Eastern Cape author Bandile Magibili has been invited to the University of East London in Britain for three weeks to deliver a series of lectures based on his self-published book, 2 B Black. Magibili will work with students at the university's Knowledge Dock Business Centre.

The invitation came after he presented a lecture at Rhodes University last year. "Professor Russell Kaschula from Rhodes gave me contacts to promote my lectures and I sent out proposals to various universities.

UEL contacted me late last year and invited me," he said. His book, 2 B Black, published in 2011, covers South African history in the form of titled paintings and narratives seen through the eyes of Hastings Mqhayi, an artist who works for the department of arts and culture.

The Sterkspruit-born author said he started working on the book after he heard of Mqhayi's artistic achievements and his passion for developing other young artists in the Eastern Cape. He said he wanted to capture Mqhayi's work while he was still alive so that young artists could have someone to relate to. Mqhayi designed the House of Traditional Leaders' logo and flag and in 1991 the South African Democratic Teachers' Union logo. He also helped coordinate the Eastern Cape coat of arms and in 1994 his design was incorporated into South Africa's new national flag.

However, he was never recognised for his contribution to the national flag. Magibili has featured on television programmes Shift on SABC1 and Weekend Live on SABC2 discussing his book. He said he hoped to break the cycle of celebrating only dead black artists. "There is no value in that; we must celebrate our people while they are still alive," he said, adding that black artists deserved recognition not only at national level but internationally too. "We need to reach a level of balance when it comes to the prescribed artists in the history of arts.

Students should not only read about white artists," he said. 2 B Black was not aimed at provoking anyone but at bringing awareness, he said. In a letter to Magibili, UEL's André Mostert said: "The centre has been working with the UK Public Monument and Statue Association to develop Prof Kaschula's technauriture [a term for the new genres of text emerging from the literary encounter between oral, written and modern technology] model and we feel that your knowledge and experience will feed effectively into this project."

Mostert added that they would accommodate Magibili while he was in the UK and also give him a travel card and a daily allowance. Magibili said he hoped to raise awareness about artists such as Mqhayi. He leaves for the UK in May. poliswap@dispatch.co.za

Caption: PROMOTING BLACK ARTISTS: Writer Bandile Magibili has received recognition for his book '2 B Black' Picture by:  SINO MAJANGAZA

By: Poliswa Plaatjie

Article Source: DAILY DISPATCH