Smoke That Thunders…
June 21, 2010
A collection of ideas/ teaser/ trailer for my Zambian footage.
Give your camera to some kids and see what happens…
May 11, 2010
Christabel and Rhona
Aunderson Banda "cameraman"
Showing some pics
Friend of camera-girl
Victoria Falls (Lucky shot) Awesome
I found a few local teenagers who I trusted with my camera. These are only a couple of the results….
Young boy with head wound
Auscultating a lady's back
Traditional healing with Dr Sharp
May 5, 2010
I have just returned from interviewing Dr Sound, Traditional healer of Nakatindi. He stared intensely into the camera and me behind holding it, making me suspicious he practicing on me. He was taking a really good look at me at least.
Dr Sharp
‘What does he do?’
‘Who comes to him and why?’
‘How much do they pay?’
‘Where did he learn his trade?’
‘How does his work relate to that of modern medicine?’
‘Is there witchcraft around?’
‘What causes illness?’
‘What does he think about HIV/AIDS?’
‘Is there life after death?’
I paused for a break but he requested more questions…
‘Are there rituals? If so what sort?’
‘Are there other traditional healers, do they meet?’
‘Is there anything Western medicine should be learning from you?’
‘Do you have any questions for me?’
Meeting Dr Sharp
He had no questions.
His answers were interesting, on occasion thought-provoking. I was almost convinced he had special powers and could certainly see how his presence and attention could provide one with the courage and power to resolve one’s own problems. I liked some ideas about traditional healers from Cecil Helman, in his book, Suburban Shaman:
‘Different types of healer have more in common than might appear- and so do the patients who consult them. After all, under the masks of culture and custom, suffering people want roughly the same things from their healers: relief from discomfort, relief from anxiety, a relationship of compassion and care, some explanation of what has gone wrong, and why, and a sense of order or meaning imposed on the apparent chaos of their personal suffering- to help them make sense of it and to cope.’
In his experience, ‘What these healers lack in knowledge they often make up for in a shrewd knowledge of human nature, in impressive bedside skills and in a roughly hewn folk wisdom of their own.’
I pursue a glimpse of ancient ways of healing at Livingstone town museum. There are several examples of herbs, stimulants, depressants, charms and talismans. A plaque reads, ‘Witchcraft thrives in many households in Africa, its continued existence thrives on human needs, quest for knowledge, desire for power and more importantly, a fear of death.’
Cupping Horns
For now I am still pondering Dr Sharp’s answer to my question ‘do our spirits survive after we die?’ He replied: ‘They return to whom they belong.’
(Whilst holding me in his gaze.)
HIV POSITIVITY
April 16, 2010
Tiny Tim and Friends…
March 18, 2010
Ntula, Clinial Officer, in clinic.
I came across the charity when someone recommended I contact the director Tim Meade and pay their headquarters, Corpmed on Cairo Rd a visit. I dutifully did this and somehow became sidetracked from my original intentions after meeting the team.
On first impression Ntula was this caring and likeable clinical officer, the social workers had charm and sensitivity and the project coordinator Phridae managed organisational feats. The thing that I likes most was how the team gelled. It seemed to be big on trust that gets the best out of everyone.
TT &F provides medical care and case management free-of-charge to the most vulnerable orphans and under-served children living with HIV in Zambia.
Tim Meade impressed me. He was clear-thinking and dynamic. When I asked him at the very beginning about setting up Tiny Tim and friends, he said:
‘When you care about something, its easy’. Tim Meade
Alice Bwayla
Chieftess Chikabesa’s Company
March 18, 2010
We meet Chieftess Chikabesa
A visit to the village of Chieftess Chikabesa was a beautiful experience. Dr Tim Meade, Jo who comes from the village and lives on the Farm and I drove four hours from Lusaka to his village in lush green countryside. We brought a huge pot of frozen chicken, nshima flour, bags of sugar, kapenta (dried fish) to the clearing and cluster of huts where Jo’s Family were based. We gathered with Jo’s relatives around the campfire later, and cooked up some of the food. Music blared from the stereo of our vehicle and we danced a little under the stars. The next day we visited the school teacher and closest hospital, a smart mission hospital, one hours drive away. We saw Jo’s father’s farm, fields of Cassava and Maize. We met the Chieftess- the highlight for me. Tim offered medical care at every stage and had brought a box of supplies to give out. He agreed a future date for HIV screening and education program by the Tiny Tim and Friends team.
