Exhibition Statement
Young Nelson: Truth Justice and the African way, The Way of Ubuntu…
The Title: Truth Justice and the African way, The way of Ubuntu is a play on the Slogan Truth justice and the American way, made popular by the American superhero comic Superman book published by DC this is one of my many attempts at Africanizing the Superhero aesthetic for local audiences.
This African Pop culture duo exhibition is collaboration between myself and Omphile Dibodu We aim to prove to ourselves and our fellow South Africans that the Rainbow Nation still lives, furthermore to communicate that there is a uniquely African way to tell heroic stories, using African values, principles , morals and ethics such as the way of Ubuntu. To tap into the dormant spirit of patriotism that South Africa has been sleeping on, since the days of Mr Nelson Mandela and his contemporaries.
This African Pop culture exhibition is inspired by the works of Roy Liechtenstein and Virgil Abloh’s philosophy of seeing T-shirts as works of art and will feature mixed media works, from comic books including (18)digital art print outs, (6)printed graphic T-shirts designs we will also have physical comic books available and original music played and is designed to be an inquiry into heroism in the modern day, particularly within an African context. We also aim to highlight the relationship between technology and art, through our creative process. We aim through this comic book medium to create a space where diverse voices can be heard and represented together as a powerful reminder that we are all connected to the rainbow nation.
The exhibition was created to rebuttal the notions that the spirit of Ubuntu is dead or that the Rainbow Nation is dead, we instead want to say the Rainbow Nation Lives, through us and the next generation of South Africans that I choose to call the Young Nelson generation.
Who is Young Nelson, Young Nelson is a metaphor for the Youth of South Africa, facing the contemporary challenges the nation faces; ambitious, resilient, tenacious, fearless and possessing a never say die spirit.
My vision was to motivate audiences to see themselves vicariously challenging everyday national issues through Young Nelson. The Young Nelson comic book series was conceived in 2018 first as a hip-hop project paying tribute to the spirit of Nelson Mandela. Inspired by Ntate Mandela’s quote “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great you can be that great generation.”The song evolved into a character Young Nelson, I began to ask what the legacy of Mr Nelson Mandela would be as successive generations would tell and retell the story, and as the 4th industrial revolution , machine learning , robotics and the internet of things sweeps across the country and the world.
This multi-media presentation will also utilize excerpts from the bible on the Rainbow, excerpts from the Long Walk To Freedom, and the freedom charter to explore the legacy and implications of The Rainbow Nation living through us as humanity, the privilege we have to be Rainbow Nation Architects, in building the nation we aspire to see and to explore the idea of South Africa as a global soft power superpower.
I was inspired by the quote on leadership that says “Success is not success until your successor succeeds. “and began to ask myself, who are the successors?… Will the Rainbow Nation, still be a success if those who come after us fail? These thoughts led me to ask how would a “Young Nelson ” face contemporary issues such as gender based violence, the war in Ukraine, corruption, the demands of South African citizens to have a safe country, a Rainbow nation at peace with itself.
The Rainbow Nation Lives!!! challenges us to take responsibility for making our nation the nation it is meant to be. While taking time to acknowledge the systems and structures of power, that have created and maintained oppressive systems of inequality. The Rainbow Nation is realistic not idealistic in asking us to unite in our diversity.
The exhibition encourages us to examine heroism, real heroism, how it inspires young and old to do better than their best, and how our actions and beliefs intersect with determination, self-doubt, class, and gender. By engaging with this artwork, viewers are encouraged to confront heroism, patriotism, within a South African context. And to ask whether they are the heroes they have been waiting for.
Phemelo Dibodu: Author Biography:
Phemelo Dibodu, is an inter-disciplinary artist, comic book creator, urban poet, published author, entrepreneur and graduate from the University of Johannesburg, with a diploma in Public Relations.
Upon finishing his studies in 2014 He worked in sales and marketing for the fitness, motor vehicle as well as in the publishing industry until 2018 when he decided to start his own publishing company, when after doing some research Phemelo, realized South Africa had no publishing houses dedicated to producing original African comic book titles.
In 2018 He Co-founded Rainbow Nation Comics a creator owned comic book publishing house, together with his brother they developed their flagship character Young Nelson: a superhero story inspired the life of Mr Nelson Mandela
Phemelo, has recently participated in Comicon Africa 2022, as an exhibitor having had his comic book sold out within four days.
He has also participated in Comiccon Africa 2019 and 2021 respectively.
Phemelo has been a guest speaker at the Cannex (Creative Africa Nexus) 2021 Intra Africa Trade Fair: “Animating Africa” panel discussion representing South Africa, alongside panelists from Kenya, Nigeria and America discussing the future of animation on the African continent.
He has collaborated with his brother and business partner Omphile, a Bachelor of Commerce in Honours Marketing Management graduate, performance, visual artist and animator as well as a young creative Prince Mashawana on the SuperMash children’s comic book: dealing with bullying in schools, for the Nickelodeon Mandela Day Let’s Read Campaign. A campaign aimed at promoting reading among South Africa’s youth.
Phemelo routinely conducts creative writing workshops and motivational talks with youth using the principles of Mr Nelson Mandela, challenging the next generation of young South Africans to look for ways to apply these teachings to today’s challenges.
Phemelo’s vision is to see Rainbow Nation Comics competing with American and Japanese publishers as Africa’s comic book publisher of choice producing authentic quality African fantasy and superhero content with powerful socially conscious messaging, to inspire the next generations to be proud of who they are and where they come from.
Media coverage (links)
- ENCA: https://www.enca.com/lifestyle/uj-art-gallery-hosts-african-hero-exhibition
- Johannesburg in Your Pocket: https://www.inyourpocket.com/johannesburg/the-power-of-storytelling-african-hero-at-uj-art_29900e
- GoodThingsGuy: https://www.goodthingsguy.com/lifestyle/uj-art-gallery-to-spotlight-african-superheroes/