So for the past month and a half, I have been working on this fan animation for Hugh Masekela's incredible song, 'RIOT', made relevant again, and lifted from the archives, by Earl Sweatshirt. It was sampled as an outro on the 2018 album, 'Some Rap Song's'.

This animation makes use of old drum magazine covers, archival footage, and re-imagined South African and Pan-African histories using Mid-Journey, and other AI Softwares. It also draws from, and re-contextualises famous Harlem Renaissance artworks, and anti-apartheid protest posters.

I'm releasing it today, on Human Rights Day, a day in which we commemorate the events of the Sharpeville Massacre. On the day of 21 march, 1960, 69 people died and 180 were wounded when police fired on a peaceful crowd that had gathered in protest against the Pass laws. This day marked an affirmation by ordinary people, rising in unison to proclaim their rights. It became an iconic date in our country’s history that today we commemorate as Human Rights Day. It serves as a reminder of our freedom, and the cost paid for our treasured civil liberties.

I hope you enjoy it.

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