Wordless Writes a few Words:
Tales and Tips about Dusty Volunteering
Welcome to yet another love letter to Afrikaburn. I’ve written articles, made social media posts, and declared my appreciation on the Facebook page for everything and anything Burn. It truly has changed my life, and I assume that if you are reading this, it has (or will) for you as well. Or maybe you are just curious to read what it is I’m babbling about this time (hi, friends)!
For those who don’t know me, I’m always over-prepared for most things (events, work, cooking etc. [I’m still working on using fewer brackets]). As soon as I decided to finally make the trek to my first ‘Burn in 2023, I started consuming pages and pages of information about the event. I went to Google, social media, and the combination of both, Reddit.
One of the most influential posts I found was by Bren on the Road«, and it inspired me like I’m hoping to inspire just one more human to sign up for volunteering at AfrikaBurn.
I took his advice and went straight to the volunteering sign-up page. Without researching exactly what each shift entailed, I signed up for seven. If each person attending Afrikaburn does just ONE volunteer shift, we would be able to gradually increase the size of Tankwa Town each year!
TIPS:
Each volunteer shift is about 4 hours and can be all around the clock*
Plan ahead by asking questions - some are emotional, indoors, or stinky
Remember to plan for this in terms of bag size, water, snacks, and gifts you would like to hand out on your shift
Wear appropriate clothing« - jacket, dust mask, shoes.
I usually have a little notebook with me to take down important information or mini journal entries as well.
Volunteering Linktree («click on it)
Many people have written posts, pages, and even a handbook about volunteering at Afrikaburn. If you want official information, this is where you should start. This post is just my personal experiences and opinions about volunteering. I would love to hear your thoughts as well, and feel free to ask about anything I mentioned here if you haven’t heard of it before~
Volunteering Booth
You can volunteer at the Volunteer Booth to help other volunteers sign up to volunteer at the Volunteer Booth or for other volunteering shifts. About 2 hours into my volunteering shift at the Volunteer Booth, I found out it is also the Info Booth. Probably something the volunteers at the Volunteer (& Info) Booth should be able to tell you.
While dancing in front of the booth with mushroom toast from Camp 404* kindly delivered by my brother, I was constantly surprised by how many people came to volunteer. There is something for everyone, and just by reading this you already know more about volunteering than most burners do! The most popular one was probably Leave No Trace« as it’s something anyone can do at any time. You can join a group of Moopers every morning, or just pick up any Moop you see on your journey through Tankwa Town. The Volunteer booth also has ‘Moop bags’ that you can use to collect Moop and is a very useful keepsake from Burn.
TIPS:
You can also ask for a WTF booklet« or a map at the volunteer booth if you didn’t receive one at the entrance, or if yours was accidentally consumed by the dust.
You get awesome swag by volunteering at different spots. You can add this to your ever growing collection that will make you smile every time you open the Burn drawer. Shirts, stickers, pendants, etc.
BONUS TIP:
Another shift people can sign up for is Throne Crew. It’s a shitty gig, but it’s one of the best shifts you can do! By sacrificing your olfactory senses for 4 hours, you might:
Know where all the cleanest toilets are located
Have the best people watching viewpoint for the day
Be showered with praise and gifts from appreciative Burners out for a bathroom trip after their morning coffee
Know how to find the toilets at night when the Playa magically changes everything you thought you knew about directions
Get some free swag for your services
Lost & Found
If you pick up something of value, you can take it to the Lost & Found booth, conveniently located right next to the Volunteer Booth. It’s run by the lovely Muriel, a spritely young middle-aged lady with the cutest French accent. You can ask her to tell you the story of Just(In)e.
I arrived at the Lost & Found booth in 2023 for my shift about 10 minutes before they opened one morning. There was a whole pile of fur coats, vapes, water bottles, and a single bicycle wheel next to the entrance. Right next to it, a line of worried Burners looking for their lost fur coats, vapes, and water bottles. I have no idea if the bicycle wheel was ever claimed.
Muriel quickly filled me in on how the system works-ish* - we have to number and log the most valuable items, sort items by category, and throw a stone in the jar every time someone asks for their lost voice or virginity. All unclaimed items are transported back to Cape Town after the end of the event for those who weren’t reunited yet. Yes, there’s a Facebook page« for that as well.