Tim, Jo's family and I.
Home-based care with the Kachele Women
February 27, 2010
‘But most we would like to help the community in health…‘ Aunt Junia, Women’s Group Coordinator.
Some members of the women’s group visiting children they know in the John Laing Compound, Lusaka, to check their progress and review new issues, educating and encouraging as able.
The soundtrack of the video, Zambian pop, was playing everywhere. I will always associate it with the place.
Kachele Women’s Group. Sometimes, if you educate a woman….
February 23, 2010
In the heart of the John Laing compound in Lusaka, Zambia, is a group with lots of potential. The Kachele Women’s Group – made up of HIV positive women and caregivers – together address the problems HIV and AIDS present to their community. They encourage the parents and caregivers of children to go for VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) to ‘know their status.’ They follow up those in the community with positive results.
This group is one I feel drawn to support. Watching them educate and try to combat stigma and discrimination using songs or talking to people around them made me hopeful. I found myself becoming really fond of Aunt Junia, chairperson of the women’s group. It feels like the future for these women is bright as the group grows and their vision becomes clearer. The words of Fernando Musukwa, their well-loved group founder, surprised me: I am still pondering them:-
Kachele Women's Group
” Sometimes I think If you educate a woman… you educate a nation”.
Kachele Women's Annual General Meeting
Aunt Junia, Women's Group Coordinator, getting a point across
World Aids Day, Livingstone, Zambia (Dec 1)
February 22, 2010
I really enjoyed the World Aids Day festivities in Zambia. All social groups were in the colourful procession : M2M mother to mothers who give antenatal talks, PLACE who distribute condoms at nightclubs, St Francis who do home based care.. There was a school group who passionately delivered a poem ‘AIDS you took my mother and my father, you will not take me.’ There was an adult group who performed a sketch set in the world of the dead where a man jumped from the coffin tell everyone to practice safe sex. I think the most moving was the choir of 20-30 prisoners who sang beautifully and proudly, though I wasn’t allowed to film. Though had no right to be I was kind of proud. It was a positive, educational with imaginative tactics and much dancing, ‘moving like they don’t have bones’ as one man commented. Awesome.
PLACE drama group, WAD 2009
Brave, Melissa and Bonnie at World Aids Day 2009
Filming in Nakatindi
November 24, 2009
I made quite good friends with two of the community volunteers who I saw patients with during the week so I arranged with them to return to Nakatindi at the weekend to meet some more community members in a different setting. I asked that we only go and see those who wouldn’t mind me filming me talking to them, or who wanted to talk to the camera.
I met about twelve families/ individuals and filmed various parts. I was trying to understand a bit more of village life, get a better insight as to how the community functions and also as to how they see us ‘mzungu’. I wanted to explore a bit how they see challenges like HIV and AIDs affecting the community, what they see might be the future and the way forward. I think something may have been lost in translation as it felt initially like everyone I saw thought I was asking how I could help- all they could tell me about was how hopeless their situation was. I looked through the footage in the evening and wondered how I managed to not give any money away. Nonetheless there were some glimmers of inspiration. The chief had some good things to say as did the two community volunteers I spoke to after we had finished and I had greeted their families. I realised it will takes far longer than a morning to gain any of the sorts of insights I was after and I need to spend days building up a rapport and understand more significantly. Fortunately I was warmly invited back to spend longer with various characters which I have time to do- we exchanged cellphone numbers.
There was a drumming event taking place the same day at the school, which I duly filmed. The purpose was to encourage people to come for VCT- Voluntary Counseling and Testing- for HIV. Though many came to dance and were about in the village only 15 got tested. I am still processing most of the interviews and filming I did but this is a tiny piece. I put Melissa’s comment, straight after we’d spent a morning in the village on the end. I liked it.
A Couple of quotes from Richard Dowden in Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, which I’ve been reading.
‘In Africa the essentials of existence- light, earth, water, food, birth, family, love, sickness, death- are more immediate, more intense.’
‘I find more hopelessness in Highbury where I live in North Africa than in the whole of Africa.’
I’m feeling this.
Off to catch the sun set now, always amazing here.
