Kuterera

Kuterera !

OIl on canvas  

120 x 90 cm

Something is happening !

As the sun sighs fatigue over the Zambezi valley, the light strokes the trees with soft warm glows that is so characteristic of Africa  .

This Pan like so many others in The Great  Zambezi valley has become the meeting place for many – the edges scattered with elephant dung and  great foot prints in the mud , that sometimes last for years after they have dried – like signatures on a board - these are the  signs of those who have  been there before .

There is an inescapable peace that comes over us a feeling of calm   when in a place  like this , its life -its real – its peaceful and yet there is always something about to happen ,-always that apprehension ,that excitement of what we may see , what may happen ! 

Imagine yourself sitting there in the quiet evening light , in the typical warmth of the sun ,quietly observing the comings and goings  , where the scents of damp Mopane soil , dung and the vegetation mingle with the sounds of Africa ,creating an ambiance  that remains with you forever !

Will Maberly 2012

Framed !

Zambezi Valley 2013 

You will only really feel the deep richness that is our natural wealth once you have walked in the places that the animals walk,

 Once you have opened your eyes to that beauty and simplicity that is life all around you ,your life changes forever , as you now know what wealth and life truly is .

Some pics from the recent trip into the Zambezi Valley area 

Early morning refreshments 

Ambuya - the matriarch  - a purposeful stride , watching me out of the corner of her eye 

 A visitor to the camp  - waiting quietly for the darkness to fall 

 Its in Here somewhere I promise - you have a look!! 

 Gentle giant 

 Grooming !

 Synergies and sharing 

 Very Close 

  

The colours of Africa - the Zambezi River , Sunrise 

 A Peaceful Face 

A Cold Shower

A Cold shower?

Just been up in the Zambezi Valley ….again !–what a wonder  it is to be free like that – a freedom that most people perhaps will never feel – free to be with nature – in the elements – no walls and fancy fences – just fresh air , the light and that ambiance .

In that peace there is one strong thought that comes through  – we think we know it all – but in fact we know very little and its time to act

A cold shower in winter always wakes you up ! , this trip was like that for me – a cold shower in my life – I have had them before – but this one really woke me up

Life is rushing by and so are we – we are destroying it all , leaving a bare landscape behind us- like a steam train we roll through  and yet surely  the real purpose of this so called intelligence we have is to safeguard the wild , protect it and learn from it ? Its is where we come from  - Imagine for one minute the consequences of ecological collapse !

Somehow it just seems we are not listening  – on any level – but especially on an energy level – things have changed –we have become deafened to the beat of the drum !!!

Spare a Moment  – Take a look inside and start to ask yourself what is right – lets stop kidding ourselves about the bog standard vanilla answers – that only relate to money -Soon there will be nothing left –soon we will have given it all away , destroyed it , used it  and then we really will be in  trouble , because we are in fact using up the core of our existence .

Stop and listen – listen to what the drums are telling us , this pace is no longer sustainable !!

A view of the Umi River 

On top of the Gomos , before the descent to the Camp

The Lake - as the sibilobilo river flows in -Nyamapanda island 

The Camp Fire , the smell of Mopane burning , and the sounds of Africa 

Some of the recent sites on a journey I took through to Sibilobilo in Kariba 

Ngweshla

"Ngweshla "

or 

Ingwe  eshla

"Yes and how many times can a man turn his head  Pretending that he just doesn't see ?"

"Yes and how many times must a man look up , before he can really see the sky "

Bob Dylan

Sometimes – you just have to be there to see it - , the intense oranges of an African sunset as the last light caresses the trees and the shadows begin to relax into the dusk, it seems like the everything breathes again after  gasping in the sweltering October midday heat.

Its business as usual on the pan , groups of Elephant coming and going in a seemingly organized and yet completely disorganized fashion –  approaching the water sometimes quietly , and sometimes at a run as the scent of water becomes irresistible-   and then leaving so that others may drink.

Pans like this one have provided refreshment for countless generations of elephants and wildlife over the years. They beckon as a meeting place  -and there is a sensation , an intoxicating blend of elephant dung , mud and “Africa” ,that infiltrates your sense ,combined with an  intense feeling of freedom –and wonder as we  watch this incredible interaction – a feeling of “Now “. And then there is the noise , oh the noise is incredible day and night  –as the groups of elephant meet , greet and gather .

Whilst this is reality to me and some of you in that we have been there and witnessed this , to many now and to the generations beyond us it is and will be legend and fantasy , they are  and will be stories and tales that are in their imaginations spinning like dried leaves on a breeze they settle in the minds of only those who are aware   ,some of whom will never witness such a spectacle – whilst we – we have the incredible privilege of being there , of watching and trying to understand , where we come from , because this the earth , she is our Mother , and where we come from !

I believe strongly , that as a species we have a duty to preserve , and protect this , and most of all learn from it Through awareness -we have the power to assist and nurture this – so that the generations from now ,they too can also learn , how its supposed to be .

This Painting is 2.5 m wide , and tells the story of Ngweshla Pan , a meeting place of Elephants and many other species .Painted with Oil on canvas , it captures that almost unbelievable show that takes place daily on this pan and many others like it in the  pristine wildlife areas of Zimbabwe .

Will Maberly 2013

Looking right through you !!