The feeling when you actually find someone’s lost earring in the overcrowded jewellery bag or hand them their missing cup that has survived 6 festivals is something you don’t get to experience often enough in the default world!
TIPS:
MARK YOUR STUFF! Everything that leaves your tent needs to have a way to easily identify it. It’s as easy as writing your name on your belongings with a marker or putting stickers on it.
Take pictures of everything you might lose so you can show them if you want it back. Especially valuables!
If someone finds a plastic baggie of ‘pharmaceuticals’ on the Playa it’s as good as Moop, but if it’s in a cute moonbag* you can get it back!
Don’t take stuff with you that you can’t afford to lose. Leave it at home or lock it in your car.
Die Hek / Greeters
This is the first group of volunteers you will encounter on your way into Tankwa Town. If you’ve been to Afrikaburn, you might have been greeted at the gate by some friendly (fresh, though not necessarily freshly clean) faces that supply you with good vibes, a wristband*, a map, or advice.
Sneaky TIP: If you want to volunteer for a shift at Die Hek«, you don’t need to walk all the way up there! There’s a shuttle that can take you there and back, although if you have the time I can highly recommend experiencing the trip by foot or bicycle Seeing the Playa from a distance is really a sight to behold.
In aid of explaining why I mention volunteering at Die Hek, I want to share a story from a friend. He volunteers there every year mainly because of the look you see on someone’s face when you welcome them Home. He was showing off his flashy outfit and shaking his cute butt at the newcomers when a panel van showed up, its occupants tired after the 6 hour drive from Cape Town. Even though they were in good spirits, the entire contents of their van had changed ownership without their consent back in the default world just a day or two before they left for Burn. Luckily for them, they encountered a wild Burner who had over-prepared for Burn and he offered to share his spoils with these unfortunate victims. He had an extra tent, food, alcohol, and everything they needed to survive a week in the desert! If you have ever heard the expression, it has never been more fitting…
TIP: The Playa provides!
Rangers
In honour of ‘leaving the best for last’ - being a Ranger has definitely been the most rewarding volunteering shift for me (Facebook page). The Rangers are like the ‘Neighborhood Watch’ in Tankwa. They wander around in their orange vests with the main purpose of keeping everyone safe. To become a ranger, you attend a 3 hour training session either before or at Afrikaburn. Since I was out of the country in the months leading up to Burn, I opted to attend on-site.
I showed up to Ranger Training with a water bottle and sporty clothes, ready to run sprints and do push-ups. I was pleasantly surprised with a cup of coffee and an energy bar, and ushered to the training tent where Ranger Tigger was talking to the early arrivals. Everyone was getting to know each other and settling into their seats - ‘Training’ means you learn how to talk to Altered Participants (the Ranger name for intoxicated and otherwise not sober Burners), how to use the radio, and what to do when you see a scorpion*. Armed with my little notebook, I took my seat next to Brother, the friendly face that welcomed me into the semi-circle.
‘Ranger Worthless’
As we made introductions, Tigger asked us to say any single word that we felt described our Burn so far. I swear, every time I thought of a word, someone else said it - grateful, happy, love, home, excited. I was running out of words and by the time I was in the limelight, I just said, “My name is Lani, and I don’t have a word”. Tigger paused here and said that Rangers all have chosen call signs, and even though it might be a bit premature, he would like to name me ‘Ranger Wordless’. I always giggle when someone mishears it on the radio as ‘Ranger Worthless’!
Ranger training is something I have recommended to everyone, even people who do not attend Afrikaburn. Ranger Bob, the founder of the rangers at AB, taught us so much about dealing with people who are overwhelmed and/or emotional. We played a game (Change 3 Things) that I have since taught to friends and teachers as it has an amazing life lesson hidden in the game. He also taught us why the mascot is a tortoise (harmless and super chilled animals) and why we wear orange (bright enough to stand out yet still feels safe).
