tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14635387428139079912024-02-19T16:53:42.510-08:00Kat Francois blogkathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-40782151694438798982015-11-12T06:05:00.000-08:002015-11-13T02:11:18.381-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>OUR CARIBBEAN MEN.</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">They came from far and wide<br />15,600 men came<br />The brown, the black<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />To fight for King and country<br />A King and country<br />they did not know,<br />They came<br />These soldiers crossed vast seas<br />Left behind all they knew<br />To ride the tide of war.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />Many did not see action<br />Many carried </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">and cleaned and dug<br />For they did not trust our boy’s with guns<br />Even if they fought against the same enemy.<br />Some died of disease as they struggled<br />to cope with the English cold,<br />19 Caribbean’s buried in Seaford cemetery<br />and many others lay in foreign lands,<br />Away from all they know.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />They travelled to<br />England, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">Egypt, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">Kenya, France, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">Palestine, Jordan, Italy</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">They came to fight </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">for the Motherland,<br />Pledging loyally </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">and allegiance<br />To a fight that was not theirs.<br />But still they came.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />Jamaica and Grenada boys<br />Trinidad and Tobago boys<br />Barbados and Bahamas boys<br />British Honduras, Guyana boys<br />Leeward Islands, St Lucia and St Vincent boys<br />They came, they came, they came,<br />waved goodbye to embracing sunshine<br />waved goodbye cerulean seas<br />enveloping peaceful shores.<br />they waved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />To friends, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">to family,<br />to lovers<br />and to their children<br />They waved,<br />From troop ships<br />which whisked them off to lands afar,<br />For the glory for the adventure, they came.<br />Wore the British uniform with pride<br />Little idea of the hardships waiting.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />The numbing cold, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">the searing heat, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">dessert sand,</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">The discrimination, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">the racism,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">The donkey work<br />A black soldiers lament is what they cried<br />But their cries went unheard,<br />Their dark story is hidden,<br />Whitewashed and supressed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />WW1 they came, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">then years later </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">for WW2 they came.<br />Dark skinned men,<br />Brave men,<br />Who still held tight </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">to the idea of a Motherland,<br />A Motherland </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">they were prepared to die for. </span></span><br />
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In honour of Private Lazarus Emmanuel Louis Francois WW1 soldier</div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-29198682867504355142015-11-08T10:45:00.001-08:002015-11-08T14:37:56.912-08:00"SUFFOCATE ME."<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Catch me."</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Hands grab </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Rough </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Relentless </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Angry faces </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Aggressive voices</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Confusion </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Noise </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Overwhelming </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Mistaken identity </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"Help me."</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">No one listens </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Tuned out </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Black cries </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">No sympathy </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">No empathy </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"See me."</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">They are Blind </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Invisible me</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Savage me</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">uncontrollable me</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">dehumanised me</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Restrained me</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Immobilised me</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Detained me </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"Hear me."</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Hear lies </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Hear s</span>tories </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Tune out </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"Feel me"</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Fear </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Confusion </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Screams</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">"Save me."</span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Kneel on me </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Suffocate me.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A piece inspired by my personal experience of police brutality, some things in life cannot be forgotten, no matter how much you try. The trip to South Africa has opened up old wounds and the only way I can start to heal again is by writing.</span></span></span></div>
kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-32466689710700625442015-11-08T10:40:00.000-08:002015-11-09T06:33:16.786-08:00BLACK <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Black is a concept </span><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">not a fact </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A divide </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A gulf </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A lie </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Black is a whip, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">a chain </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A fallacy </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A theory </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">To justify white supremacy </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">White privilege </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">White hierarchy </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Black is a label </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A title </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">An other </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A fence to climb over </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A discarded skin to jump out of </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A burden to be elevated from </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A dirty uncomfortable secret </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A fairy time bed story </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">To scare little white children </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Into sleep. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="background-color: #999999; color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;">South Africa has left it's scars, poetry is the only way for me to move forward, it's not pretty but it helps.....</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-62187465607933450462015-11-05T10:17:00.001-08:002015-11-08T10:31:56.647-08:00BARKING DOG'S, LISTENING AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzFxo_Wxxx7Pa3FK9NCebndQ81RChYLLcaI-LKWuMlSXJ677hb7U8BS7e1INgRyPQaasilu0opLD5_z0z51OdvduSKf102Bq23Vt88QCmy4N0jGxwi3GqUcMzd2NYh178evqukNUi7gk/s1600/EWOK2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzFxo_Wxxx7Pa3FK9NCebndQ81RChYLLcaI-LKWuMlSXJ677hb7U8BS7e1INgRyPQaasilu0opLD5_z0z51OdvduSKf102Bq23Vt88QCmy4N0jGxwi3GqUcMzd2NYh178evqukNUi7gk/s320/EWOK2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: white; font-family: "times"; font-size: xx-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">This is my
first experience of a two hander. I am mainly a solo performer. I have
performed in pieces with multiple actors in the past but not often and never a
two hander.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: lime; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I have only
once before been directed by a white person and that was not a great
experience; it was also a piece, which dealt with race!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: lime; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">This is my
first time in Africa. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I am
accompanied by my white boyfriend. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Yes let that
sink in, this is my first time in Africa I am with my white boyfriend, creating
a play on race with a white male South African. Only I could be so full of
contradictions!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">In the whole
process of the two weeks we create this play we only have two days off. The
Saturday and Sunday in the middle of the two weeks. The break was not planned,
it was needed!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">It will
become painfully clear during the process that neither of us know each other
that well. It will become painfully clear that we had no real clue what we had
signed up for.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z2VVPeel5Y-OyF4AxMrmR3SgRJ-3mj6MFiinWELJ8_KadrXBtlGz_knvPh063dFsYn_XouQiqx-kbLYlfumS0vLHWOfet8zhmnffxFsvddF-IYKWxPvlzoL8kYGk7EW3m3xQXb-K_qc/s1600/EWOK1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Z2VVPeel5Y-OyF4AxMrmR3SgRJ-3mj6MFiinWELJ8_KadrXBtlGz_knvPh063dFsYn_XouQiqx-kbLYlfumS0vLHWOfet8zhmnffxFsvddF-IYKWxPvlzoL8kYGk7EW3m3xQXb-K_qc/s320/EWOK1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7VQz9SrwH7_zw8ewIEs4NOrXv09hP9viP8IlJ_9FlbKdByxoPlSEkzJettTupy84p1SrBHJmCljZFwJqDvbWH8ayELwT6mTdZ6pyF4m2hMZdir1kq-i0gxKB5emD89nx726t8VC6KTc/s1600/EWOK4.jpg"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1028"
type="#_x0000_t75"
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7VQz9SrwH7_zw8ewIEs4NOrXv09hP9viP8IlJ_9FlbKdByxoPlSEkzJettTupy84p1SrBHJmCljZFwJqDvbWH8ayELwT6mTdZ6pyF4m2hMZdir1kq-i0gxKB5emD89nx726t8VC6KTc/s1600/EWOK4.jpg"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I will not
see much of Durban, there is no time. We are sucked into the void of creating
this piece but with no relief and none of the usual support networks I am used
to. Usually the creative bubble is a good thing, here it is anything but. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">There were
plans for trips out and invites to home cooked dinners but this never
materializes for a number of reasons; time restraints and because it is obvious
after spending days together, no one wants to spend social time together as
well.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Iain (aka
EWOK) is still working. He teaches English part time in a private school, and
has a child, and life goes on for him during this process that he is trying to
juggle.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Rob and I are
lucky enough to be staying in a ground floor flat large enough for all of us to
work comfortably, including Ewok and Karen his wife (director of the piece.) It
means we not only have space for ourselves but also to entertain others. It also means we have a private space to relax and re-charge in. A
lot of the work-shopping during week one happens here.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0000e9; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1027"
type="#_x0000_t75"
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vN-I-zzzy5mFWofdFkF7Oy7ckaSBiSufzjHOu8kLO7YGk0BrD2KfBj5JMZl0AluVg18QtJtDEv_ZerBXcB_nAysqZr_O2tyMQ1HjTdOuCpDNK6nQ3orzfHw9ouHnAhRb7KyPu3mkGK0/s1600/EWOK3.jpg"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi_uC3vaCWEkvHcfdBVBExRaPrfBAUNLEm9uh_jaIqG96vVmw50aQ3orM8OTaXGn1tZl-JOY1D3Yu5tm_G6aCPtjI231YKBqNuxCXgfY3RO3s2KjKSmEq36s8yPNqqW_NO8DxfpkYUwM/s1600/EWOK3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYi_uC3vaCWEkvHcfdBVBExRaPrfBAUNLEm9uh_jaIqG96vVmw50aQ3orM8OTaXGn1tZl-JOY1D3Yu5tm_G6aCPtjI231YKBqNuxCXgfY3RO3s2KjKSmEq36s8yPNqqW_NO8DxfpkYUwM/s320/EWOK3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">The people
upstairs are not really people but elephants, there is a baby one about 3 years
old who spends a lot of time running back and forth, sometimes before 6am. Not
great when you are up late writing and learning text.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I try and
exercise everyday. If I do not run I workout out with resistance bands and
complete body weight exercises. I also try to eat as clean as possible. Taking
care of myself will prove very fruitful as the process becomes more and more of
a mental strain. I push my body as hard as I can. I get stares as I run,
probably because I am brazen enough to run shamelessly in just a crop top!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I see and
learn a lot on my runs, grown men rummaging in bins, brown bodies sleeping in
patches of green. Black men and women in florescent orange suits, sweeping,
cleaning, picking up leaves. To be honest the streets they clean in the area I
am staying in, Glenwood (a mainly white area,) look very clean to me already…</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">This all
makes me feel, guilty, angry and sad. I think of all I have, all I waste, all I
take for granted. This is not the first time I have seen poverty. I have been
to the Caribbean numerous times, Jamaica, Trinidad and Grenada where my family
is from. There is something about witnessing black poverty which hits home, but
witnessing black poverty and white wealth in the same space is a whole
