ngu-LUKE LEITCH
“Lokhu akupheli,” kuphawula engangihlala naye. Futhi lokho kwakungaphambi kwesiphetho sokubukeka okungu-40—okuhlanganisa izingubo ezinhle kakhulu zezemidlalo zaseMelika ezihlakaziwe nokunye okuningi, okuningi kwe-Marras-mixed orgy of montage ne-mélange esisanda kuyibona—sahamba sizungeza iqembu elishukumisayo lemibhangqwana ejijimeza futhi esonta.
Ngakho ake siqale ekuqaleni. Iqoqo ligqugquzelwe izithombe zika-Malick Sidibé ze-nightlife e-Bamako, e-Mali, ngeminyaka yawo-'50s kanye nama-'60s. Bayizithombe ezihlaba umxhwele zesizukulwane esabukeka ngendlela eyakhiwe isiko lendawo kanye ne-rock ‘n’ roll fever yabe ishanela imbulunga yonke. Isethi bekuwumjondolo owenziwe ngesitayela kathayela okwakuhlezi phakathi kwawo izintombi ezithile ezinsundu ezifunda omagazini bakudala ngaphansi kwesomisi sezinwele esinezingubo zobuhle.
"Ingabe lokhu akulungile neze kwezepolitiki?" kubuza umngani wami engihlala naye. UMarras wayenempendulo yohlobo elungiselelwe kusengaphambili ngengcaphuno ye-Yinka Shonibare kumanothi akhe: “Namuhla, akekho umuntu oyinto eyodwa nje. Akekho ongaphika ukuqhubeka okungapheli kwamasiko amade, izilimi zezwe, nezindawo zamasiko. Azikho izizathu zokugcizelela ukuhlukana nokuhlukahlukana kwabo ngaphandle kokwesaba nokucwasa.” Ukulingisa, ikakhulukazi okwakhiwe amamodeli amhlophe, kodwa, kufaka phakathi ubuso obuningi obumnyama nobase-Asia—okungaphezulu kakhulu kwalokho okuvame ukunikezwa uMilan. Isinqumo sami esingafanelekile—ngoba kwakungelona isiko lami i-Marras eyayingifanele—ingabe lo mbukiso awuzange weqe umngcele phakathi kokukhuthaza ubuciko nokuxhashazwa ngendlela engafanele. Futhi ukuzuza ukuhlukahluka kumzila wezindiza kungasizwa kuphela uma abaklami banoma yimuphi umbala, ngisho nomhlophe, bekhululekile ukuhlola ngenhlonipho ukuhlukahluka okuphelele kwekhodi yamasiko abantu lapho behlanganisa umsebenzi wabo.