Leeto laho qetela

What happens when you lose your loved one? How do you cope with the loss? How do you move forward? How do you prepare for death? For most of my life, I have felt lost and never understood the void I feel in my heart. I never knew my father, nor do I have a recollection or memory of my time with him, he passed away when I was only 4 years old. And recently, after witnessing my aunt’s death, it became clear how temporary life really is and how quickly memories fade away from one’s control. I’ve forgotten many aspects of my aunt, her vibrant personality and the comforting warmth of her spirit. This gives me fear that one day it will be my family’s faces, their laughs, and how it felt to be next to them that will be forgotten to oblivion too. What will become of me when they pass, and will I be the one left behind? Leeto Laho Qetela which translates to Final Journey is an ongoing documentary series that captures an investigation of our beliefs and ideas about death, the afterlife, and ancestral connections that envelope the spirit of South African people. Through the interplay of light and shadow, I seek to convey the delicate balance between the solemnity of farewell and the eulogy of a life lived.