nico's notes

tom and i left for kwa thema after our routine wednesday lectures in order to conduct interviews for our weekly newspaper. tom had had a car accident this morning, so we stopped at the braamfontein satellite police station. the lieutenant was surprisingly helpful but slow to write.

we headed for kwa thema after 3pm, the light was already changing.

we waited for gift at the library. his brother wanted to advertise in our newspaper. we waited and waited. tom got despondent about the project – the waste of time had sparked a negativity in him that i couldn’t repair. we left the parking lot for nico’s phooko’s house.

nico unpacked all of his artwork, his brochures, his music cds, his paints, and his history. tom interviewed; i recorded. nico’s story was rich and deeply layered – his enthusiasm and passion for change eminated. he oozed flair, style and attitude.

we left for johannesburg at dusk after collecting advertisements and an interview with artist, wilson, and after a sneak preview of the new clean beerhall – mr cindy had contacted catherine to tell her that it was finally clean and that we should come soon. so we did and it was fabulous. i called the whole group to tell them the news.

the sky was musty and muddy. smoke hung in the cool air. the sun blazed through the windscreen all the way home.