Ranger Fanta then gave us a good overview about the general events that rangers deal with on a daily basis. She taught us the lingo for serious situations to use on the radio and the procedures for coming on and off shift. Ranger Pink Jesus told us how he got his call sign and why we shouldn’t use our call signs when talking to Altered Participants. I’ll let you imagine why someone that consumed an assortment of pharmaceuticals doesn’t want to be saved by Pink Jesus…
Sneaky TIP: Rangers have to be sober and awake whenever they are on shift. This makes it a perfect volunteering opportunity for those who are normally the ‘mom’ of the friend group! You can also be a Green Dot ranger, someone who is trained to talk to overwhelmed Burners when they need help. Also see: Sanctuary«.
My favourite dust ranger shift in 2024 was the sunrise 5 to 9AM slot. On my first sunrise shift I was partnered with two rookies. We had just experienced the most glorious sunrise I’ve ever seen, from the most amazing viewpoint on the highest point of the temple. My partners and I headed to Sunrisers for our coffee fix as per their morning routine and we were just about to head back into the suburbs when the coolest 6-year-old in the world came up to me with a radio he found the previous night. He just wanted to know if it belonged to the rangers, and we ended up talking until my coffee was empty.
“…conversation with a pre-schooler about why illegal drugs done responsibly can be a better choice than drinking alcohol irresponsibly”
Jaden loved hearing my stories about being a ranger, he tried identifying all the animals in my tattoos, and he taught me how to skateboard in the dust without a skateboard. More than that, he completely changed my outlook on the future of their generation and our world. Jaden was only 6 years old, yet he knew what an axolotl was. He showed me how curious kids are about kindness and compassion. He taught me, a teacher, how to have a conversation with a pre-schooler about why illegal drugs done responsibly can be a better choice than drinking alcohol irresponsibly.
He gave me hope.
Before Afrikaburn, I had resigned from a teaching job and declared that I was done with being a teacher. My chat with Jaden showed me that I am still passionate about teaching. I just needed to find a way to do what I loved, to teach things that kids want to learn. Jaden wanted to know how to help people, how things work even if it barely has any impact on him. Like any kid, he just wanted people to be happy because he instinctively knew that it would create a safe space for him, where he could be happy.
“child-like wonder is not just for children”
I’m extremely grateful for every moment at Afrikaburn. Don’t get me wrong, having a 21st century bathroom is amazing every other day of the year, but for a few days, you get to see what hope can accomplish. What the results of pure intentions are. What 6 to 13 000-ish people from all over the world can create without expecting anything in return. That child-like wonder is not just for children. You get to see what life could be like if we all felt at HOME.
Afrikaburn is HOME. It’s safe, kind, pure, free HOME.
*Fire Perimeter Duty: Similar to Rangers, you need to attend training before you can be part of the fire brigade. Ask Jason to explain the finer details. However, if you end up at an artwork one hour before it burns (just follow the fire truck lights), ask if they need a hand. Even if you haven’t had training, they might be appreciative of an extra hand! And free swag, yay.
*Around the clock:
Rangers and Sanctuary keep Tankwa Town safe 24/7. Die Hek has different times depending on the day. Most others are between 9AM and 3PM-ish.
From a bird’s view, the Town is shaped like a semi-circle. The streets are named by hours clockwise, 1-ish to 12-ish.
*My boots were secondhand steel-tip toe boots from my brother’s old job, that I painted with my miniature paints« a few weeks before the Burn~
*PSB: At Creation 2023, I joined the Purple Spanking Booth«. A camp that basically teaches consent through spanking. Vasti, the organiser, is a badass that can somehow herd cats.
*Camp 404 is a camp around 3-ish and C. They served breakfast each morning, all you had to take was a plate and appreciation!
*-ish: An expression used by Burners as there is no time if you don’t want it. Wednesday-ish, Mealtime-ish, Sober-ish, 7-ish.
*Moonbag-ish: Thrift stores are AMAZING places to shop for Burner clothes! If you have the skills or know someone that can do some sewing, you will have the most unique Burn outfits!
*Wristband: Each person has a barcode and an alphanumerical code on their wristband. This is linked to your ticket details! If you are at burn with friends & family, it’s a good idea to take pictures of their bands!
*Scorpions: There are many dangerous scorpions on site, and they come out all times of the day. If you walk barefoot, PLEASE be careful! The scorpions glow under a blue light, I can highly recommend walking with one at night. Blue lights are also useful for other situations. And red lights. I’ll write about that another day.