Video with Transcript
Hello everyone,
It is incredibly exciting to speak with you today. My name is Robyn Stalson-Johns, and I am the creator of The Adventures of Zizwe, a spiritual animation series that embodies the lofty pursuits I deeply love and embrace.
Background and Inspiration
Born in South Africa, I grew up in a terribly unbalanced environment. During the dark days of apartheid, I developed a strong desire to make a difference and bring change to a society that had marginalized minorities and women. This personal passion led to the evolution of The Adventures of Zizwe.
Series Overview
The main theme centers on the Zulu word “Ubuntu,” which means the spirit of togetherness. This concept is integral to our narrative, emphasizing unity and collective harmony.
The Adventures of Zizwe is a cross between X-Men and Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. It follows the adventures of four young goddesses, apprentices of their ancestral cultures, hailing from different parts of the world:
Zizwe: A young Zulu girl from Africa.
Amaya: From Mexico, carrying the Mayan tradition.
Drui: From Ireland, with Celtic origins.
Ras: From Australia, embodying Aboriginal culture.
Together, they harness the wisdom of their ancestors and their ancient mystical powers to solve the world’s problems. The series portrays cultural diversity as a unifying strength.
Music and Cultural Venues
The girls form a band called “Zizwe and the Mystics,” using music to bond and amplify their spiritual gifts. They perform at various venues worldwide, such as:
- The Paris Olympics
- The Las Vegas Christmas Cowboy Show
- Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Mexico
- Earth Day celebrations in India
Episode Structure
Each episode begins at the foot of the magical Baobab tree, where the Gogo (spiritual grandmothers) of each tradition gather around the Oracle fire to observe scenes of chaos and evil in the flames. The girls are then dispatched to these troubled areas to transform the evils, rather than annihilate them, emphasizing the key theme of transformation.
Visual and Narrative Style
The episodes are fast-moving and entertaining, with clothing that captures the cultures from which the characters originate. Themes include using spiritual feminine powers to transform prejudice, greed, war, plagues, wildlife poaching, natural disasters, and supernatural ills.
Taste of the Transforming Poachers Episode
In one episode, the mystics disorient malicious poachers in Africa with microbursts of rain. Through the power of the Dreamtime, they enter the minds of the poachers, making them feel the terror of the animals. This experience leads the poachers to resolve never to poach again, illustrating the series’ focus on building empathy and transforming evil.
This evolution of my own “girl power” aspirations is reflected in the series. With this brief overview, I now hand over to Kevin, my husband and collaborator, who will share a few thoughts on cultural diversity as an economic strength and how the World Trade Centers can seize this wonderful opportunity.
Thank you.
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