My name is Ntsikelelo Lakhi Vimbayo, aka Lakhi.
I’m an aspiring filmmaker with a great deal of passion for community development. Though I haven’t made any films of my own yet, I have worked in the industry, mainly as a Researcher and Sparks.
It is also worth mentioning that I completed an NQF Level 4 learnership in Film at Big Fish School of Digital Filmmaking.
Since it has been a challenge to gain entry into the industry or produce my own film, one often finds himself in stagnation, and it is during these demanding times that one starts to look at other possibilities and opportunities outside the industry.
I believe that one of my major strengths is communication, and I have been trying to knock on doors with the hope that this skill might be of value.
Phahlo Mtangai, an elder of mine in these streets, was the first to notice my communication skills. Phahlo is a sculptor, though he is often involved in other projects because of his passion for the arts. Just like me, his mission is to make it in his chosen industry and, though he is sometimes featured at SculptX, an annual event held at Melrose Arch in an effort to promote our local artists, he has only been lucky once when one of his masterpieces was sold. He is still looking for ways to grow and promote his career.
In 2024, Phahlo Mtangai, aka Master P, approached me to check if I might be able to assist him by being his PA. Of course, this was not a paying gig, but rather playing a role in the process of advancing the hustle.
After agreeing to assist, he explained the clear intentions behind why this role was important. He had been looking forward to yet another Burn. As he says, AfrikaBurn is his spiritual home, a place where he can just be, but most importantly, connect with nature.
One of my major tasks was to keep in contact with Neo Monapule, aka Dread Master. Neo is a builder and the one who made it possible for Phahlo to participate in the festival as one of the builders.
This communication with Dread Master soon helped create a bond between me and him.
Master P and Dread Master did attend AfrikaBurn 2024 as builders. It was said that on the next trip to Tankwa, I should avail myself, as this might be an opportunity to find myself or better myself. Of course, this sounded too good to be true because one has been trying and looking for ways to improve himself.
2025 came, and I was excited to go to the desert. Sadly, the guys were not going to Tankwa that year because they were not part of any structure, but they did encourage me to apply for the Anathi ticket.
I did apply and was fortunate to receive a positive response from AfrikaBurn, but in the end, I couldn’t go. Master P told me that I should get in contact with Dread Master again to check if he was still looking for people to be part of his crew for AfrikaBurn 2026. I contacted Dread Master, and he confirmed that there was a possibility of a project and that he might need more hands. Somewhere around September, Dread Master called to confirm that the project was on and that before the year ended, we should link up to discuss it further.
In November, he called to discuss his plans and the possibility of a team meeting sometime in December. The meeting was set. We nearly didn’t make it because we were coming from Spaza Gallery after striking down some of Master P’s works. Yes, Master P was part of the artists showcasing at the Makwande Ukukhanya exhibition held at Spaza Gallery.
As we tried to relax and unwind, we started talking about the project and the possibility of speaking to Dread Master. Right on the spot, we called him, and he pleaded with us to come join the meeting, even if it meant using our last cents. He was super keen to reimburse us as long as we could make it to the meeting, which was held at his home, 1668 MC Botha Avenue, Vosloorus.
It was at this meeting that I finally met Dread Master and also got the opportunity to meet some of the crew members we would be working with.
After small introductions, Dread Master continued to brief us about the project. After the briefing session and all the questions had been answered, he told us that due to the nature of the project and time considerations, we were forced to start work in the first week of January 2026. It was agreed that on 5 January, we would all report to 1668 MC Botha Avenue, Vosloorus. The team would be called Clan Ubuntu, meaning “Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu” — I am because you are.
We arrived at Dread Master’s home on 5 January and soon assumed our roles. I was part of the inventory team. When the work started after we received the material, Dread Master became known as the “Don’t fuck around Guy.” Attention to detail and doing exactly what is asked of you is all that Dread Master wants. Anything else is considered “fucking around,” even the way you use the machines. At times, he would be inside the house, hear a strange sound from one of his machines, quickly come outside, ask the operator not to “fuck around,” and then show that person the best way to use the machine.
Due to the fact that some of us were having difficulties travelling to and from Vosloorus, one of the crew members, Kgatliso, came up with a solution that we could make use of his home as a means of shelter to avoid travelling costs. Later, Dread Master rented a room for those of us who had transport challenges.
In March, preparations for Tankwa intensified and on 28 March, we left Jozi for Tankwa Town, arriving in the early hours of the 29th.
It was my first time in the desert, and it felt like a space from nowhere. The beauty of nature was overwhelming. We were welcomed by Issa, Brad and Tove, all representing the AfrikaBurn organisation. Our camp had already been set up, and all we needed to do was pitch our tents. These tents were also provided by the organisation.
It is important to state that the organisation has a department called DPW, meaning Department of Public Works. These guys are in charge of almost every single little thing — from toilets, camps, water, lights and catering, to many other responsibilities.
These were the groups we found when we arrived: DPW, Temple and Medic, if my memory serves me well.
The desert was still empty when we got there, but most of those who had attended the Burn before kept reminding us that it would be busy in no time, the village would turn into a city, and you could even get lost. Yes, when we arrived, there were no lights.