different story.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Dogs, dogs
which constantly make me jump with their incessant barking. Snarling and
eagerness to attack from behind metal gates! I swear the dogs are racist. I
take to running along the middle of some roads as to avoid the heart attack I
swear I will have if one more dog jumps out at me! I dream of kicking a small
yappy dog to kingdom come. There is a dog chorus in Durban that I have not
heard anywhere else in the world.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I run I past
houses, which are hidden behind large metal gates, oversized padlocks and as
said snarling dogs and even private security.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Friends I
have made amazing friends in Nokolunga who I met at Poetry Africa during the
first week. We had a performance together at an Education Learning Centre. I
was able to get her to come over one night and talk to me. I wanted to have
some conversations with South Africans, honest open conversations where I could
learn more about South Africa.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_i1026"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0L56Px2LIqO25Wev2tRDhwORzi2dYrWu_ZLWskjRWkvOioBJUW1-RBgVXo1bfcpqA9-lkieJl7F7YwXFpN8CMq8tvm2oW2ek5m60WqTU7SJV1K0UCQhUMWN8LnZ429BS0HO6YS5agks/s1600/NOKOLUNGA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht0L56Px2LIqO25Wev2tRDhwORzi2dYrWu_ZLWskjRWkvOioBJUW1-RBgVXo1bfcpqA9-lkieJl7F7YwXFpN8CMq8tvm2oW2ek5m60WqTU7SJV1K0UCQhUMWN8LnZ429BS0HO6YS5agks/s320/NOKOLUNGA.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">One of my
biggest fears was I was going to embarrass myself as I had no real knowledge of
SA! I had been greedily talking to as many people as I could since I had
arrived, but this was a chance to really talk.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Whilst
talking to Iain it become clear in my mind that it would be great for him to be
privy to a black conversation but without joining in. I decided to invite him
into a planned conversation with Nolokunaga. I was hoping for a few other
people to come along but that did not materialize.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">So Nokolunga
came over and the rules were only we could talk and none of the white people in
the room, Rob, Karen or Iain were allowed to join in.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I know it was
a frustrating exercise for Iain, I could here a lot of “Mmm’s” going on but
other than that all was quiet. He done what I asked.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">What struck
me talking to Nokolunga was how schools struggle so much especially rural
schools. Pupils struggling to learn a language which is not their first
language. Pupils walking miles just to get an education. Her school does not
even have a library and the only large amounts of books they do have are out of
date textbooks. Pregnancies and violence, she tells me a teacher in the school
she works at was stabbed to death by a pupil.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Shocking but
somethings are comparable; U.K still has one of the highest rates of teen
pregnancy in Western Europe. Violence in schools in the U.K is a worry, last
year a female teacher was stabbed to death, this year a male teacher stabbed
but luckily survived and whilst I was away a boy of 16 was stabbed to death by
a fellow pupil. I cannot act as if the UK is a haven of safety, it is
not.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Good teachers
all over the world are the same, they just want the best for their students,
but some are unfortunatley working against insurmountable odds. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">It also
becomes clear during our conversation, that it is not just white people that
are scared of violence but all people are, it is just that some people have the
means to protect themselves from violence or perceived violence and some do
not.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Nokolunga
also makes it clear that she thinks black people do not help each other enough,
that hands are not stretched out to help the next person behind them. Those at
the top look after themselves and only themselves.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">It was great
talking to her, listening is an important skill, a skill we should all learn. I
had come to South Africa, naive and with little knowledge, by talking to as
many black people as I could, I tried to ensure that I did not end up with a
white view of South Africa.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">That first
week, Iain and I met everyday, talked discussed, wrote, came back, talked
discussed, wrote, and came back again. It is intense and full on. There are
misunderstandings and upsets, like the casual way Iain uses the "N"
word in conversation with me. After a conversation where my unease is pointed
out, he apologises, assures me it is not a word he uses freely, he just felt
comfortable enough to use it with me. It is not a word we have discussed or
debated so I am not sure why he would feel this way. He is wrong. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">I am old
school this is not a word I use, it is not a word I am comfortable being used
around me, especially by a white person. In my world their are no passes, this
is a word that grates on me like fingernails on a blackboard!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> "This
is moment one of many, when I question what the fu*k I am doing, when it seems
like a good idea to pack it all in and just go home. This black and white
bridge can never be crossed, the gap can never be closed, this is too much for
me to deal with. I am out of my depth. I was stupid to think this could ever
work. This place is oppressive and this whole process is weighing me
down."</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">These are the
type of things I am taking about. Misunderstandings, lack of understanding,
things that hit me in the gut that white people will never get, feel or understand
on a guttural level. Things that I find deeply offensive, things that I never
be able to completely explain or theorise, I just, I just feel them so deeply
my stomach hurts and it would be easy for me to give in and walk away. This is
a pivotal moment in the process a moment.....</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #141414; font-family: "times"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">If this is
going to work we have to be honest, the time has come to start asking
each other questions on race. No bars held, ask whatever the hell you want
and the other person will try and answer, this is when the fun really started,
once the flood gates were opened there was no going back.....</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "times"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-76322785248008369202015-11-04T04:22:00.001-08:002015-11-15T04:07:07.143-08:00THE PLAY THAT TURNED INTO A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I first met Iain Ewok Robinson ten years ago at the World </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">Slam</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Championships in Rotterdam. He was the first white </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">South</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> African who I met who I got on with. It could be that we just got on, or maybe it </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">was because</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> I was in a </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">situation</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> where I was forced to interact, so I gave him time, I would not normally give to a white South African, harsh but true. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">I am going to be honest here, even if honesty in it's full glare of the written word is ugly I endeavour to speak the truth. Travelling through poetry had started to open up my world and this was the start of mixing with people from all over the world, I would not normally mix with. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The World Slam </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">Championships </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">was an </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">intense</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">experience, we were both new into our spoken word careers. It was a big trip for both of us and until this day one of the best spoken word festivals I have been invited to.We bonded over our nerves and excitement. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 21px;">Who knew that we would come together again ten years later to create a piece of work which would shake both our foundations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21px;">January 2015 I received an email from Ewok asking if I would be interested in coming to South Africa to create a spoken work theatre piece around race, my experiences of a Black African European and his experiences as a white African.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21px;">We had met a few times over the years at festivals across Europe and had always got on. It sounded like an exciting challenging project, it would also be my first time in Africa, there was no reason not to accept! A project organised by Iain to bring me out to South Africa a couple of years previous had failed to materialise so when the chance came again, I jumped at it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21px;">Over the next few blogs I will try and break down the process of what took place, this process turned into more of a social experiment and what happened outside of the stage ended up being just as interesting an intense as what took place on the stage. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 21px;">I will be as honest as I can about what took place, my fears, my anger, my tears, my doubts, my weaknesses and my strengths, as I do on the stage, I will put it all out there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The process is so intense</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We do not talk again until
the next day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We debate, discuss, argue, go </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">away write, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16pt;">and then face
each again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We do not socialise,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We have no desire to be in
each other’s company<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">After hours of debate and
discussion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We do not want to hear each
other’s voices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Are sick of each other’s
voices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I discover he is not as far along in his
understanding </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">of race </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">as I thought he would be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">His wife, the director, even
less so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This is going to be a hell of
a lot harder than I imagined,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Baby steps, but I do not know
how </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">take do baby steps</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">When it come to race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Many things I see here, feel
here, unnerve me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Trying hard to make sense of
it all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Whilst trying to write a play
on race <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">with a white South African<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I am afraid I have made a big
mistake<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Bitten off more than I can
chew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">That I will embarrass myself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Let my people down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I thought I knew white people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But these white people are
something else…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-59802914893124438082015-11-03T20:02:00.003-08:002015-11-03T21:08:15.769-08:00HOMEWARD BOUND<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">So it is over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I sit on the plane heading
home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Tearful as we take off<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not sure why<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Relief I guess<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Relief that this is over<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Eager to wash off the stench
of racism<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Which sticks to my clothes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">My skin my hair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There is contempt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A white contempt in the air<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In SA that I have not exepreinced
for a long time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It has taken its toil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Leaving is a relief<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Saying goodbye is difficult<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Leaving friends behind <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Who live with this <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And do not have a place of retreat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Or sanctity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Confusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It is a place I love and a
place I hate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A place of beauty and a place
of ugly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A play of joy and a place of
great pain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A place stuck in the past but
crying out for a future<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A place of fire, of passion,
of marching<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Of young voices demanding,
demanding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">That their elders listen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">A place where guilt seeps
from white pores<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But where true sacrifices are
