iNkululeko the performance (Freedom the performance)
10mins, 2023
Röda Sten Gothenburg, Sweden. 2023.
Artwork was first performed at Röda Sten Konsthall.
Is an ushering and calling of those who want to be free. Accompanied by experimental audio created by Samar Jabri, the artist would like to take you through the inconceivable dimensions between the present and the imagined future to which they travel. Merging versions of struggle songs, vibrations, humming, and sounds of possibility yet to be created. Tshabalala wishes to hold your hand as we embark on this journey of exploration together.
Images from video by film director Aviwe Apleni
Photographs courtesy of Röda Sten Konsthall
#VISKAPRATA
#VISKAPRATA
Gothenburg, Sweden
2019
Gothenburg, Sweden
2019
Is a protest performance project with the idea to share stories of police violence in Sweden. The T-shirts contain statistics, accounts of violence towards brown people and follow up questions to the public. The aim was to confront the commercial public space, Fredsbron (Nordstan) in Gothenburg, as a place to ask critical questions regarding the different occupants of the area both temporary and reoccurring, about their safety from law enforcement in Sweden. Choreography being one of the tools, the protests were divided into three phases on different days. Since race is a taboo conversation in Sweden and the violence against Afro-Swedes is on the increase, I use the T-shirts to address the colour blindness that Swedish society refuses to acknowledge, through the highlighting of the perpetrators and victims within each story.
A short film documenting the protest in Brunnsparken, and a mural were produced to take the message further. The protest was also shared in different parts of the world where I traveled as well.
The project extended itself through a T-shirt making workshop for young girls from Hjällbo, a nearby suburb. The T-shirts contained messages of affirmation to remind them that even though they are racialised they are still important. The initiative was called Jag är (I am)[...] and they would fill out what they thought they were.
[*Vi Ska Prata translates to we will talk in Swedish.]
Commercial performances:
Apart from artistic performances, I also sing at events as a soloist or sometimes as the main act such as when I was invited by The Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala to do some spoken word poetry for the night. Unfortunately, my documentation of these performances haven't been the best but here is a snippet of my performance at the Blanka Festivalen. It was the most hostile environment but the closest it could get to my dream of singing on a stage with an orchestra.
Blanka varberg Festivalen
First ever large-scale performance singing Baba Wethu(South African song) at the Blank Varberg Choir Festival(2022) with a choir of about 500 people. It felt magical to be on stage. I love the stage. I love singing. I love performing.
First ever large-scale performance singing Baba Wethu(South African song) at the Blank Varberg Choir Festival(2022) with a choir of about 500 people. It felt magical to be on stage. I love the stage. I love singing. I love performing.
Photo by Ntandokazi Masimula
Photo by Reine W Lundgren
