Poster: 30 x 24"

Gallery Frame: 30 x 24"

Shadowbox Frame: 32 x 26"

Bold and colorful, Lawrence Lemaoana’s poster, “I did not join the struggle to be poor,” makes an indelible first impression. The text, cut from the African National Congress flag, is embroidered onto kanga fabric. This fabric’s significance is far-reaching. Currently it is designed in the Netherlands, manufactured in the east and sold in Africa, telling a story of globalization. But more traditionally, shamans in South Africa use kanga extensively as markers of spiritual healing and fortune-telling. The phrase itself sardonically speaks to the power and duplicitous nature of the South African media and political system. In Johannesburg, posters of the daily newspaper’s headlines are hung from streetlight poles. Lawrence often incorporates this language in his work. This specific phrase was taken verbatim from the African National Congress spokesperson, Smuts Ngonyama.

Poster on 80 lb silk McCoy archival paper

Printed in the USA

10% of every poster purchased helps fund art classes for kids.