not made<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Futile gestures <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And patching up <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But no real change<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">No real answers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I do not have the knowledge
to break down all I have seen,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I can only explain how I
feel,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I cannot theorise or intellectualise
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">All I can do is explain how I
feel,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I cannot throw out names<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Or break down political
policies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">All I can do is explain how I
feel,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And even then sometimes words
are not enough<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Words cannot express<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The hurt and pain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And poverty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It cannot explain the grown
black men I have seen searching in bins on my early morning runs, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Searching for anything of us,
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It cannot explain away the
black bodies lying in grass,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px;">momentarily at peace but not peaceful</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Sleeping but not safe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It cannot explain away the
old black woman </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">so embarrassingly grateful for a few Rand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I place into her wrinkled
hand,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It cannot explain the school children
that walk miles to school everyday<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">It cannot explain away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The black labour force poorly
paid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-499433711374935722015-11-02T09:03:00.001-08:002015-11-05T06:21:55.593-08:00HEADING HOME <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4sZl3JFSW4NBc-oummz1rByDFQbsiOUKfo3e6GKpDbj58hzATEPnUVaQolvRBwv39U-6_wwvb3HuqleH5KvPTsB3gISyIP_1XaGuHF5KncO4nb9k8hmw4It_JYc0xTp6Z2rcZL07a6s/s1600/rob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4sZl3JFSW4NBc-oummz1rByDFQbsiOUKfo3e6GKpDbj58hzATEPnUVaQolvRBwv39U-6_wwvb3HuqleH5KvPTsB3gISyIP_1XaGuHF5KncO4nb9k8hmw4It_JYc0xTp6Z2rcZL07a6s/s320/rob.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We head home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Battered and bruised <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But we head home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Airport foolishness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He is trying hard to look smoldering<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Me cracking up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We are different<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I cannot explain how yet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But we are different<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Somehow this relationship has made it through,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The scrutiny, the racial divide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The apartheid legacy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have been angry, vulnerable, shed tears, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Battled nervousness and fears<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Met new life long friends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Connected with old ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Witnessed black poverty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Witnessed white privilege<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Tackled race issues like a lioness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Roared, punched words <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Vomited words,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sucked words in like a vicious tornado<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then spat them out again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dealt with more white bullshit <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That I have had to deal with in years!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Learnt patience, bowlfuls of patience,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stepped foot on the Motherland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Welcomed with open minds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gave of myself until there was nothing left to give<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Put my shit on the stage and survived<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">English soil awaits me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Home but not home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The only home I know<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Zululand I salute you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is a new beginning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A new awakening<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Life goes on….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-46629645555297336292015-11-01T12:23:00.003-08:002015-11-15T04:07:37.291-08:00THANK THE LORD IT IS OVER!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">I made it,<br /><br />Shit I made it.<br /><br />This piece we created was brutal, honest revealing,<br /><br />We took to the stage and gave no quarter<br /><br />A white South African male<br /><br />And Black British Female<br /><br />Tonight we let rip,<br /><br />No bars held,<br /><br />Questions/accusations with missile precision </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">flew across the stage,<br /><br />The frustration was released<br /><br />The anger was released<br /><br />The tears I cried the night before had dried<br /><br />And in their place was fire.<br /><br />I left my soul on that stage,<br /><br />I left my pain on that stage,<br /><br />I left my past on that stage,<br /><br />Neither of us knew where this would go,<br /><br />Neither of us knew that this would almost tear us apart<br /><br />Neither of us knew we would have to give </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">much more of ourselves than we expected.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s been a long time since I have held court </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">with white people in this way.<br /><br />I stopped blacksplanning years ago<br /><br />Patience has never been a virtue of mine,<br /><br />I found patience in South Africa<br /><br />But a toil has been taken, <br /><br />I will need to wash this process away<br /><br />Wash away the white privilege<br /><br />Wash way the white naivety, </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">the white guilt</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">white shame</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I carry enough of my own bullshit</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I will not carry anymore than I need too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I </span><span style="font-size: large;">will return home with only the luggage </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I bought along</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Weighing me down</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">No excess</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I will hold onto the black strength I have seen<br /><br />I will hold onto the black pride I have seen<br /><br />I will hold onto the black warmth, the black welcome, <br /><br />First trip to the motherland <br /><br />First trip home</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">it's been emotional<br /><br />You cannot give so much of yourself </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">to your art <br /><br />without feeling exposed and vulnerable<br /><br />without asking yourself if it was worth it</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">without questioning your own sanity<br /><br />Exhausted and drained<br /><br />I head back home<br /><br />To the only real home I know<br /><br />British soil awaits…..<br /><br />No better, just different<br /><br />Where I will begin to piece myself back together again<br /><br />One poem at a time.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKisvuiECOLdfIXQWWI-cWwZlJvRvA9IsjfxrAlbUG54UJJoYMqA-hjqULiMlk3uQmUvpz3hUPF7fzQhRlN8jIKyyT7yYazWKFEaNZyVO94Y7N6ILbgpLtr4VyZLCQU68rM5F32Jjayk/s1600/kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKisvuiECOLdfIXQWWI-cWwZlJvRvA9IsjfxrAlbUG54UJJoYMqA-hjqULiMlk3uQmUvpz3hUPF7fzQhRlN8jIKyyT7yYazWKFEaNZyVO94Y7N6ILbgpLtr4VyZLCQU68rM5F32Jjayk/s320/kitty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-77382097896507540192015-10-31T13:01:00.000-07:002015-11-01T01:16:47.724-08:00SHIT GOT DEEP TONIGHT!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJ6E2z38e0nyUT2ug_tXb93YXN5WbsobTQsr1tofG4IIXcJHtEeczvuloI8LVox8pCxqDGplfp7NKqUsU_eX39B8hESMG5sMadb03gTNwC3apqEPeSmY1L_udyeJvrzfiey86onC2MZg/s1600/kat+and+Iain+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJ6E2z38e0nyUT2ug_tXb93YXN5WbsobTQsr1tofG4IIXcJHtEeczvuloI8LVox8pCxqDGplfp7NKqUsU_eX39B8hESMG5sMadb03gTNwC3apqEPeSmY1L_udyeJvrzfiey86onC2MZg/s320/kat+and+Iain+1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today for one of the first time ever I cried on stage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shit got deep out there. Broke down and bawled like a baby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why? I can’t even tell you the reason why right now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All I know this process has been challenging, difficult,
revealing, tiring, draining, emotional and raw.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Police violence is no joke, even years after the fact.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I
still carry the scars even if I don’t admit it to myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dealing with race issues day in and day out for almost 3 weeks, as I have been
here in South Africa has taken its toil. Working with a white South African going head to head day in
and day out, has obviously been eating at me more than I thought. The racial injustices and disparities I have witnessed have
obviously impacted me more than I thought.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes there are no words only feelings. I do not cry
easy but today the tears fell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was the third performance of I to 1 with Iain Ewok
Robinson, tomorrow I will be the last and we will have our first Q & A
after the performance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That should be a very interesting exercise.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am filled with trepidation and nervousness, this is art,
art at it’s most raw and revealing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is what being an artist is about the self doubt, the
questions, the moments of madness and the moments of clarity. </div>
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I am not sure where on the spectrum I am right now!<br />
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Back in London today was the 7th annual United Family and Friends Campaign march again deaths in police custody, which I have been attending for years. I am aware that unlike many of the grieving families who attend. I am one of the lucky ones, I am one of the lucky ones who almost died in police custody, but who survived. I am one of the lucky ones who now has a platform to speak, expose racism and bring the horrific treatment, black people face at the hands of police to light. </div>
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This process was never going to be easy, but dealing with race in the land of Apartheid, opposite a white South African, without my usual support network was always going to take this sh*t to different level and it did. </div>
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One more show to go.....</div>
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Who knows what will happen on the stage tomorrow.....</div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-90899375220305502282015-10-29T23:34:00.001-07:002015-10-31T12:36:56.934-07:00RETURN VISIT TO CLAIRWOOD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Tuesday I went back to Clairwood Secondary School, a school
I visited the first week I was here with Poetry Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had an amazing time.The teacher Simi who invited me back is so sweet and
dedicated and I have nothing but admiration for her and teachers like her who
work so hard to teach and inspire and even mother the children they work with.</div>
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The first class of the day was just finishing when I arrived
so I performed a quick 5 min set for them. I performed Poetry Addict, and the
Granny scene from RAISING LAZARUS. I encouraged them to speak to their
relatives and collect stories, as their stories were important, interesting and
the truth.The first class had a couple of girls who had seen me previously and
I got lovely hugs and compliments from them. I tell you working with kids pulls
on my heartstrings constantly.<span id="goog_477647769"></span></div>
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The second class I had for an hour. I performed poems and
answered questions.<br />
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I performed, Poetry Addict, Tube Rage, Granny, Rise Dark
Girls and Does My Anger Scare You.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was a question about what England was really like and
I was honest, honest about the racism, honest about the opportuniteis, honest
about the fact that kids get free bus passes and do not have to walk to school
like they do. I talked about police brutality and my experience of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I performed Rise Dark Girls Rise, I got all the girls
up and to the front of class, and had them singing the chorus, it was a lovely
moment.<o:p></o:p><br />
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It was an inspired morning, you know the schools bring you
