Words and photos by Cameron Richards
[Editor's note: The following article was written by The Daily Discharge's own tame photographer, Cameron Richards, about his experiences while spending a month in the desert, preparing for and participating in this amazing event. It was originally published in much better taste by our good friends Vixxen magazine (or here is a link to the actual issue)- Jason]
Anomaly (noun): something that deviates from the norm or from expectations.
That’s pretty much what one would expect, (or have no god-forsaken-clue what to expect) from an ‘event’ thrown out in the desolate Tankwa Karoo. For first-time burners, or virgins, as they’re more commonly known, AfrikaBurn is about as easy to plan for as it’s as easy for a child to give Mr T a beat-down: pretty much impossible, and I do pity the fool that expects to rock up with a wallet full of cash and look for the first boerie-roll stand and bar to get a nice cold Double vodka and whatever.. you get the idea.
This year’s event was no exception to the anomaly rule. It’s an absolute breath of fresh air for all of you who are feeling the need to be a part of something special, something out of the ordinary, something completely surreal, created by you, for you, for all of us. AfrikaBurn is an ‘invent’ rather than an event, where all participants are urged not to be a spectator, but rather to bring with them anything and everything that they could possibly imagine being useful for surviving; your own radical self-reliance.
The principle of radical self-reliance is a vital one that fuels the sprit of the party, but it’s not the only thing holding this well-oiled machine together – not by any means. The other key principles are: communal effort, participation, civic responsibility, immediacy, decommodification, gifting, leaving no trace, radical inclusion and of course radical self-expression. These concepts are based on the ‘commandments’ forged at ‘Burning Man’ festival in Black Rock, Nevada, AfrikaBurn’s big brother, and inspiration for the whole festival.
“Like Burning Man, AfrikaBurn aims to be radically inclusive, we hope that its meaning is potentially accessible to anyone. The touchstone of value in our culture will always be immediacy: experience before theory, moral relationships before politics, survival before services, roles before jobs, embodied ritual before symbolism, work before vested interest, participant support before sponsorship. We hope that the ideas in the principles will become a way of life for those who have experienced them spawning independence, initiative, creative expression.” (From www.afrikaburn.com)
The 6 day festival runs on its own time, but largely due to the volunteered hands of a reasonably small group of people (as well as the participants of course). As AfrikaBurn is a completely non-profit organisation, it therefore relies almost completely on the input of willing participants in order for it all to be a possibility. Being no stranger to the event, (2010 being my 3rd year as a citizen of Tankwa Town) and understanding that someone, or a group of people, had to be behind the scenes, I decided to find out just what it meant to truly invest myself this year, and volunteered for the DPW (Department of Public Works) crew.
Before I knew it, I’d signed up for a good 26 days in the desert, still not sure what was in store for me and the other 12 or so volunteers that I was about to get to know very well. This isn’t going to be the point where I sugar coat it all – we worked our asses off, our fingers to the bone. For arguably the best party I’ve ever been a part of… oh ja, I did mention that it is one monstrosity of a party? The term ‘work hard, play even harder’ hasn’t applied nearly as much in my life as it did over the month spent in the Tankwa Karoo.
The days were run like any normal working day, wake up early, 2 cups of coffee, 3 stuyvesant filters, (hope the hangover wears off soon) as we have our morning meeting in preparation for the day’s tasks. At this point one should note that there’s no cell phone reception, no need for a watch, no wallet holding you back from doing what you wanted to do that day (it’s a completely non-commercial event).
Once all matters of business are attended to, its work time, then brunch time, work time again, maybe a swim in the neighbouring farm’s reservoir, and back to work again. Then lunch, then some more work, and so it goes. As the available light, which makes work possible, starts to fade, so out comes the whiskey and all things necessary to enjoy oneself in the desert. Party time.
The community created by all involved runs solely on it’s own time, and getting done what needs to get done is the order of the day, whether its building toilets for 2500 odd people arriving in a week’s time, or helping other themed campsites set up, you name it – the DPW crew were there to do it, no questions asked, kicking ass and taking names. I learnt a few things out there of course, besides introspective self-evaluations (which come naturally in isolated spaces). I learnt to be the most industrious little desert rat I could be, from making something out of anything, to making everything out of nothing, it all comes with the territory. If we needed something, like a new braai, we made it; needed toilet roll dispensers, we made ‘em. That’s the beauty of working in an ‘office’ that boasts some of the most epic views around, as well as harsh environments – no ‘boss’ to tell you what to do, but the relentless sun does feel like it owns you. In a big way: it is your boss.
