South African tells of altercation at Amsterdam B&B

A SOUTH African visual artist has described how she flew down a flight of stairs‚ sustaining bruises and a concussion following an altercation with her Amsterdam B&B host.

Sibahle Nkumbi gave her version of events in a video posted on YouTube, after she had been discharged from hospital.

A video of the incident‚ which took place on Saturday‚ was widely shared on Instagram and Twitter by her friend, Zanele Muholi‚ who characterised it as a racist attack.

Nkumbi was working as a writer during the Stedelijk Museum exhibition in Amsterdam‚ in which Muholi’s work is being exhibited.

Nkumbi said her experience in Amsterdam was bittersweet.

“There was really nothing suspicious‚ we went to the exhibition and the next morning we had to check out‚ and then this happens.

“We knew that we were late‚ we heard a bell ring. Lerato [her crew member] opened the door and the lady was clearly upset and explained that this is not acceptable‚ and she asked us to pack and leave now. “I apologised profusely for us being late. “A few minutes later, she came with her husband and he came angry and banged the door.”

Nkumbi said the man was verbally abusive referring to the group as “you people”.

“He even said that we are not the great artists or queens that we think we are and that we must leave now‚ this is not Africa.”

Nkumbi said the man could not resist the opportunity to grab her when she attempted to pass him.

She said she tried to hold on to the wall but lost her grip and flew down the stairs.

“Flying all the way down the stairs. I don’t remember what happened‚” she said.

Social media was torn between whether the incident was a racist quarrel or not.