in to inspire, but it’s the opposite… the pupils end up inspiring you.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I invited the pupils to perform as well and two boy's kindly obliged.The first boy that performed was a mixed raced boy whose
poems touched on that. </div>
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The second boy was a tall black boy who looked down at the
floor the whole time but who had the most commanding deep voice, His poems dealt
with overcoming difficulties. Later on I found out he is usually very shy, sits
at the front of the class and has nothing to say!<br />
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I gave them both one of my
poetry books to say thank you for being brave enough to perform.<br />
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Another boy
came up to me and begged for a book, said he was too shy to perform could he
please have a book…. how could I say no.<br />
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The last two weeks have been a challenge, all the debate and
discussion and arguing, with Iain Ewok Robinson, the white artist I am working
on the play with, at times I have been drained and frustrated, but Tuesday
morning revitalised and reenergised me and reminded me of the importance of the
work I am doing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When you talk to a teacher who is struggling to keep pupils
in school, who has pupils so poor they cannot afford the bus fare, and kids
leaving school with no education but leaving with two babies. When the
resources you have are so limited that many of your pupils will not leave
school able to read or write.</div>
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Simi and I, this teacher is amazing, warm and inspiring.<br />
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When you have pupils who are forced to be educated in a language that is not their first language, so they will always be behind. That is inspiring, that is humbling, that is motivating.</div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-91153946610340128712015-10-28T00:03:00.002-07:002015-10-28T13:58:33.256-07:00THE AFRICAN ADVENTURES CONTINUE....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">SATURDAY 25</span></b><b><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt;">TH</span></sup></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"> OCTOBER</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">This weekend, we took time out and got much needed head space. The whole process of writing a play, debating, discussing race issues, was starting to take its toll by the end of the week. This is not easy work; this is challenging work, work that hits you in the gut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">Iain and I decided to step back and have a breather from each other and the whole process. Yesterday Rob and I went to a local market and picked up some beads and jewelry to take home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We found our way back to the same area where we intercepted the march on Friday,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">I am now a lot more bulshy, it has not taken me long to settle in. I am like, take me as I am or do not take me at all. I walk around with Rob hand in hand, it is what it is. I think I took it a little too far yesterday, when three sisters made some inaudible comment, and I turned and confronted them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">“What’s your problem, if you got anything to say just say it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">In fact they were saying how beautiful they thought I was, whilst I thought they were chatting about Rob and I. Oh the shame, the shame, the shame. We had a good laugh and a good talk and all was well. I had to humble up myself and a lesson was learnt! Luckily they were good-natured and were not offended by my crazy behavior.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">A lovely hand bracelet I was given by a Zulu woman in the market, after I bought lots of bracelets and necklaces from her stall!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We found ourselves in front of a square where some young Zulu girls were dancing which was great to see, but what really caught my eye was a man taking locks out of a woman’s head, as if they were extensions. Beside him were piles of locks, which were obviously not hers, but which he had just removed from her head!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">I have never seen anything like this in my life. It seems that in SA you can sell your locks, and other people who do not have the patience to grow them, or only want them for a short amount of time, can purchase them and have them put in their head. Beside him was a row of different types of locks which people had cut and sold to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">I spoke to the guy and he was from Zimbabwe. It was an amazing thing to see, but you know what I loved about it, at least our hair is valued enough to be sold… good African locked hair has a price. I saw another guy sewing in locks to one lady, this lady must have bought her own as she was taking them out of her bag, one by one and handing them to him. What a ting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We walked around the local shopping area for a bit and things got a little hectic, lots of people, lots of noise, lots of market stalls. One thing I noted was how dirty the streets were compared with Glenwood, the area we are staying in which is a more up market area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">The big difference was that every day I have seen people, black people, cleaning the streets in Glenwood even if there is nothing but leaves to clean. Here it was obvious that this is not the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">I saw kids singing on the street to make a little money and a young boy of about 14 approached me for money. It’s hard to say no to everyone, it’s hard to say yes to everyone. He claimed he wanted something to eat, he was earnest and heartfelt and I could not find it in my heart to say no. Continuing to walk, there were women, with children in-between their legs begging, old women begging. I had to look forward in the end, my eyes forward so I could not see them, ignoring the calls and cries for help. I could not help everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">SUNDAY 26</span></u></b><b><u><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13pt;">TH</span></sup></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"> OCTOBER</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">This day has to be one of my best days ever. I spent the day with Nokolunga Dlada, who I met during Poetry Africa she was gracious enough to come over to the place I am staying at last week, and have an intense talk and discussion with me around issues of race and what it really means to be black in South Africa. I really felt I needed to talk to someone who really knows rather than presuming anything. I also wanted Iain, the guy I am working with, the director who is his wife, and Rob, to be able to sit down and listen to black people talk without interrupting, the aim was for them to just listen. I am grateful that she took the time out to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">She met us today and took us out on a day trip. I have not laughed so much since I arrived here and it was just the antidote to the intense work I have been doing the last week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">Nokolunga has a beautiful spirit and is funny as hell. She bought along a friend, Khanyi, and we went on what I can describe as a mini African road trip. She was gracious enough to take us to the area she lived, Pinetown, and then we headed out further to the school she teaches at Dick Ndlovu High School, which is in a semi rural area, and then even further into the rural areas.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">The school was basic, I mean really basic, the only library was full of books which were now defunct as they no longer followed the curriculum!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 21px;">What I love though is Nokolunga’s passion to teach and reach out to young people regardless of the challenges that being a teacher in SA face. A large number of children do not even finish school, for many different reasons. School goes up to 18 in South Africa and by then some of the girls are on their second children!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 21px; text-align: left;">The areas Nokolunga showed us were beautiful, rolling hills, valleys, green, green, green and more green. The little I have seen shows me how beautiful SA is. I can understand why white people wanted to colonise it.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXlCnYQ6RBVhfgi89KJbK_TieJ63J8Q6OjjAYfjkzBx8fDJq26BeOFF54f0kJMaLIIi8MXPv-trqIYIgtVo5t3s0LKPBk5EiKPmdno8mPRmPG7r5h1yrrhAn9MUxsbDboV4itwSlOsWQ/s1600/20151025-_KJR7672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXlCnYQ6RBVhfgi89KJbK_TieJ63J8Q6OjjAYfjkzBx8fDJq26BeOFF54f0kJMaLIIi8MXPv-trqIYIgtVo5t3s0LKPBk5EiKPmdno8mPRmPG7r5h1yrrhAn9MUxsbDboV4itwSlOsWQ/s320/20151025-_KJR7672.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We stopped off and were introduced to a lovely delicacy which is just like a dumpling, a massive round fried dumpling, it was so hot but lovely. When we stopped off, everyone stared at Rob; I do not think they see a lot of white people around there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">The rural areas were eye opening; limited electricity and water supply, there were large containers with water, which people and even at times animals were using.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"> It made me think about how I leave the tap on at home, the lights on, how many pairs of shoes and coats and just clothes in general I have. I have way more than I could need now, it’s time to start downsizing. I was also reminded today of how little I had when I was younger and I was just fine. Things do not make you happy. In fact I think I would be happier, if I de-cluttered and got rid of a lot of stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">A lot of the kids from rural areas have to walk over an hour to get to the school Nokoluga works at. What does that do to a kid, walking over an hour to school, how tired must you be when you arrive. I think of our kids back home, who have free bus travel or mum or dad drops them to school, it is a different world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We ended up in PheZula a tourist park, which has a village and ZULU dancing, a game reserve with vegetarian animals, and even a lizard and snake park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">It was all a bit touristy but it was perfect, just what we needed. We watched the dance, which was fun, although I got the impression it was the end of the day and the dancers would be glad when it was all finished, but that was cool, It can’t be very stimulating performing the same routine day in and day out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 21px; text-align: left;">Here is me broking out! No shame when they invited us to dance, you know I jumped up and just started flinging myself around!</span></div>
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This was part of the performance the dancers put on for us.<br />
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The dancers were gracious enough to pose for pictures afters with and my new crazy friends x</div>
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Poor Rob not only does he stand out due to his witness but also his height!</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">This is me trying my hand at grinding down corn, I don't think I was doing a very good job!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">We then ended up in a Congolese restaurant, Nokolunga dropped us back home, we knocked back the food and then I collapsed on the sofa and had to sleep.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">This is me tired, but just about to tuck into some nice food! Life is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">What a day, it was a real fun day full of laughter and learning. Nokolunga is exactly the kind of person who you want to meet when you are travelling, someone who will take the time to show you and tell you about the real life, the everyday day life, which will put you straight and tell you the truth of a place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">It was a day to remember a day that made me feel both grateful and sad. Grateful to share this experience but sad, sad that for the majority of indigenous South Africans, basic daily life is a struggle, whilst white people still sit at the top like fat cats licking the cream off the milk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">All photos by Rob/Sloetry Photography</span></div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-67250204371509647492015-10-24T01:42:00.003-07:002015-11-05T06:47:00.466-08:00FEES MUST FALL <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER, DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They do not just march, they sing, they dance, they chant,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They pound the ground with young angry feet,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The heat beats,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But their hearts beat harder,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They come, they come, they come, the young they come,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dark and beautiful and angry, they come<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With fire and energy and hunger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A hunger for knowledge and hunger to sit, learn and elevate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A hunger to step up the ladder, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the ladder which keeps being pulled out from under black feet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElBMHO39Jm39pD-xDYMNn9z7CF9W6FTedQ-7o22x0RFPQ7V-sCdc8JAlkc1ooZyGD-Wh0LCInH3I9A5HUSUVPoFkKzke8C_KdwnAyVEKbGhEncqu2Lp5BKZsFHFYz91rAelgpH4pS7OY/s1600/durban5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElBMHO39Jm39pD-xDYMNn9z7CF9W6FTedQ-7o22x0RFPQ7V-sCdc8JAlkc1ooZyGD-Wh0LCInH3I9A5HUSUVPoFkKzke8C_KdwnAyVEKbGhEncqu2Lp5BKZsFHFYz91rAelgpH4pS7OY/s320/durban5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everywhere they turn obstacles are placed in their way.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They march for free education</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They march so they can afford to eat<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They march so they do not have to walk to university<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They march so they have somewhere to sleep at night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They march so their families do not have to sacrifice in
