the grand opening...

sizabantu stores, orlando east

peace be...

welcome to THE GRAND OPENING of masakhane traders unlimited, a spaza outlet for photography, writing, music, etc..., trading ground for commentary, critique, compliments, backlash and all sorts of things that you & me want to share on all of the above mediums and more...

on the left table we have, sweet aid, sweeto, makip-kip, cheese curls, cherrols, cadbury's, amongst other drinks and refreshments, on the right, magwinya, kota, chicken dust, masonja, for those who want more than to nibble...alcohol available by the quart, nip, half-jack or straight, at the shop back-opposite...and for entertainment we have the likes of mr chaklas, the hard workers and patricia majalisa for that ol' bubble gum under the shoe get-down...

...masakhane, lets build one another, build with each other, trading in thought, skills and a wealth of will, unlimited, for love and peace is infinite...

oNe*

inside the store

these images form part of a fashion photo series i call [though i'm sure the stylist would not agree to this term :]...masakhane traders...mainly cause it was taken at various general dealer stores in and around soweto [orlando east and diepkloof]...i feel it signifies the major theme of what masakhane traders is about...

where the store owners knew their clientèle personally...as a child, one would get sent to the store and when you got there, the store owner would inquire about how your mother &/or father is? taking the role of parent beyond the yard, when the 'village' raised a child...

snack spot in diepkloof

...if you where some cent's short, the man or lady would be kool cause he/she knew they would get the money later, trust was rife, not to say

the odd knuckle head wouldn't get his way or what have you, yet there

was a deep sense of community...

...and most likely you would get ibhansela at the store, bhansela being an added free extra of something for continued support of the store...for th

e kids it was something like a champion sweets or if lucky them thick candy sticks, yellow or pink in colour....

...diepkloof & orlando...

we/i hope to tap into some of that local store energy on this here platform, through the dialogue whether visual, written or music, nothing fancy just good ol' fashion exchange/interaction good or bad, hopefully with you engaging this here spaza front man, singakhana...makwande*

stylist: nonkululeko mlangeni
model: nonyameko & fusi
assistant: lungile mngadi
photographer: nhlanhla mngadi

© 2006