A Note on Purpose

Where to begin? 

The world is full of stories. In this ever-expanding digital landscape, storytelling is often the preferred method through which information is conveyed. Be it for purposes of political persuasion, commercial marketing, or the hope of humanitarian action - stories are the medium through which much of human discourse currently occurs. But, even in this increasingly egalitarian market that the digital age has brought, the question remains. 

We are telling more and more stories, but are we telling them the right way? 

Are we honouring the historical roots of vulnerable persons? Are we placing the appropriate cultural context around their circumstance? Are we listening to the story shared before turning to tell it to the world? With the emergence of the nomenclature ‘Global South’ and the clear shift int he self-perception of developing nations - there is an obvious need to begin a new narrative surrounding the culture and creativity of these countries - as well as the true impact of that culture on the global landscape.

The definition of the Global South - is community. Economic, political or cultural - it is a public declaration of the bridges between us and the ties that bind. For too long, the stories of the Global South, and other underrepresented groups, have been stripped away - another resource to be mined and shipped off to benefit other markets. Voided of their cultural context and reformed to fit a more acceptable Western narrative, these stories often become unanchored - losing their place in history, and consequently their ability to shape the future. 

We must divorce ourselves from the oppression Olympics. Global South artists must be allowed to create for the sake of creation, without having to ascribe their work to traumas or struggles. We are allowed joy in crisis, we are permitted to sing in times of strife. Our stories are the bones of who we are, and the roadmap for where we have come from. In times such as these, the reclamation of our narratives is a matter of urgency. We invite you to share your dreams, your thoughts, your stories - to build this space where our narratives are recognised in totality. 

It is not just that the Global South has much to offer the world, but that there has been much given already. Here at From South to South, we are hoping to honour the past - whilst also looking to the future - celebrating the culture and creativity of the Global South, in all forms. 

Thank you for joining us on this journey.