order for them to learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are loud, they are passionate, they are clear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Fees must fall</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Fees must fall</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Fees must fall</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Fees must fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"> Fees must fall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Fees must fall."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB-ZrLdaw-bfKqXqbJd-tC8kmSq6qT2Axqg0O_yCARvlYSGH49uDkEs8l-0RkC0O6wR5Ho2ftuIxuDJYNVhewdHSOKpv2G7JdLNtUWKC7V3viomiqy_gU3uzWTZKb1crbOU-hN9gPlB4/s1600/DURBAN8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB-ZrLdaw-bfKqXqbJd-tC8kmSq6qT2Axqg0O_yCARvlYSGH49uDkEs8l-0RkC0O6wR5Ho2ftuIxuDJYNVhewdHSOKpv2G7JdLNtUWKC7V3viomiqy_gU3uzWTZKb1crbOU-hN9gPlB4/s320/DURBAN8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I watch, I stand, I soak myself in the middle of this young
energy,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This new energy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These new voices which refuse to be silenced,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are demanding to be heard,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hear them, I feel them. I admire them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s hot but the heat does not penetrate,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They are stronger than the sun, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cj0_LmuuJymasbwSw5budDq2p2xFt5m1pJ9tDNTRyXgVeWDINxabvio7dP01oL_5BOWn0INM8pr5OfkI38av9inXCFJzFqGVyQhQRzeqgEIUgtcIDt4CgnKgsw7xtJB9vCACrEUo6I0/s1600/durban2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cj0_LmuuJymasbwSw5budDq2p2xFt5m1pJ9tDNTRyXgVeWDINxabvio7dP01oL_5BOWn0INM8pr5OfkI38av9inXCFJzFqGVyQhQRzeqgEIUgtcIDt4CgnKgsw7xtJB9vCACrEUo6I0/s320/durban2.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Resistance is in abundance out here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Resistance is in the air<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Resistance is in their eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Resistance is in their voices</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Resistance is in the songs they sing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">At times if feels more like a celebration than a protest,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">but there is anger, there is pain, there is a sense of betrayal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Those emotions are not hard to find.</span><br />
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM1r9QsSTSvg_4foNzBP0ouAgGXzDnKSBR4CKrv-a8ksSupftVSDhc0BJXD8nNkTtvyLxTU3BCL8oAdgmTwRH8PIJSD3yBK8f8LVWwsCQL4npyM3Pe70jfSB11cj2OWTGAYYAcJbLuhk/s1600/durban6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoM1r9QsSTSvg_4foNzBP0ouAgGXzDnKSBR4CKrv-a8ksSupftVSDhc0BJXD8nNkTtvyLxTU3BCL8oAdgmTwRH8PIJSD3yBK8f8LVWwsCQL4npyM3Pe70jfSB11cj2OWTGAYYAcJbLuhk/s320/durban6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I talk to students, record their voices,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They tell me of hardships, of rage that their lives, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">black lives have not changed,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of financial exclusion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of being classed as too rich for assistance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They tell me they are too black for loans,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They tell me some are not smart enough for a bursary</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They tell me they are too poor to continue education after
the first year<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A male student tells me the only way to create change, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">is for black penis’s to Impregnate white wombs <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">and create a brown world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">His words are so inflammatory, I fear for his safety. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuN5UPohkEXuRRX6wTrd1qI5Cyd1MKPw6IUgSIzk6-onIV0M4D1kfu9aj7Tn5TvxPjjEbBuVPtO792L2A-JzlGhvUDVdPfUrUvpIPJ1Po7T7fPYOfLGK5wk53MYf3J8FpbS4uA6W_ftE/s1600/durban3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuN5UPohkEXuRRX6wTrd1qI5Cyd1MKPw6IUgSIzk6-onIV0M4D1kfu9aj7Tn5TvxPjjEbBuVPtO792L2A-JzlGhvUDVdPfUrUvpIPJ1Po7T7fPYOfLGK5wk53MYf3J8FpbS4uA6W_ftE/s320/durban3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Something scares the crowd and they run, <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">scores of frightened black faces</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">run towards me</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do not know why they are running,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But only a fool would stand still,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I run too<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fear activates my legs,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The tension is edible </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">you could cut into it like a large
slice of Durban cake,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It would not take much to light the flame of violence.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am no longer sitting in front of a TV screen</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">throwing naive commentary from the safety of my English sofa</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is not a Hollywood movie</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am in the belly of the beast, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily it is a false alarm; all is well,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But I am shook</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">it is time for to leave,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I sheepishly retreat</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They continue to march<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have the option to turn my back </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">and leave the fight
behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">They do not.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqVqvfGbAAKPRUlk_DMcU1qMYPiX_MWNZF9InSSKhMJbhZvFyERjFhWhuaq_II0DDXJiZhExOShP5Qden6_pfIN4hQS4apZ-M6gcPwmRrW4oVCqS_RufzvCgJ9QrcMvCQJjCU-CeaGZM/s1600/durban7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqVqvfGbAAKPRUlk_DMcU1qMYPiX_MWNZF9InSSKhMJbhZvFyERjFhWhuaq_II0DDXJiZhExOShP5Qden6_pfIN4hQS4apZ-M6gcPwmRrW4oVCqS_RufzvCgJ9QrcMvCQJjCU-CeaGZM/s320/durban7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><br /></div>
kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-66727423681632050732015-10-23T15:03:00.002-07:002015-10-23T15:14:01.462-07:00MY AFRICAN ADVENTURE PART TWO <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<o:p> The adventure continues.....</o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A break down of RAISING LAZARUS is to come, I am just
waiting for some pictures and I will write about it. That deserves a post of its
own!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So the rest of the week was a whirlwind of performances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I must say SA poets or at least the ones I had the pleasure
of hanging out with were pure and utter fire.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mbali Vilakazi an amazing woman who created a theatrical
poetical piece, dealing with immigrants, using the real voices of immigrants
she had interviewed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrALps2UaAhriojSLSh3nd2WQhl6HJ1S6ZwL4tHURTWVrBW_WsUI_xChmF8PAu9d7IsV3PwbNszIZ61GkS12uKOE1waLaWLPFPu5XPmUa6waQjai_znXyZMg2d20tmXE4_Iu1Yamolzvw/s1600/IMABANI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrALps2UaAhriojSLSh3nd2WQhl6HJ1S6ZwL4tHURTWVrBW_WsUI_xChmF8PAu9d7IsV3PwbNszIZ61GkS12uKOE1waLaWLPFPu5XPmUa6waQjai_znXyZMg2d20tmXE4_Iu1Yamolzvw/s320/IMABANI.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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An artist who is eager to try something different, eager to
push the boundaries of theatre and poetry. Meeting her made me realise how
lucky I have been to have been given the space, time and facilities to develop
my poetry into theatre and to have been given spaces to play and develop. I
hope she is given the same chance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Artists all over the world are literally dying
to be heard, dying to create, dying to be able to put their work forward and be
recognised and appreciated. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was a piece, which had me enthralled, as it was dealing
with a subject Europe is struggling with. South Africa is not the only country
which is having a hard time accepting immigrants.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Another poet who blew me away was Lesego Rampolokeng. I
spoke about him previously as we had visited Clairmont school together. He
launched his book, described as part memoir, part poetry “A half Century Thing”
and during a live interview on stage spoke about the book and the issues it
dealt with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HnTr84LGIEZzbD_uQcN-S-kycIXGxviOECDkDlY3BeQ9qQuv0Xo8KypXPsxAMjtwruuE86E_I1N3mZcxYZLfQ4oMwfehvVn2HoReonsp53K-9iCf1g2RIHKc6fjgDYuUrwIVAkNUtU0/s1600/L1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HnTr84LGIEZzbD_uQcN-S-kycIXGxviOECDkDlY3BeQ9qQuv0Xo8KypXPsxAMjtwruuE86E_I1N3mZcxYZLfQ4oMwfehvVn2HoReonsp53K-9iCf1g2RIHKc6fjgDYuUrwIVAkNUtU0/s320/L1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A man who has lost none of his passion for life and none of
his passion for tacking head on the issue of race and the legacy of apartheid.
He has a sense of humour, which is both funny and devastating at the same
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have yet to read the book, but
you can bet your bottom dollar I bought a copy, I would willingly eat every
word this man has to give.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RWcs0Mwa15F8wncY5M4-1HOlMKNLUzGVtqytlNF7SNHc-ejoKP9w6BgJtjYhtVA6aRLr0u5d_TbnOKUk_sMJEZCbkGVQBfXQ2tx-t1ir8djLi0mm_8GxpibzpqEuXGCOJwgZjKGRPW0/s1600/20151017-_KJR7207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RWcs0Mwa15F8wncY5M4-1HOlMKNLUzGVtqytlNF7SNHc-ejoKP9w6BgJtjYhtVA6aRLr0u5d_TbnOKUk_sMJEZCbkGVQBfXQ2tx-t1ir8djLi0mm_8GxpibzpqEuXGCOJwgZjKGRPW0/s320/20151017-_KJR7207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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The South African artists I saw have a way of pulling words together,
which can make you hurt, smile freeze or move. Some people spoke in Zulu or
other languages, languages that created a barrier which I could not break through.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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But you know what, I enjoyed listening to their rhythms and
I enjoyed listening to these unfamiliar sounds, I was glad they spoke their own
languages it just made me wish that I to had my own language to speak. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Each morning the ladies serving breakfast would laugh at my
terrible attempts at Zulu, but even though they laughed they would still help
me out and repeat things until I got it right or as right as I was ever going
to get them. I have a little notebook I carry around and I am not ashamed to
whip it out, when I need to, to find a word I have forgotten or to learn a new
word. One can have no shame when trying to learn something new. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A cut in funding meant I was the only overseas poets, bar Nii Parkes who claimed both U.K and Ghana, (where he is now living) when
usually they have quite a few. I have not seen Nii in goodness knows how long so it was wonderful to catch-up with him, hear him perform and re-acquaint myself with him.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tGH2t3aEINP6I769hN2BCAZ-h-x9pE-sFxJXnjTYp4shIihA_Cu3Vo_glJFk2-Cg5kKyIEraByX9scfMMzeLh36QrWQp3rcEefafgUnevAh4wL5Rr2LVZ7mh5vodMXXZBU3bBUnSbPY/s1600/nii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tGH2t3aEINP6I769hN2BCAZ-h-x9pE-sFxJXnjTYp4shIihA_Cu3Vo_glJFk2-Cg5kKyIEraByX9scfMMzeLh36QrWQp3rcEefafgUnevAh4wL5Rr2LVZ7mh5vodMXXZBU3bBUnSbPY/s320/nii.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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That worked fine for me, it meant I saw a lot
more SA poets than would usually attend and I was saturated with amazing SA poets.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are too many amazing poets to mention all of them so I
will post pictures and leave comments under those pictures.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I want to mention Celiswa Majali We
hit it off and I shocked her one morning, when Nokolunga taught me her name
over breakfast, and I suprised her by saying it. You see the first letter in
her name is a click, and it took a while for my mouth to get used to that
click, but eventually after a lot of fighting between my lips it did.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSV0uZ2ZFp-vCJOzhbmsJHQH5X82vzJqlKuZbe9vsndoMwML-1CY6cv8lGcpTZ5dyb9GAyHVNe7HoCUXmqvoSU9ESxGCg0fhBuLiqHBh7y2CzTIKInzgXT1a32nLEKtzjiQGnGrwMsb0/s1600/c.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSV0uZ2ZFp-vCJOzhbmsJHQH5X82vzJqlKuZbe9vsndoMwML-1CY6cv8lGcpTZ5dyb9GAyHVNe7HoCUXmqvoSU9ESxGCg0fhBuLiqHBh7y2CzTIKInzgXT1a32nLEKtzjiQGnGrwMsb0/s320/c.1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Here is Celiwsa during at set at Poetry Africa, she is a great performer who performs in English and Zulu.</div>
<div>
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<br /></div>
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The final night’s celebration was an open air festival on a
windy but well attended night, I can’t ever remember being at such an event in
the UK. Poetry here is taken very seriously and the energy and vibe was too
nice.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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I wrote a piece that night at the dinner table, and created
a chorus, which Celiswa and I practiced, then when it was my turn she jumped on
stage and we done our thing. The audience must have liked it as they joined in
with the chorus. By then I had nothing more to say really, I had already
performed two sets of poetry, and Raising Lazarus and performed in two schools.
