Isigu ‘the snare’

WHAT
PPC Imaginerium

WHERE
South Africa

WHEN
2019

AWARD
PPC Imaginarium overall winner

An isigu, in traditional African society, is a contraption used by young boys to hunt birds.

It consists of a downward-facing bowl, with one side held open by an upright stick that has a string tied to it, with a few pieces of grain scattered underneath the bowl. Lured by the promise of food, a bird enters the area – the string is tugged, and the bird is captured. In this piece, the use of this simple but effective hunting tool is an analogy for the entrapment of people by religious cults.

In South Africa, recent exploitation has included feeding vulnerable congregants snakes and grass, making them drink petrol, sexual abuse, bullying and victimization – all in the name of faith. Baited by the expectation of salvation and often seduced by promises of wealth, people are increasingly falling into religious cults. The use of concrete refers to the perceived power of faith and how congregants find strength in the Bible.

The construction of the trap alludes to temporary church pop-up structures such as tents or rented buildings that appear in strategic places