Our lives are a battlefield on which is fought a continuous war between the forces that are pledged to confirm our humanity and those determined to dismantle it; those who strive to build a protective wall around it, and those who wish to pull it down; those who seek to mould it and those committed to breaking it up; those who aim to open our eyes, to make us see the light and look to tomorrow […] and those who wish to lull us into closing our eyes.

— Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Kenyan author and academic

As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on the need for mutual responsibility and the interconnectedness of human agency and dignity amidst the devastation, gross inequities, exploitation, pain, and chaos that surrounds us. We remain steadfast in our collective struggles and solidarity.

Thank you for being on this journey with us. We wish you an expansive year-end, with time to let go of what has passed, and gather strength, courage, and inspiration for what is still to come.

From the ACB team

Artwork: Timbuva 2 by Hlavutelo Ngobeni

Ngobeni’s art celebrates her Xitsonga cultural heritage, and the significance and secrets of traditional dishes, as passed down from her grandmother.