nussatari
May 2025
In honesty I don’t actually read books, much–as much as I would like to. My reading list is mostly recommendations of generous friends after deep chats on ever complexifying questions.
I’m thinking just now about language. About broken communities, diaspora, chosen family and different groupings formed, sustained, broken and regrown; I along with many others before and now, am thinking a lot about community.
I’m thinking about how the systems of violence we say we’re fighting against play out in the minutia of our interpersonal interactions.
I’m thinking about how often around me the automatically referred-to “the community” is rarely specifically defined. And the how, why this term seems often hastily imposed onto groups- either by themselves or others.
Are we in community or are we in proximity? (Ndeye Omou Sylla)
Are we in community or do we share a protected characteristic? An interest? If it feels like community to one or many of us- is this enough for everyone?
Are we brave enough to commit to the community-building process? And are [we] prepared to be told that [we] are not fulfilling the minimum needs of sustained community trust? (Ashtin Berry)
I’m thinking about accountability and how often it is spoken and rarely shown. What are we really asking for, and what is realistic based on who people, institutions have already shown themselves to be in the actions they’ve consistently demonstrated- even where this consistency is inconsistency?
What can we expect from the justice systems of law and international law knowing why and how they were designed?
If self-accountability means to take responsibility for ourselves and those around us in our choices and the consequences of our choices (Danica Bornstein) then in what ways are we supporting one another to accept, even value, these responsibilities in our choices? (If indeed, that is what we’ve agreed to practice together)
What is on the other side of this responsibility that keeps us in fear? Where are we willing to attempt that which could move us into practising forms of care, of rehumanising one another, of love?
The following are some bodies of words I’m (re)reading, (re)listening to, and (re)appreciating in these thinkings and conversations now.
— Written Feb/March 2025
Reading
She Tries Her Tongue, Her Silence Softly Breaks, M. NourBese Philip (Ragweed Press, 1988)
Listening
Becoming the People (Podcast, 2024)
Prentis Hemphill & Mariame Kaba
Prentis Hemphill & Kai Cheng Thom
Love, Meshell Ndegeocello, (Blue Note Records, 2024)
nussatari/ nusa C Parinussa is an interdisciplinary artist with a body-based practice across live performance / movement / sound / research / writing and facilitating. They are interested in unknowings and bodily knowings as sites of potentiality. Commissions include The Ignorant Art School:12 Hour Acting Up, Cooper Gallery (2025), The Centre of Somewhere residency with Take Me Somewhere/Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg (2023), ember (5.5) at Jupiter Rising (2022), hologram (10.7) with Transplant Imaginaries/CBSS/Being Human Festival (2021) and sendiri for Take Me Somewhere (2021).
nusa’s wider work involves project producing, facilitating, community organising and advocacy often with Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC). They founded ID.Y CIC in 2018, a fluid arts support cohort centering anti-racism practice; and initiated House Ball Scotland, a community support and advocacy project with the Scottish ballroom scene.
Please note the views published in What I am Reading Now… are personal reflections of the contributors.
These may not necessarily represent the views of the University of Dundee.
Readers who wish to make a donation to support Medical Aid for Palestinians can do so here.
———