After settling into our camp, Neo showed us around and explained how things worked. Yes, he also shared the 11 Principles of the Burn. Around 12 noon, we heard a bell ring, and Neo told us it was brunch time and that we should all get our plates and cups ready because we were now going to dine.
We headed to Mess Hall and were pleased to meet so many beautiful and amazing beings. The warmth, the love and the kindness. It was here that I met some of the DPW team, and relationships started that lasted until the final day of the event.
Mess Hall is where we were served breakfast, lunch and supper. On Sundays, there was no breakfast, only brunch and supper.
The work went well regardless of the challenges brought by the weather. Yes, it was very hard to work during strong winds. Sadly, these winds had the potential to cause damage, and this was when the Temple structure fell.
Since the festival promotes the spirit of volunteerism, we were blessed to have a few amazing beings become part of our team and assist us in getting the job done. We also made use of our free time by volunteering our services at the Temple.
The spirit of Ubuntu in the desert lives on. We are all one family, and the do-ocracy is the order of the day.
Personally, I made friends with so many people in the desert because of their warmth and love.
It is important to state that we build these structures to burn them.
The week of the festival
On Monday, I volunteered at Die Hek, and on my way back, we asked the driver to drop us at Greeters. This is where Virgin Burners ring the bell and roll in the dust. It is part of the culture of the event.
You stand on the line, and the lady asks you to share one principle you know about the Burn. I answered by mentioning my special principle: “Each one teach one.”
When we finished our structure, the village had now become a city. It was buzzing, and I couldn’t wait to be part of it all. I joined the masses, and it turned out that I would have the time of my life, to the point that sleeping became secondary. We finished our structure after the festival had already started.
I was away from our camp for days, but I was still in Tankwa, having the best time of my life. Saturday came, and our structure was scheduled to burn at 20:00.
This was very important to me, so much so that I had to leave my newly found home to be present when our work finally went down.
I arrived when everyone had already taken position, and there was a perimeter with fire marshals. Because I was a crew member, I wanted to find out where I could find my team, and the fire marshal assisting me pointed to a white bakkie and mentioned that it was where I could get assistance.
As I made my way to the bakkie, here came Issa with open arms to give me a warm hug and take me to my team.
I sat there alone in front, waiting for the moment of truth.
When the fire started, I became very sober, and as naked runners started running, my eyes remained fixed on the structure, watching very carefully how it burned.
After this moment, Kgatliso and I visited the Mushroom House to get high and possibly tipsy. Lucky for us, tequila was all over the place. After some time, I decided to go to Space Cowboys or Why Not just for the music.
Arriving at Why Not, I saw women calling my name and luckily, I was able to recognise one of them because she had been very sweet to me. I then decided to join them. While still enjoying myself with them, I decided that I would love some fries, and it looked like they would love some too.
We decided to go to the fries container and stand in the line. I don’t remember getting the fries or how I lost my beautiful friends. All I remember is a voice waking me up.
“Lakhi, Lakhi”
There I was, trying to wake up, though my body was feeling otherwise, possibly because of the matters of the mind and indeed because I had a lot of alcohol and drugs in my system. But one specific incident — the realisation that, as a man, I wasn’t able to focus on anything other than the Clan and watching it burn — left me in a certain state.
Opening my eyes, I saw the beautiful Lexi. This special lady had been very kind to me. Every time she saw me, she gave me love and positive vibrations.
Suddenly, I fully woke up and was pleased to see Lexi first thing upon opening my eyes. She told me:
“Lakhi, for the first time I ran naked at the Burn, it was for the Clan, and I was calling your name.”
Lexi is a very special being, and her words that day brightened my spirit and made me feel special. I bumped into Lexi again on Sunday at Space Cowboys.
Here are some highlights about the Burn:
Money doesn’t work in the desert.
There are Theme Camps that provide food, drinks, entertainment, music and weed.
To name just a few Theme Camps that became my favourites:
Garden of Weeden
White Lion
Why Not
Space Cowboys
MadHatters
Cynthia’s Body Wash aka Kwakwa
Other than these Theme Camps, there was:
The Volunteer Booth
Sanctuary
Lost and Found
Radio Free Tankwa
Mankala
Rangers — where I met someone who became one of my close friends in the desert, a guy named Sbuda.
Seeing the sunrise became one of my rituals.
The DPW parties were also among my favourites, and Nombasa, who was part of our crew, always managed to steal the show. Once she started her sing-along songs, everyone joined in.
Sunday was the silent burn of the Temple. Silent burn means that no music is played during or after the burn. This was also the last day of the festival.
On Monday, we reported back to work to clean up our site. This process is called MOOP, and members from the organisation are the ones who confirm whether the cleaning was done properly or not. These guys are called Leave No Trace. That same Monday, most people returned to their homes.
Leave No Trace also happens to be one of the Principles of the Burn.
Once the cleaning was done and the Leave No Trace team confirmed it, we then focused on cleaning our camp and getting ready for our trip back to Jozi.
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PHOTOS: courtesy ofAfricaBurn Facebook page.