Prayer to the New Moon

By: New Moon Collective

Inspired by the /Xam poem Prayer to the New Moon by Dia!kwain from The Stars Say 'Tsau' , adapted and selected by Antjie Krog:

New moon yonder
take my face thither and give me thine
hold my face yonder
and all things which upset me

thou shalt give me thy face, moon
the face that always dost return to us living
when thou has died

...give me thy face, moon
and the joy yonder
that always brings thee back alive
new moon being visible thither

The sound of drums and trumpets fills the air as a ritual performance led by half-animal half-human stilted beings prepares the way. A creature emerges, heavy and pregnant. She is unruly and needs to be held back by tall mythical guardians and other creatures inspired by the /Xam mythology. She bucks and arches, reaching up to the sky... searching. When her time comes, she releases the moon into the night sky.

Conceptualised by: Craig Leo and Charles Standing.