There was nothing left to say to be honest. This piece called “AFRICA YOU ARE”
was all that was left. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>AFRICA YOU ARE <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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You are, you are, you are my Africa<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You are my salvation and my damnation<o:p></o:p></div>
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The reason I am lost<o:p></o:p></div>
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And the reason I am found<o:p></o:p></div>
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You are my mother and my father<o:p></o:p></div>
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My teacher and my corrupter<o:p></o:p></div>
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You are the grease that soothes my cracked and parched skin<o:p></o:p></div>
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You are the lost child within.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You are my womb fertile and overbearing and words<o:p></o:p></div>
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And barren in seed,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Africa you are my confusion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The place I should call home<o:p></o:p></div>
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But you are the one place I do not know.<o:p></o:p></div>
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You are a stranger<o:p></o:p></div>
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But stranger but strangely familiar<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My colonised tongue struggles to hold you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You slip through my vowels<o:p></o:p></div>
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Passing through like water<o:p></o:p></div>
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You are the dark patches on my knees,<o:p></o:p></div>
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The thickness of my lips<o:p></o:p></div>
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The scoop in my back<o:p></o:p></div>
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The mystery in my eyes<o:p></o:p></div>
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and the black sweetness between my thick thighs<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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You are the struggle in my spirit<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ancestor in my fingertips<o:p></o:p></div>
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You force me to stand when I prefer to sit,<o:p></o:p></div>
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To scream when I prefer to stay silent,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Walk when I wish to crawl,<o:p></o:p></div>
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You are my contradiction <o:p></o:p></div>
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You are my pain, my joy,<o:p></o:p></div>
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My orgasm, my prison,<o:p></o:p></div>
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You are the struggle within,<o:p></o:p></div>
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The innocence and the sin,<o:p></o:p></div>
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The blood, the tears, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The black anger, the black fears.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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You are, you are you are my Africa<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You are, you are you are my Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kat Francois<o:p></o:p></div>
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The chorus is a little sad and mournful, but I guess that
was how I was feeling, the end of the festival, the end of a week of talk and
debate and discussion and poetry, and running around and eye opening
conversation. It would be a week I would not forget in a hurry.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7HEmOGzCeApiz0-pIa3uDt-IyMo-qEClmi-pVnLRxgmDqEfq1mGLOJ5cYoTzXThQAlT2gOL2F_nPtneKxERsH-e59MNedoFOYiaAH6FE-hPMcXJr_wErO4tQMajGnHKNUKBoZDUVF4Q/s1600/ICEMAN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7HEmOGzCeApiz0-pIa3uDt-IyMo-qEClmi-pVnLRxgmDqEfq1mGLOJ5cYoTzXThQAlT2gOL2F_nPtneKxERsH-e59MNedoFOYiaAH6FE-hPMcXJr_wErO4tQMajGnHKNUKBoZDUVF4Q/s320/ICEMAN.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
ICEBOUND MAKHELE</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He had a wonderful energy and flow and one of his poems had the whole audience chanting." Burn dem, and destroy them." Powerful words, powerful performance. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHamCmzRs3JeTQsaPp7hxeyF8p8jVb0LsXeM83K0zdFDuqlJDyjIvyPHQpLq2HabcA9-qOm9gpUB7lwK-4wk8HNem2U9WBeONF7BQACCvtug1EpQ3siPLmzsIEmVA8gqnWAtnAyRZctFE/s1600/VUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHamCmzRs3JeTQsaPp7hxeyF8p8jVb0LsXeM83K0zdFDuqlJDyjIvyPHQpLq2HabcA9-qOm9gpUB7lwK-4wk8HNem2U9WBeONF7BQACCvtug1EpQ3siPLmzsIEmVA8gqnWAtnAyRZctFE/s320/VUS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
VUS'UMUZI PHAKATHI<br />
An funny talented poet who also takes on the alter ego of a singer, just what was needed after night of poetry and intense words.<br />
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<br /></div>
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MTHUNZIKAZI MBUNGWANA </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A poet who performed mainly in her traditional tongue and although I did not understand it was wonderful to hear her, a great performer is a great performer and this can transcend language. Her pieces covered rape and male circumcision. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKRhBaDUX97UzkUpVxjRiN5DZoM2kiR13YqHQ1JDyWg8fF1qmi1LQJALTK5yTOAasENfvgfNNQ4z0VG7Vwk3aJh2RFFYzycNODRTyPDPa05c2XJthookacMJD8sgF3uXfgLr0nW6HmWE/s1600/THANDO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKRhBaDUX97UzkUpVxjRiN5DZoM2kiR13YqHQ1JDyWg8fF1qmi1LQJALTK5yTOAasENfvgfNNQ4z0VG7Vwk3aJh2RFFYzycNODRTyPDPa05c2XJthookacMJD8sgF3uXfgLr0nW6HmWE/s320/THANDO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
THANDO FUZE</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This poet was a joy to hear, young passionate and dealing with gender issues, which many others would shy from. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgpN862CWTt7XONRQzK84vtLB1kMMPsxWzCBbmsmpVkW58ocDzVsO2tI2oQ2GRvf58s-TsXBuu2NEHlNFgFxcV-WOUChSTiqD-w1eZA9HdTu63OuwFlwl6lMAc06BT8oIjZcQh_hmJ1Q/s1600/khani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgpN862CWTt7XONRQzK84vtLB1kMMPsxWzCBbmsmpVkW58ocDzVsO2tI2oQ2GRvf58s-TsXBuu2NEHlNFgFxcV-WOUChSTiqD-w1eZA9HdTu63OuwFlwl6lMAc06BT8oIjZcQh_hmJ1Q/s320/khani.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<o:p>KHANYI SHUSHA</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>A lovely soul and a beautiful poet, there is a calmness and wisdom about here which was great to be around. </o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn6MsfwB9jr6Tpyvbwh61OTwjmt-QfZlC7Hr_SUcWRA1i8Unsv8m5fKT-zv1uCFCSpxhylGzUlbKBJQ2yXIniCSYTnsBuAZwKZGMAwQ4kEoIFBVptXa_1z_P9imbRQ64DYdvkAnARhFM/s1600/ziggi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn6MsfwB9jr6Tpyvbwh61OTwjmt-QfZlC7Hr_SUcWRA1i8Unsv8m5fKT-zv1uCFCSpxhylGzUlbKBJQ2yXIniCSYTnsBuAZwKZGMAwQ4kEoIFBVptXa_1z_P9imbRQ64DYdvkAnARhFM/s320/ziggi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of themes memorable performers was NTSISKI MAZWI, she was an amazing, a well known singer/poet/songwriter who performed along alone side a very revered Durban musician. On the final night she was joined by some school children who sand and harmonised up a storm, I am not lying when I say it was one of the most beautiful things I have heard. The joke is Rob has a track of hers he played regularly at Word4Word, he was gutted when he realised, after the festival who she was. </div>
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<br /></div>
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There are still more poets and I will continue to introduce to them.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Poetry Africa was an amazing experience, and I am grateful for it, grateful for everyone who made it happen, and that I was even able to get out here in the first place. Travel is only ever a good thing, a chance to connect with others, talk, debate, discuss but most of all listen. Who would have thought that poetry would take little old me to the Motherland. </div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>I cannot claim to know South Africa, I have seen nothing of South Africa to be honest, but this trip so far has been one of both beauty and ugly, one of poetry and words,pain and joy, and dark and light. I cannot remember the last time I have examined race and race issues and the impact of racism so closely, day in and day out.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>London is a bubble a protective bubble that we take for granted, which houses many different races and although we may not all get on, we survive, we cope, we blend, we mingle, we manage to live and work side by side. We are aware of the issues, we deal with them, we talk and protest and demonstrate and try and tackle them, but this level of racism and poverty I have seen here is on another level.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>I have seen young boys, 12,13 year old's, begging, in the streets, there is no doubt they are in need, filthy hair, filthy clothes, there is something not right when the most vulnerable in a society are not protected. Some children here in rural schools are taught in classes of 60 plus, numbers which would have us up in arms. some cannot even go to school as they cannot afford uniforms or travel or food! </o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes I know these are things we know, things we have heard before, but when you hear if from the mouth of the horse when you see the impact it has, it's a whole different story. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>You can no longer hide behind the safety of your own life because no matter how hard things are, not matter how difficult the reality is most of us live comfortable lives. Most of us have food, clothes, decent shoes and a roof over our head, to be honest most of us have mush more than we need. </o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>I am due back at Clairmont school, next Tuesday where I will perform in an assembly and run a workshop, before getting back to rehearsals, I will perform four shows, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and -Sunday, there is still a lot of work to do, we are piecing the play together at the moment, trying best to find the right way to tackle this most divisive subject of race. I am nervous, eager that we handle this right, sometimes I question what I was thinking, question what the hell I am doing in SA putting on a play with a white South African on race. This experience is not one I am going to forget in a hurry. </o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p>Thanks again to Rob for the amazing pictures which accompany this blog.</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>I will keep writing, keep trying to put my thoughts, feelings and experiences into some kind of coherent ramble. </o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>I will be back soon, time is limited, whilst working on the play but I will try my best to keep you all up dated...</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-79358220998832570342015-10-21T00:01:00.001-07:002015-10-21T03:36:34.534-07:00MY AFRICAN ADVENTURE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">SOUTH AFRICA PART ONE….<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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South Africa so far has been an experience. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am a UK born Caribbean, a fish out of water.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This is a sharp learning curve.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I came with no preconceived ideas, but saying that we cannot
