“Listen with Your Eyes, Speak with Your Hands”

“Listen with Your Eyes, Speak with Your Hands”

In a captivating and enlightening engagement that celebrated Deaf culture through a unique blend of poetry, music, dance, and sign language, Deaf students at UKZN presented Listen with Your Eyes, Speak with Your Hands at the Howard College Theatre on 8 September.

The event, which aimed to raise awareness of the need for social inclusion and break down communication barriers, coincided with Deaf Awareness Month. It was supported by the South African Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI) in the Disability Support Unit (DSU) and the University Language Planning and Development Office (ULPDO).

A highlight of the programme was the spellbinding performance by Ms Olive Olusegun, winner of the 2023 Sign & Slam Poetry Competition, whose attendance was made possible by funding from the Centre for Creative Arts (CCA). Her poem, Here I Hold Sin drew parallels between the invisibility experienced by women and that often associated with Deafness as an “invisible disability”. She called for greater understanding and inclusion of the Deaf community as well as sign language’s integration into educational curricula.

Olive also shared her personal journey, recounting her experience at the 2023 Sign & Slam Poetry competition, where she gained exposure to sign language. This inspired her to commit to learning it and encouraging others to do likewise.

Deaf students at UKZN, Ms Philile Shezi and Mr Siwongiwe Mlambo, recited a poignant poem titled I Hear Your Hand by Mary Jane Rhodes that conveyed a powerful message of inclusivity, empathy, and the potential for meaningful connections, even in the presence of communication barriers between the Deaf and hearing worlds. Fellow Deaf student, Ms Khadeejah Hansrod’s untitled poem shed light on the unique challenges faced by the Deaf community, particularly within an academic setting and charted the Deaf community’s struggle for official recognition of sign language.

The event also featured a dramatic performance that illustrated the experiences of Deaf students, and academic and support staff. It highlighted the need for more reasonable accommodation and the adoption of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles within the University. Dance and song signing in South African Sign Language (SASL) added a vibrant and expressive dimension.

In closing, participants called for sign language to be included as a module within UKZN’s curriculum in order to foster greater understanding, empathy, and inclusion between the Deaf and hearing communities.

Words: Ashley Subbiah

Photograph: Supplied