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‘Usually people do not write their own history.* Some people are given a history that is not really theirs. But who can oppose and prove otherwise?’ Kaddu Wasswa John
Kaddu Wasswa John was born in 1933 at Ngangwa village near Mukono Town, Uganda. When he was seventeen his mother was very sick and dying, and his family failed to raise his school fees. Kaddu dropped out of school in the 2nd term of junior 2. After that he managed to develop himself into (in a more or less chronological order) office messenger, horticultural apprentice, tracer/trainee for the geological survey department, assistant manager, Uganda bookshop employee, founder of the first youth club in Uganda, youth leader, bank clerk, student in social work, depot clerk at Esso Standard East Africa Ltd., British American Insurance Ltd. employee, grocery and service (home cleaning) shop owner, fundraiser, novelist and writer of drama and social critique, usher at an English (state) wedding, treasurer of Jinja Rotary Club, pioneer for a vocational training centre in Njeru, civic leader in Ngogwe, Nyenga and Njeru town councils, inventor and producer of the revolutionary curry powder Ntula Spices, rural community educator and activist on human rights, public health, food security and environmental issues. He lived through colonial times, the regimes of Obote and Amin, was the father of eighteen, of whom ten died of AIDS . Some years ago, when on the verge of losing his passion for education and development, he was ‘discovered’ by his grandson. Photographer Arthur C. Kisitu was searching for his roots, after his mother’s death. Arthur tells all of his friends about his grandfather and invites them to visit him in his village. I accepted the invitation, this book is the result. Andrea Stultiens
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the kaddu wasswa archive a visual biography Andrea Stultiens - Kaddu Wasswa John - Arthur C. Kisitu
‘Usually people do not write their own history.* Some people are given a history that is not really theirs. But who can oppose and prove otherwise?’ Kaddu Wasswa John
post editions, Rotterdam 2010
Introducing
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Autobiographical Sketch
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records
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past and presents
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Andrea Stultiens would like to thank Edwin Sweers and Marieke Janssen for their support, Susan Meiselas and Bas Vroege for their advise, Bart Winter for pushing the button while her hands were otherwise engaged, Arthur C. Kisitu for making the introduction, and Kaddu Wasswa for his patience, his wisdom and just for being who he is. The work on The Kaddu Wasswa Archive was made possible with the support of The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture, Foundation Anna Cornelis. This publication is realized with the support of Hanzehogeschool Groningen. The Kaddu Wasswa Archive is the visual part of an MA thesis photographic studies at Leiden University.
Photographs
Design Print Publisher
Andrea Stultiens www.andreastultiens.nl (collections of) Kaddu Wasswa John and Arthur C. Kisitu www.theportraithome.com Andrea Stultiens and Marloes de Laat www.inopdrachtvan.nl Drukkerij Tienkamp, Groningen post editions, Rotterdam www.post-editions.com
ISBN 978 94 6083 029 7
Š 2010 Andrea Stultiens, Kaddu Wasswa John, Arthur C. Kisitu and post editions
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When Arthur C. Kisitu introduced Andrea Stultiens to his grandfather, none of them expected this to turn into a big project, that would try to incorporate most of their ambitions into this book. Arthur knew that Andrea was interested in the vernacular representation of Uganda’s history, and thought Kaddu Wasswa’s archive might be interesting for her to see. He was right. Arthur Conrad Kisitu (1975) holds a degree in Business Administration and is the vision bearer of Sweet Home Uganda (SHUGA). He is a designer, poet, dancer and full time photographer. Arthur lives in Kampala, Uganda. Kaddu Wasswa John (1933) is a peasant farmer and anti HIV/AIDS activist. He runs his NGO Turn To Tea from his home in Mayirikiti, Mokono District, Uganda. Andrea Stultiens (1974) takes and collects pictures to tell stories with. Her work is exhibited internationally and she has published several books. Andrea lives and works in the Netherlands
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