I learnt a few things out there of course, besides introspective self-evaluations (which come naturally in isolated spaces). I learnt to be the most industrious little desert rat I could be.
But once the first headlights start to appear from over the horizon, you know something truly mind-blowing is about to descend on the space that plays host to the most spectacular party around, the space that I came to call home after already having been there for almost two weeks. But enough about the crew and the work we did. Back to the real reason we were out there: to give, to create, to share, to collaborate, and contribute to something that grows almost out of nothing, into a full-blown anomaly.
The sense of solidarity that comes from being so self-reliant in a place of such great natural beauty and solitude really starts to hit home when the gifting ‘economy’ starts to kick into gear. Unconditional gifting is the idea, no matter how big or how small, the gift one brings to the table is something that, without your input, simply would not exist in Tankwa town for all to experience. You brought it there, so therefore you and your gift become a part of it all. And trust me, nothing can be more sublime than half an orange that’s been sitting in a cooler-box, especially when it’s over 30 degrees. Well, perhaps an ice-cream hits the spot just as well (thanks to a fantastic Snowmen camp, supplying ice-creams to all. Yup, you heard right, ice-cream in the desert).
That was just one of the many little surprises one can expect from the wonderful inhabitants of Tankwa Town. This year boasted even more themed camps than ever before, (a themed camp is a collective of people who’ve raised their own dosh, in order to provide a certain summin’ summin’ for all to enjoy) – be it live music, a Desert Rose Saloon bar with whiskey whores included, or a mobile sound rig on an orange Landy (sporting a living room trailer and two massive, fire-spitting vuvuzella’s), as well as Down The Rabbit Hole, with its caterpillar DJ and daily tea- parties… that’s just to name a few.
It’s truly difficult not to catch the FOMO disease (Fear Of Missing Out) out there. This is due to the maddening pace of things happening all around you at any one time, and seeing everything is a feat I have yet to master, even being literally the first to arrive, and last to leave. FOMO does have a cure. Have no fear: it’s called letting go. Let go of wanting to be somewhere at any one particular time. Instead, jump aboard one of the many Mutant Vehicles, or art cars that take you to where you didn’t think you’d get off, talk to the nearest person, share a drink, have a laugh, and just experience all that is around you.
But do make an effort, however, to see as much of the ART as possible, and ALL of the burns (if you’re not passed out under the starry Karoo night sky somewhere- which does happen, and it’s not necessarily a bad way to spend the night either.) After all, AfrikaBurn is an arts festival in essence, celebrating the fact that art should be an individual concept that can be shared, through experience, with others. That’s the way I like to see it anyways.
As the name of the festival suggests, all of the artworks, most of which take months of preparation, do eventually get burnt to the ground. AfrikaBurn 2010 was undoubtedly a huge success for the pyro teams responsible for the craze-inducing fire-frenzies that we all experienced, and had waited all week to experience – the impermanence of it all.
Artworks this year included, “The San Clan” (the main effigy – our version of the Burning Man), “Echo”, which resembled the belly of a finally conquered Moby Dick, to the all-loved “Letgo” man, as well as the awesome (yes, truly AWESOME) pendulum, creating a wheel of fire no one will soon forget. But if all of this is starting to get you down because you’ve not yet attended one of these invents, it’s only because you haven’t made the effort to get there, and that’s all it takes. Make the plan, go through with it, and your life will change for the better.
Hell, right now, go write it down in your calendar, ask the boss tomorrow for that week off (maybe a few days after too – to adjust for re-entering the default world again). Get together with a few like-minded mates, come up with some fantastical, imaginary idea that would only work out in Tankwa Town, plan an artwork, big or small, get costumes ready, find that old duffel bag that’s gathering dust, and come out to AfrikaBurn 2011, and get even more dusty.
Just do it. Whatever it takes, say to yourself: I will not miss another year! And hey, if this all doesn’t sound quite like “your cuppa-tea”, bring your own, and come along for the ride anyway.
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Wow…great pics great article great Cameron. Thanks for AB FAB DMV pic