Hazendal Festival: The SOIL, a No Modern Slave’s Truth

As we reflect on 2024 and prepare for a new chapter, Kgosi Gift’s journey with No Modern Slave takes center stage, embodying the promise of transformation and the enduring quest for truth. His work, showcased at the Hazendal Festival’s SOIL exhibition, invites us to grapple with the delicate intersection of identity, heritage, and ecological responsibility—a conversation as timely as it is timeless.

The Slave’s Truth, a defining maxim of Kgosi Gift, reverberates throughout his 9-piece collection, which formed part of the Rain of a Weeping River installation curated by Sithembile. The thematic core—Ecological Grief to Love—unfolds as a visceral journey of loss, healing, and reconnection with our land. Each piece weaves hope, resilience, and freedom into a narrative entrenched in creativity, offering a powerful statement on the roles we bear as creatives in shaping a socially conscious and sustainable future.

Khoi Regalia Reimagined

In this body of work, Gift offers a neo-impression of traditional Khoi regalia, bridging the fragmented narratives of South Africa’s First Nation peoples. His artistry revives and reimagines what was once interrupted, using the soil—a symbol of continuity and life—as both a motif and a metaphor. The collection pays tribute to the displaced and dismembered heritage of the Khoi-San, balancing grief with love, memory with possibility, and pain with grace.

Each costume tells a story, rooted in indigenous identity while reflecting the designer’s cosmopolitan touch. The Kgetsi (Heshin) garment, a recurring element across all nine pieces, serves as a signature motif for those familiar with Gift’s earlier work from the inaugural Village Art Expo. Yet, these pieces are not mere artifacts; they are tribal members, holding space for ideas that are both distinct and collective—each one embodying its own personality and influence while serving the greater truth.

The Fusion of Fantasy and Heritage

One of the most compelling aspects of the collection is its ability to spark debate and curiosity. At the Hazendal Festival, festivalgoers questioned whether these costumes depicted a dystopian future or an alternate reality where African cultural regalia finds its place in fantasy. The idea is as provocative as it is profound: rarely do we see African heritage portrayed in speculative, imaginative realms.

Gift’s work transcends nostalgia and celebration. It reimagines identity and ecological restoration, serving as a bridge between the past and the present while pointing to a visionary future. Through his creations, he reconnects us not only to the stories of our ancestors but also to the land—the soil—that binds us all.

About the Creator

Kgosi Gift is a storyteller whose art transcends boundaries. Growing up immersed in authentic Khoi-San culture, he draws from his indigenous roots and merges them with the cosmopolitan influences he encountered in urban spaces. This duality defines his work—a seamless blend of tradition and modernity that challenges conventions and sparks dialogue.

Gift’s costumes, set designs, and artistic narratives reflect his ability to transform heritage into a forward-looking exploration of identity and culture. By embracing the fluidity and infinite possibilities of nature, he creates art that pays homage to the past while reimagining the future. His work is a reminder that as creators, we hold the power and responsibility to reflect, reimagine, and restore the world around us.

Closing Thoughts

The Hazendal Festival | Soil Edition masterfully celebrated our deep-rooted connection to the land, offering a rich tapestry of cross-disciplinary experiences that blurred the boundaries between art, science, and cultural exploration. Under the thoughtful curation of Khanyisile Mbongwa, the festival became a living dialogue on the themes of land, belonging, and repair. Guided by the Nguni proverb “Belele nje, Abathulanga,” meaning “They may be asleep but they are not quiet,” the festival invited participants to reflect on grief, love, and healing as interconnected elements of our shared human experience.

Kgosi Gift’s contribution to this powerful narrative through his Rain of a Weeping River collection was both a statement and a question: How do we move forward while carrying the weight of our histories? Through his work, and that of other featured artists like Thania Petersen and Sethembile Msezane, the Soil Edition highlighted the intricate relationships between heritage, environment, and community.

As we look ahead to a new season and the unfolding story of No Modern Slave, we invite you to journey with us into a realm where creativity bridges the gaps between past and future, grief and hope, tradition and innovation. Together, let’s continue to explore the enduring truths that connect us to the land—and to one another.

For more about the Hazendal Festival and its profound exploration of soil as a symbol of life and belonging, visit Hazendal Festival.