Nicholas P. Hauser

Imaginary set of designs for of kieries / staffs / fighting sticks from Mvezo, Qunu

and the Mbashe River district.

My drawings of African healing staffs began as an idea for a community sculpture project to remind people of the agency that hands, hearts and heads have in creating a handmade object with the objective of recovering confidence, purpose and dignity.

I refer to something Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela once said in tribute to his lifelong comrade Walter Sisiulu.

The importance of Walter Sisulu as a counsellor and sounding board for RNM was crucial to Mandela’s decision making process.
 
          “In a peasant society, a person walking without a stout stick, a staff – no longer than an ordinary walking stick and lesser than a pole – is a common sight. One always has it around.   
It aids one to maintain a steady, firm gait. It is a crutch one leans on, helps
you not to falter in your walk. It is also a weapon to help defend oneself against any
unforeseen danger that may arise in the journey. With it one feels secure and safe.
           Such was Xhamela (Sisulu) to me.”[1]

[1] Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela: From an Obituary tribute speech to Walter Sisulu.


From that start, I broadened my subconscious design thinking to traverse the signs
and symbols (as I process them) across the entire continent.