of their country in a colour which represents home to them.

The projects they have created are personal and distinct stories of Africa, put into images, videos, texts and illustrations. Each artist has also attempted to articulate what being African means to their identity and view of the world.

Colour: Terracotta Makopane
Country:South Africa

Artwork Rationale:

My memory draws back to the knowledge of my late grandmother Mmpodu, born in a small village of Mokomene of Pietersburg now called Polokwane. I always say this is the very place that gave birth to me, even though I was born in a small town of Rustenburg many miles away. I give thanks to my mother for the visits back ‘home’, for it made me open to the inspiration of a small village. This small village would be called lacking by most, but it was my everything.
Its red terracotta soil made and sustained everything, from the mud houses to live into the mud clay pots to drink from, to the terracotta red stoeps, which every house had for kids like myself to play on and which we polished religiously every day to make them shine.
It is on my grandmother's stoep where I would be left to play as the elders carried on with their chores and the tasks of the day. And 30 years later I still find this stoep is where I seek solitude. My grandmother is no longer here. I reminisce about the sunlight that makes the red stoep change colour, giving the illusion of a dark orange until the sun moved away the shade grew darker, subtly hinting that it was now time to go back inside the house to rest.
I draw inspiration from the woven blankets that would lie on this stoep for one to occasionally rest on or keep the bosoms warm from its cold mud and concrete form. There is a line work and weaving technique that is particularly synonymous with the old grandmothers of this region. I find it intriguing that such a simple object like a blanket can have a wealth of knowledge woven into it, knowledge that has seen generations come and go and is also a mark of womanhood.
I hold my grandmother’s blanket dear to my heart, a symbol of strength and perseverance, a symbol of an entire lineage. I am inspired to create work that can encompass memories but also finds its own place in the world. I hope my work represents African design and this African village ‘home’ where my knowledge and inspiration come from.

What it means to be African:
I believe in the beauty that exists in Africa and its cultures. I believe in the preservation of culture and heritage, and in using it as a blueprint that helps me navigate where I’m going but also helps me remember where I come from. I am an artist, creative, textile designer – but most of all I am a storyteller. The mediums on which I choose to create art are merely vehicles to tell my story and pass on the stories passed onto me by my forefathers.

Biography:

Bonolo Helen Chepape was born in the small mining town of Rustenburg in north-west South Africa. Her strong Pedi roots and a fascination for storytelling stems from early childhood visits to her grandmother’s house in Mokomene, Limpopo. During these visits she was surrounded by music, art, and storytelling, which often took place around a fire. Stories included references to the rain queen, Modjaji, as well as origin stories of the clan names, lessons about life, and poetry.
Chepape came from a family of hard-working, strong women. Raised by a single parent and under tough conditions, her mother used her entrepreneurial spirit to work towards a better future for her children by converting her garage into a small tuck shop. All the children would take shifts working in the shop.
“In this tuck shop I would often sit and doodle, draw and create while waiting for customers,” says Chepape. “I believe this is the space where my people skills and talent were nurtured and developed.”
Chepape went on to study a BA in graphic design and worked with some of South Africa’s top advertising and design agencies. She now creates textiles and bespoke capsule collections inspired by her heritage for retailers and fashion designers, as well as offering creative direction for the hospitality and tourism sectors.