Nkanyezi, (“Shining Star”) the second in the series of commissioned decorated public art rhinos, a project of the eThekwini Community Foundation (ECF), was revealed to the public yesterday at the King Shaka International Airport (KSIA).
Based on the success of Yenza a nearly life-size resin rhino, decorated by a collective of crafters in 2012, Nkanyezi has been commissioned by the eThekwini Community Foundation (ECF). The foundation is a proactive, not-for-profit public benefit organisation, strategically aligned to the eThekwini Municipality. Nkanyenzi is inspired by the diminutive mythical national treasure golden rhino, Mapungubwe.
Nkanyenzi was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate in Durban in partnership with the Wildlands Conservation Trust. For the next three months, she can be seen at the King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) which hosted the Wildlands Rhino Parade in the last quarter of last year.
Yenza and Nkanyenzi are part of the Rhino Parade – an innovative campaign pioneered by the Wildlands Conservation Trust based on the internationally renowned Cow Parade concept. It is aimed at profiling the plight of South Africa’s Rhino whilst raising funds to support Wildlands’ rhino conservation efforts. The Wildlands Conservation Trust is an active, strategic partner of the ECF.
“The preservation of much of our natural heritage is in crisis – personified by the ongoing rhino poaching tragedy,” says ECF director Kathryn Kure. “The rhino has become iconic and represents one diminishing species among many. As a Trust whose broad mission is interfacing people – projects – planet, we are aware of the need for a healthy symbiotic relationship between the country’s craft community and our natural heritage. For the crafters to continue to work there must be systems in place for the sustainability and careful monitoring of our flora and fauna.”
“The reports of international syndicates who consider our resources to be fair game to be plundered, is alarming. A key element in this fragile house-of-cards is the preservation of the rhino. The Foundation is doing everything in its power to support the rhino campaign,” said Kure.
“The United States is working with the international community to combat the illegal trade in wildlife and promote conservation through a four pillar strategy, which includes diplomatic outreach, public diplomacy, training and partnerships. The United States’ efforts with foreign governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector seek to reduce demand and strengthen wildlife and marine conservation, as well as related enforcement and institutional capabilities,” said U.S. Consul General in Durban, Taylor Ruggles.
“As ACSA we are proud to adopt Nkanyezi at King Shaka International Airport for a few months and we are certain that her presence at the airport, which is a gateway, will further highlight the plight of the rhino and showcase the craft expertise of our region”, said Colin Naidoo Communications and Brand Manager for KSIA.
The first rhino, Yenza, can be seen in the foyer of the municipal library in the Durban City Hall. She was designed and made by a collective of craft organisations last year. Craft NGOs worked jointly on the second rhino, Nkanyezi, but this time, some of the crafters have gained sufficient experience by working on Yenza, to now be able to do the design, create the templates and be part of the project management themselves.
“iNkanyezi is the perfect vehicle to build capacity and to allow the crafters to see the big picture and in so doing, build up their repertoire of skills and entrepreneurial experience,” says Robin Opperman who headed the project management team.
“We like to work with like-minded art-makers and crafters. It makes a bigger impact when you work on bigger items together,” said Debbie Heustice Director of info4africa who works with Ubunye Crafters.
“Therefore, our rhino, who we hope is pregnant with more such projects and possibilities, is called Nkanyezi or “Shining Star”. For we cannot fight this scourge without partnerships at an international level and her two flanks reference the colours of the South African and US flags, as testament to the partnership between nations that is required,” concludes Kure.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)