Angola
Art against war in Angola

afrol.com, 3 February  - It's a long way from the tiny, hot, tin shack where the young Angolan artist "Ze Tubia" now lives in Luanda, Angola to the Palais des Nations in Geneva, to Rio de Janeiro and to Washington, D.C. But, over a period of only 6
months, Ze Tubia will have been to all these places, telling the world about the horrors of war in Angola, through his words and his art. But for now, he shares one small room with no running water or electricity with his wife and two small children.

"I was seven years old when I lost my right eye and both of my arms at the elbow", explains Ze Tubia. "I was playing with friends when we found a hand grenade. We passed it around thinking it was a toy. When it came into my hands, it exploded and changed my life forever."

"My mother wasn't at home at the time, so neighbors took me to the hospital. I spent two months there. I couldn't go back to school for a long time and when I finally did, my friends were scared to play with me because of the way I looked. But slowly, with help from my parents, a neighbor and later my friends, we eventually all learned how to live and play together despite my
injuries."

"During the time that I couldn't go back to school, I decided to learn to draw. I would hold a pencil or chalk between my two elbows, where my arms end - a technique I still use today. I made drawings of boats, cars and airplanes. But mostly, I wanted to be back at school and to learn." 

"Over the years, I studied hard and finally finished high school, but because my family was poor, I couldn't continue with studies beyond high school. So, I stayed at home and got interested in sports. I enjoyed
swimming the most, although without any arms, it wasn't easy. But, it's very hot in Angola and we lived by the ocean and all my friends were swimming - I wanted to be with them."

"In 1998, I was newly married but had no job, so I left Lobito where I lived on the east-coast of Angola, for Luanda - Angola's capital - to look for work. But I had no luck. Frustrated, I visited the Angolan NGO  Lardef, which assists disabled people. They encouraged me to seriously train in swimming, knowing how much I liked it. One year later, in September 1999, I represented Angola in the Paralympic Pan-African Games in Johannesburg in swimming. Throughout this time, I continued to paint - it is my real passion."

"In March 2000, I was invited by another NGO to display my paintings at a cultural evening to commemorate the second anniversary of the Ottawa Landmines Treaty. This had been organized by the Angolan Government, UNICEF and some NGOs. There, I met two UNICEF staff members who were impressed with my art, my story and my enthusiasm for life. They told me I was inspiring - I don't know if that's true, but they arranged for me to go to Geneva and speak about the dangers of landmines at the Second Meeting of States Parties on the Ottawa Landmines Treaty in Geneva." 

There Ze Tubia displayed some of his art, surreal paintings in bright reds and blues, showing the misery created by Angola's decades-old civil war: macabre figures depicting displaced children, mine victims and others - intense, accusing eyes dominate the scenes. Ze Tubia gave a presentation at the conference, speaking out against the continued use of landmines in Angola. He also conducted over thirty interviews with international media from North America, Europe and Japan. Ze Tubia speaks with passion about the
war and landmines that plague Angola - a country with the highest number of landmines per capita in the world. 

One of those who admired his art at the conference was a personal hero to Ze Tubia: former Beatle and landmine-banning advocate, Sir Paul McCartney. "It was a big moment in my life to meet him. After I had made my presentation, he commended me for my courage. He said he liked my art and asked me to show
him how I did it. Holding the paint brush between my elbows, as I did when I was a child, I finished off a painting I had started with a guitar floating in front of a lost face in the background ... I always wanted to play guitar, but obviously, I can't."

One of his television interviews in Geneva was broadcast on Angola television, showing Ze Tubia painting for the cameras. "I was told that the First Lady of Angola, Ana Paula dos Santos, saw it on the news. The First Lady is the Patron of the national NGO, Lwini, which assists landmine victims. They tracked me down when I returned to Luanda and asked me if I would be interested in studying art at a college in Rio de Janeiro because they also speak Portuguese there. I first discussed the opportunity with my wife and then, with her support and agreement, I finally said yes."

In early February, Ze Tubia will fly to Rio de Janeiro to commence his art studies. He is very excited. "This is a big opportunity for me and I am looking forward to studying with other artists - I know I have a lot to
learn, but hopefully, I have something to contribute as well." His remaining eye lights up while he speaks and the scar covering the other eye wrinkles with his smile. 

But Ze Tubia's volunteer work as an advocate against landmines isn't over yet. While finalizing paperwork and sorting family details out before leaving for Brazil, the International Committee to Ban Landmines contacted Ze Tubia through UNICEF Angola. The ICBL had been so impressed with his presentation in Geneva that they invited him to speak out against landmines in Washington in March. The ICBL, UNICEF Angola and UNICEF Brazil are currently working to ensure that it happens, while respecting his school
obligations.

"I've been very lucky in life so far. I've got a wonderful wife, two great children and now I am going to study in Brazil where my family will join me after some time. But, I will return to Angola after my studies so that I can work as an artist in my beautiful country. People have always helped me out and I've always felt bad about that. After my studies, I hope to work independently as an artist in Angola so that I can feed my family without any assistance. And, I know that one day, all Angolans will feel as lucky as
me ... one day, the war will be over and we will all live together in peace."

Optimistic words from a 25-year old whose country has never known peace in his lifetime. Angola's civil war has now been going on for over thirty years .. it continues today, the Ottawa Landmines Treaty signed, but not yet ratified by Angola. 

By Kent Page, UNICEF

© Kent Page. Republished by kind permission by Kent Page.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com