Today we had our township tour. “Langa”, is not the biggest township in Cape Town but it is the oldest. We learned that it was built as housing for 5,000 single working men in 1927 but today has expanded to a population of over 80,000 men, women and children. Langa is one of the many areas in South Africa that were designated for Black Africans before the apartheid era. This township was also the location of much resistance to apartheid.
We started with a brief walk through one of the streets where many folks in the Xhosa language greeted us. (Thanks to our local Mambuti for teaching us some important greetings. Xhosa is a clicking language and the children picked it up much easier than the adults.
Our first stop was to a pottery cooperative. Anyone over the age 16 could be eligible to learn the craft. There is guidance and sometimes funding for graduates to begin their own business. It’s a perfect example of how a micro-enterprise can employ many and sustain whole families and communities.
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| Langa Pottery Co-op |
"Imagine trying to keep up with a day like today.
It’s just that each stop, each site, each new school or choral group
gives us so much love, so much energy and music and dance,
that it almost chokes me up with the awe of it all."
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| Selling Meat |
Moving right along, our next stop was for an interactive African musical instrument workshop. This was a time for the kids to really let their hair down. Drumming, flutes, dances, and a finish of homemade ginger ‘beer’ (no alcohol, no worries.) The three performers were so talented and obviously used to getting kids to move and participate. The energy and excitement was high and I wish I could get you all to come here and spend time with these musicians!
Next stop, Dalukhanyo Pre-School. I know I’ve written about how the school children seem to gather around our kids like rock stars. At the pre-school level though, it’s altogether a different thing. The children hug us from all sides. Pulling on our arms, hanging around our legs, asking to be carried or hugged. I had one little boy kissing my hand so beautifully. I look around and see your children laughing out loud as they are being loved to death. Imagine our Denis or Auston both 6’ tall, bending down to hug dozens of 2-5 year olds. The pre-schoolers sang and danced for us. I wish we didn’t have to leave….but of course…..
Next stop Hlengisa Primary School. The chorus from this school was very disciplined. They sounded beautiful. They formed a semi-circle with our kids (about 120 kids total) with both choruses intertwined. Then one chorus would sing and dance and the other would follow along. We took turns back and forth and really enjoyed the exchange. But no time to dally….
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| Welcome dance at Phakama Secondary School |
After a quick sandwich lunch under a tree we went to Phakama Secondary School. This High School choir was waiting for us by forming two lines at the school’s entrance. When we got off the bus, they started to sing and dance. Unbelievable voices; an extremely accomplished chorus. They took Isabel’s hand and led her to dance and then others invited our students to stand by them and soon the two choruses were again interacting and dancing together. We entered the school and received the most impressive concert! We shared some of our songs too and then the two choruses interacted in the way all high school kids interact apparently across the world. Email addresses were exchanged and friendships were formed. We were all so happy to be sharing our music with such a talented group of students.”
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| Making friends! |
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