Retrospective on 2014 by Weaam Williams

The shamans’ quest is inward, reflective and introspective, relying on universal energy and clues from the Almighty to guide the path.

Telling stories is a calling, and our purpose is to contribute to new knowledge production. As well as, to lay history to peace and to appease those spirits whose stories were buried.

2014 marked the closure of a five-year chapter i.e. the completion of The Khoe Story Trilogy.

As a writer and filmmaker I admit, that “Returning the Remains – A Khoe Story 2” was the most challenging project I undertook. Finding concrete evidence to prove the genocide of South Africa’s indigenous people was a tremendous task. It is this very genocide, which currently affects issues of land and the power paradigm in our country. And so Shamanic Organic took it upon ourselves to produce the Khoe Story series. I eventually was assisted by Advocate Joel Kriege who got research straight from the bar i.e. the “Extermination Order of 1777” etc. Finally what seemed like an ideological conundrum became a concrete and plausible film – eventually a trilogy.

Another one of the highlights of 2014 was “Ancestral Omega: The Medora” details to this project is also outlined in a previous post. This project is closely linked to my familial ancestry and is inspired by my Great-grandmother who was the only woman in South Africa (to my knowledge) who could weave a pure gold/silver Medora. Her son, my grandfather owned a block of houses and a family business in District Six and in the 1970’s the family was forcibly removed.

Pic below: from the stage production

In 2013 a home was returned to our family as part of the reparation process and I was fortunate enough to be allowed to live in it. It is in my time in District Six that I came to understand the pain of forced removals and now I have a stronger connection to my deceased grandfathers life. In this fusion of space and time I connected with my great-grandmothers story and commended Herstory in Ancestral Omega – The Medora.

It is with this personal story that we conveyed the intricate nuance of Cape Muslim culture and belief. I was particularly inspired to write and narrate this piece as it focuses on a feminine element of our history and culture. It took a great deal of courage to step onto a stage 8 weeks after having a baby. I pushed my insecurities aside and had the support and encouraging words of my family and creative partners Shabnam Williams and Naphtalim Vector.

Hartley Tailorshop my grand-father's tailorshop before being forcibly removed - now plaqued on a wall in the city.

Saeed Hartley my grandfather with my mother Nazley Hartley Williams on her wedding day. She is wearing a golden medora. A family heirloom.

2014 was the year of pregnancy and giving birth to my son. This pregnancy was incredibly challenging as the unborn baby would not allow me to eat any acidic foods or I would throw up violently. I had to follow a strict alkaline diet eliminating many fruit and vegetables from my mostly vegetarian diet. Our son was born auspiciously on 16th June after close to three days of labour. I believe it was divinely ordained for him to be born on a date so closely linked to our country’s liberation.

We named him after the Prophet Eesaa known in Christianity as Jesus. Through most of my adult life I have had a crazy obsession with the Prophet Eesaa and his teachings and at one point took a Nazarite vow and grew dreadlocks, which is part of Old Testament belief to walk in his footsteps. So it is almost full-circle for me to name my son after a person I have revered for most of my life.

2014 presented my second pregnancy and once again allowed me to experience the most ancient rites of passage known to women i.e. bearing life.

It is what keeps us connected to a primordial world and allows for an understanding, which dates back to the beginning of humanity.

I reached into a space of overstanding and grew both inside and out.

A time of slowing down and reflecting, tuning into omega consciousness.

My pregnancy was a period of humility to my creator and with everyday asking for a healthy baby.

And so this request was granted. Thank You. After revisiting the ancient process of bearing and birthing life, and a fresh dose of omega, I can now realign and focus on creating new works, exhibiting and reversioning existing works. A media shape-shifter moving between films and live art, writing, directing and performing. While staying true to the calling of the Shamanic Organic path …. a marriage of multi-media and healing.

Looking forward to collaborations, and assisting to fulfill your creative visions in 2015.

my son Eesaa at his naming ceremony - one week old.