help but form opinions, based on what we have seen, heard and even experienced.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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South Africa is more than I could have imagined, more
beautiful, more damaged…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Last week, the first week, flew by, I was with POETRY AFRICA
the biggest poetry festival in Africa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was a week of performances, school visits and my play <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Raising Lazarus</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This trip I am accompanied by Rob, which puts a whole
different spin on things,. This is my first trip to Africa and I have bought
along my white boyfriend…. Go figure. Kat never does anything my halves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I told him if we break up I would have to kill him, as he would
have spoilt my first trip back to the motherland. I am aware, very aware, as I
am when we go to any black country, that my experience as a black woman would
be different if he was not by my side. What is a girl supposed to do; he is my
other half where I go he goes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I cannot lie though the times I have visited Grenada on my
own, there is a 100 per cent relaxation factor I do not feel completely when
walking around with Rob. Sad but true, but maybe that’s me, maybe that’s my own
paranoia that people are judging me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who knows. I do not have time to unpick all of that now, but
it is one of the realities of being in a mixed relationship. The world
interacts with you differently and sometimes you have a sense of loss, a sense
of exclusion. The sense that all kind of harsh judgements are being made. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is a certain amount of anonominity you give up when
you are in an mixed relationship, especially if you are in environment where
mixed couples are rare, you are no longer just the English girl, you are the English
girl, with the English man! This may well be a discussion for another time, another day, a poem, a play, a book........<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
The first week I have spent in a lovely four-star hotel in Durban
opposite the sea, the views were stunning and on the days when the sea was
rough and angry I enjoyed viewing the white surf being battered against the
shore, against a bright blue sky.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ran a number of times, desperate to work off the breakfast
buffet, I was partaking in in the mornings. The best thing I saw on one of my
runs was four monkeys siting in the middle of the path, chasing runners. They meant
no harm and were just having fun and much better to look at than London
pigeons.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQVf8Gn-3uuPGYSswwD0lsrcEU95vhfJt8HSpC_KpALWmA6131dEl7PWKgeC9eeNqP4UbMiIo2WXJwbqn6U7fY9MrHZtBMygP1H2Kws4gXkuBIO4lGABzBAnxowHGyUFlmBKuCWXaT_w/s1600/IMG-20151016-WA0001-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQVf8Gn-3uuPGYSswwD0lsrcEU95vhfJt8HSpC_KpALWmA6131dEl7PWKgeC9eeNqP4UbMiIo2WXJwbqn6U7fY9MrHZtBMygP1H2Kws4gXkuBIO4lGABzBAnxowHGyUFlmBKuCWXaT_w/s320/IMG-20151016-WA0001-2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have tried my best to pick up some Zulu which is the main African Language spoken here, saying that it is one of 11 official languages,. My head hurts just thinking of that. Anyway I have succeeded in embarrassing myself many times, but since I am shameless I will keep trying. I can say, thank you, hello, please, yes no, may I have… not much but it’s a start.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I performed last week Tuesday. I had my twenty minute set and it was a real nice night, the SA poets are fiery and passionate and a joy to watch and experience. I performed “White boy are you fuc*ing crazy,” it was a new experience for Rob to have a mainly Zulu crowd chanting the chorus at him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qrWaimeG-4As83l0nP7nA1KgLbgLUufLxE0Nc7EWogFrNYaC5cO1yjdC1FIkA3tqb8l4-ZS5R5B1j4Ay9K5B4rLG13jCwP5cl3LhcheopJ44EJiVO74ukwBHOF3aLEu4-hmHcPeQ1hM/s1600/20151013-_KJR6500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qrWaimeG-4As83l0nP7nA1KgLbgLUufLxE0Nc7EWogFrNYaC5cO1yjdC1FIkA3tqb8l4-ZS5R5B1j4Ay9K5B4rLG13jCwP5cl3LhcheopJ44EJiVO74ukwBHOF3aLEu4-hmHcPeQ1hM/s320/20151013-_KJR6500.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wrote this poem based on my experiences of trying to twist
my tongue around Zulu and performed it that night. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">THE COLONILISED TONGUE</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I wish I could eat the Zulu language or any African Language<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shove it greedily down my throat,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then magically speak fluently <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But my colonised tongue cannot cope with the….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tut's and the clicks and the knocks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It crunches and bites and scrapes and attacks with no
subtlety <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although my colonised tongue is housed among black gums and
thick black lips<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It cannot cope with the tut's and the clicks and the knocks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My colonised tongue fights, chews, beats up, struggles,
dominates then spits out word such a sayo bono, injani and Ga bon, with such
vulgarity and violence, locals laugh. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then my colonised tongue becomes tied, shy and fretful and
refuses to talk at all., for she is used to being understood, she is used to
being privileged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My colonised tongue has lost its way<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was lost at sea,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A sea, which stripped and swallowed black bones so hungrily,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was lost somewhere between the African continent, the
Caribbean and finally the U.K<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Have you seen my tongue, Have you see it, have you seen my
tongue, have you seen it, I have lost my tongue, my African tongue, if you
happen to see it, please return it, for I will never be a true African without
an African tongue.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My Colonised tongue has been bastardized, it betrays me,
speaks perfect Lilly white Queens English. “How are you isn’t it a lovely day,
shame about the rain, would you care of a cup of tea?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is embarrassing<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Struggling with the clicks and the tut's and the knocks,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My ears hear, but cannot translate to English lips, which
sit patiently waiting to mould new words into new sounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But these words are elusive and slippery and they refuse to
stick.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I watch confused as African lips move as fast as fluttering
butterfly wings, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
these words sing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My words are sour, soaked in the stench of slavery; they do
not belong to me,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But they are the only words I know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My English tongue is petulant, impatient and violent, she is
a conquering force used to having her own way, she is unruly, uncontrollable,
demanding.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She treats languages roughly, chews on them, sucking out
their marrow until nothing but a carcass is left.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My English tongue is accustomed to being understood,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is accustomed to being valued and upheld,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is accustomed to being taken seriously.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My English tongue chased away my African tongue, forced her
to retreat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now my African tongue like my African name is lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My black body is adrift without them. A tide without a shore
to call home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am one of your lost children.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am a Caribbean slave child.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My African tongue was whipped, stripped, beaten and stolen
from me,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until one day she fell silent<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To the tut's and the clicks and the knocks<o:p></o:p></div>
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For they were too painful to remember. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>CENTRE FOR AFRICAN LITERARY STUDIES </u></b><br />
<b><u>UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATA</u></b>L<br />
The whole group took a visit to a library, which is housing books on African Literary, it was a small but very important library.<br />
Run by an old white lady who is dedicated to collecting as much work as she can.<br />
Nii Parkes who was also with on the trip, found a book of his poems and his uncles poems side by side.<br />
<br />
They need more books, as money is short and although their collection is comprehensive, they are missing lots of work. Books are also needed for children, so when I return I will be collecting books and sending them out. Every child should be able to have a book or two to read. It makes you think about how cheap books are here, that we are lucky enough to have some very cheap book shops around, or have books handed down to children.<br />
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<br />
<br />
It also makes you think about all the Libary's which have been closed at home. The library I practically grew up in was been shut for years. Books when I was small were not as cheap as they are now. Mum would take us every Saturday, it was the one place that she knew she could shut me up. I devoured books like custard cream biscuits.<br />
I was happy to find a corner surrounds myself with books and would stay like that until forced, angry and tearful to return home.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CLAIRWOOD SECONDARY
SCHOOL</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Last week Wednesday I went to Clairemont secondary school, which
was a group of 14-16 year old boys and girls, who were so excited and so
welcoming, the teachers were so happy to have us. I went with a poet called
Lesego Rampolokeng who is from Soweto and who holds no quarter with the world
and speaks as it is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We debated and talked and debated and discussed in the ride
to and from the school. I am full of questions and queries, I want to know so
much. I also listen, I have learnt that listening is the best way to learn, let
people talk and soak in all they are willing to give. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>`More on him later, but all I will add for now
is he is a very interesting, charismatic but also scathing man, a man who
refuses to allow amnesia to cloud his view of the post-apartheid world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We performed poems and answered questions. The most special moment
for me was when this room full of African and Asian kids sung along to the
chorus of RISE DARK GIRLS RISE. I cannot tell you how that made me feel inside.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I got a whole heap of hugs at the end, and those too shy to
share their poetry in front of the assembly, shared it as we all stood around,
they also made me perform RISE DARK GIRLS RISE for a second time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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That experience was one I will not forget, I am hopefully
going to get back out to that school before I leave for an assembly and a
