Banele (221 days / 32 weeks) 01    00:11:40

Banele | Parental exhaustion, Siblings, Sleep

Banele is asleep on “his” couch. He is lying, arms outstretched, on his back. Zanele is sitting on dad’s lap on the chair and the other children are moving around, sitting on “their” couch and all are watching a Nigerian TV programme (melodrama), which includes a story of a woman bewitched/possessed/mad.

This is one of the weeks where Banele sleeps throughout. At times Banele seems to be aware of noises in the room or on TV. His eyes open or his pupils move around, but he does not wake.

Skhumbuzo sits against the arm of the couch and falls asleep, while Zanele and Thando play with two white-skinned dolls (at times aware of the camera and at times just focused on the dolls). Dad is stretched out on the chair, also sleeping.

People you will meet:

Sizwe Dad

Skhumbuzo Oldest Half-Brother

Thando Oldest Sister

Zanele Youngest Sister