SANDS OF TIME (2024)

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Sands of Time (Walls We Can Walk Through) is an architectural, multi-sensory installation created by Ala Praxis Collective that explores the fragile relationship between urban expansion and environmental degradation in Dar es Salaam. The central motif of the installation is the hourglass, which sits on a load cell sensor that converts the weight of the sand loaded unto the hourglass to sound, a metaphor for the Swahili concepts of time - Sasa (r. the present) and Zamani (r. the distant past) and also shaped like the Ogene (the bell of the town crier in Igbo society). This symbol captures the fluidity of time, reflecting the tension between the city’s rapid development and the long-term consequences of environmental harm. Through interactive projections, sound, photography, text, found object art, speculative archaeology,archival material and animation, the installation examines sands dual role as a critical resource for growth and a force of destruction when extracted irresponsibly. It highlights the delicate balance between Dar es Salaam’s expansion and the ecological damage caused by sand mining, impacting coastlines, habitats, and communities.

More than just an environmental issue, Sands of Time frames sand mining as a deeply human crisis, offering space for contemplation on whether future urbanization will lead to ruin or sustainable coexistence. Ultimately, the project serves as both a cautionary tale and a vision of possibility, urging us to confront the consequences of unchecked development and seek alternatives that harmonize participation, sustainability, and growth.

Sands of Time was created by the Ala Praxis Collective—Okwudini Noah Misan, Josh Ike Egesi, Timilehin Osanyintolu, Jadesola Olaniyan, Toba Olatunji, and Fagbeyiro Philip—and was funded by the European Union as part of the S+T+ARTS4Africa Residency