workshop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">CHATSWORTH EDUATION CENTRE</span></u></b></div>
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I visited on the Thursday. It’s an education centre for
training teaching and they bought in a number of schools, this time my poetic
partner was Nokolunga Dlada a fiery South African who performs in English and
Zulu. We have become good friends over the last week, and hopefully will see
more of each other during my stay after the festival. She is smart, fun,
powerful and passionate, just how I like my friends. A teacher by trade, it was
lovely to share a this experience with her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
This occasion was a little more formal compared to the previous school, I for the impression the pupils had been warned to be on their best behaviour, but
the students were lovely and quite a few of them came up and performed. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
One girl took my breathe away with her powerful poetry, the piece was heartfelt, emotional, raw and just what poetry is about …. self expression. At the end we gave a t-shirt to one poet who we felt deserved to be recognised and I gave mine to her. This beautiful black child, with dark slim, short cropped hair and a strong frame with a strong voice.</div>
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<br />
<br />
All week we spent the evenings watching performances, and
all week I was blown the fu*k away by the quality, passion and performances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One young lady I will call her my little black bird
and straight up I have adopted her as my daughter. Her performance was the most
strong yet vulnerable performance I have ever had the honour of witnessing. She
spoke on suicide and depression and the killing of 3 men for stealing in the
township she grew up in, and her part of a baying mob that watched them burn. I
tell you I had to hold it together real tight, not to break down and cry. It
has been a long time since I have heard anything so touching and raw and
exposing. She is also the tiniest little thing but also one of the bravest
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN6HmI50jY3XI80IHWKGj1RwqkVXnGpscKOwm5BngBjlSnFKzsd0eH2b384zTX4M4dWWlma694qCtGYLhmz-FCEZnjgQtNSsCNvJMSAy-0aSLnB-AjcJsfJt-KEign2JoesUli-kqCuc/s1600/20151014-_KJR6660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN6HmI50jY3XI80IHWKGj1RwqkVXnGpscKOwm5BngBjlSnFKzsd0eH2b384zTX4M4dWWlma694qCtGYLhmz-FCEZnjgQtNSsCNvJMSAy-0aSLnB-AjcJsfJt-KEign2JoesUli-kqCuc/s320/20151014-_KJR6660.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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This is what I am taking about, poetry that makes you feel,
poetry that makes you angry, poetry that makes you cry, poetry that makes you
want to crawl out of your skin and crawl into the words. Poetry that you will
never forget, that leaves a stain, leaves a stench or a scent, you cannot wash
away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to break down the levels of poverty and racism I have seen here, but that is all to come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have also met many amazing, open and honest people have spent time speaking to me in great depth about South Africa and both it's beauty and it's ugly. There is never enough time in a day to document everything, but I will try and keep a track of what is going on and share.<br />
<br />
I will leave it there for now. I am now moving onto this mad crazy, challenging scary project with a White South African
Artist Iain Robinson, who I fist met ten years again at the World poetry Slampionships in Rotterdam, we are working on a piece dealing with "Race"I must be fu**ing crazy! Please pray for me…….<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
Thanks to Rob for all the great pictures and as always the invaluable support. </div>
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Thanks to everyone who has made this journey possible Poetry Africa and Iain Robinson especially.</div>
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463538742813907991.post-25009712167353832602012-11-03T04:54:00.002-07:002015-10-19T18:28:53.196-07:00INTIMATES NOVEMBER 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
INTIMATES FRIDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2012<br />
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INTIMATES is always a fun night, full of word games and laughter before the show even starts. The Poetry Cafe is a tiny space and in fact is where my other night WORD4WORD started 9 years ago, after a year it moved to the Theatre Royal Stratford East - the 9th birthday celebration is on 18th November, so make sure you're there cause it is going to be big, poets Zena Edwards, Tshaka Campbell and singers Soneni and the Soul and Kevin Mark Trail will all be featuring as will a group of young poets who are members of a poetry theatre group I direct called POETS PLATFORM. http://stratfordeast.com/word-4-word <br />
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Back to INTIMATES, last night featured Anthony Fairweather and Poetcurious. The night kicked off with breaking the audience into groups and playing anagram games, which went down well, although some people complained they were too hard, I won't mention any names. I will just say I played the same game earlier in the day with a group of young mums aged 16 and there was no complaining from them!<br />
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Sometimes running a night can put pressure on you, well life gets busy, crazy even, but every time I get to the Poetry Cafe and Intimates takes place I just have a hell of a lot of fun. There is something about interacting with the audience in such a small space, playing games and getting to know each other on a first name basis by the end of the night that makes the whole thing, well special.<br />
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The word games, which also included a quiz, had no high scorers last night, but the winning team included Hugh the Poet and a student called Emily studying drama who was given extra points for performing the Gangham dance, go Emily.<br />
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Hugh The Poet <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI57daBnq_RKydAhLwbdti-_T5OcAbCe5nYoINigDYjOFciZjN-iRsD-ZW95aylNUvXIz2rPJc94ZhlOXrTHOfi6FUwv-Hsncj_xQqkkJ8uPEPOjS0oRT1KswDz8i0wi2U9X3cOidtkZg/s1600/DSC_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI57daBnq_RKydAhLwbdti-_T5OcAbCe5nYoINigDYjOFciZjN-iRsD-ZW95aylNUvXIz2rPJc94ZhlOXrTHOfi6FUwv-Hsncj_xQqkkJ8uPEPOjS0oRT1KswDz8i0wi2U9X3cOidtkZg/s320/DSC_0361.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Open mic threw up a few surprises, the two that stick in my mind are Hugh the Poet who performed a piece about his daughter who was lost to him for a year, when she was taken to Canada by his wife. It charted his fight with the courts and authorities to get his daughter back. It was one of those poems, where most of the audience have the sheen of tears in their eyes by the end, raw and eye opening. I liked it because I like untold stories, stories which give us an insight into the lives of those we do not usually hear from, and dad stories are not always told. Thanks to Hugh the Poet for sharing.<br />
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Alain English<br />
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Now the second piece that sticks in my mind is not necessarily for positive reasons but is also a piece I will never, ever forget! Alain English, a much loved friend of mine, someone who always supports both of my nights and who is always greatly welcomed on the open mic. His first piece was great, then he asked to performed a second piece... I was like sure no prob, and that's when the horror began... a poem about POOING. I have a dog poo phobia so poo is not one of my fav subjects. He's a great writer so it was a very graphic and descriptive piece... all I can say is I was traumatised, but the audience seemed to like it, so who am I to comment on where a poet obtains their inspiration! Love you Alain even if at times you do traumatize me.<br />
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Anthony Fairweather<br />
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Anthony Fairweather, performed a great set, dealing with office life including filing, irate bosses, and politics. He's a great rhymer, and satirical poet. What is also very poignant about Anthony is that he has a stammer. At the end of his set one of the questions asked, was why singing or poetry seemed to make a stammer better. The answer was that science hadn't manage to figure out why the rhyme and rhythm seems to stop stammers which is why singers don't stammer, and which is why his poems have a specific pattern of rhyme and rhyming. I have nothing but respect for Anthony. It's hard enough to be a performer let alone perform with a speech impediment, but that sounds condescending and that is not the only thing that makes him a special performer. His work is of a great quality and his honesty and humour always shine through.<br />
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Poet Curious<br />
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The second feature, Poetcurious, is only someone I met earlier this year when he came onto my radio show, (The Kat Francois Kulture Show on www.guessradio.co.uk every Thursday 9-11pm, plug, plug, plug.) He is a very humorous and engaging performer, with great audience interaction and his chat in between his poems was amusing and charming and belly tickling.<br />
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His pieces all had a strong Hip Hop edge to them and even he bought up the fact that at 37 was it appropriate for him to be performing Hip Hop... well I for one am glad he is. His flow and word play are great, and he has great stage presence and energy. The stick out piece for me was directed at the police entitled Search Yourself, loved it.<br />
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I performed a newer piece of mine called Rise Dark Girls, Rise. There is a chorus which is sung... I am no singer, but I have promised to push myself as a performer and that means doing things that scare the hell out of me... and singing in public scares the hell out of me. I could hear I was not quite hitting the mark a few times, but practise makes perfect so excuse me if I mash up your ears whilst trying to sing, I promise it will get better!<br />
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The night finished with everyone hanging around and chatting and again that is why I love INTIMATES and continue to keep it going. Audiences do not always get a chance to connect with poets, but at INTIMATES you get a chance to partner up with them in a quiz, ask them questions during the Q and A and get cosy with them after the show... what more could an audience ask for.<br />
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That's it for now. Please put WORD4WORD's 9th Birthday on Sunday 18th November in your diary and please note the earlier start time of 7pm in your diary. Next INTIMATES takes place on Friday 7th December. The Kat Francois Kulture radio show takes place every Thursday 9-11pm on GuessRadio... next week I have special guests Soneni and the Soul, so make sure you tune in.<br />
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See you all soon.<br />
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Kat Francois Poet, Host, comedienne, director, nutter, runner, playwright.<br />
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More info go to www.katfrancois.com for upto date information on my shows and other activities.<br />
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Info on poetcurious<br />
https://twitter.com/poetcurious<br />
http://artofcurious.blogspot.co.uk/<br />
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Info on Anthony Fairweather<br />
http://www.scottservante.co.uk/ComedyVerse/comedyverseindex.html<br />
http://www.rrrants.com/PerformersPages/Anthony%20Fairweather.htm<br />
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFky3SD-hFg<br />
http://soundcloud.com/insight-studios/olympic-poem-by-anthony<br />
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All photos (c) Sloetry<br />
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kathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194679274296669594noreply@blogger.com4