One Healing at a Time

Title: Regeneration

“Regeneration” is a tribute to the work done by the Music Therapy Community Clinic* in Cape Town, South Africa and their program called Siyaphila (see-ya-PEA-la), “We are getting well”. In the center is Thabo, a four-year-old boy who lost his mother to AIDS.

Huddled in the hospital he was inconsolable, kicking and screaming. When they brought him to the clinic they began to accompany his cries with their guitar music, gathering him into their care. Slowly, he began to bang his small hands on a drum - communicating, trusting and finally smiling.

The children that surround him are gumboot dancing. Their whole bodies are drums: their voices instruments. These children are allowed to access their feelings in a non- threatening, nonverbal way, to build community together and to heal.

Regeneration is the process of giving new life, restoring health and vigor to those who have been so cruelly touched by AIDS. Re-generation remembers the generation lost and strengthens the generations to come while grandmothers raise their grandchildren.

Dimensions: 20"W x 30"H

Artist:   Dorothy Drubek