Living in SA
25 November 2008
More bits of South African music I like:
African Jazz Pioneers and Jonas Gwangwa from the best of South African Live jazz on the John Player Jazz Music Special:
Koos du Plessis singing one of his compositions, Skielik is jy vry (Suddenly you're free):
Josh Groban, Vusi Mahlasela (who comes from Mamelodi, not too far from where I live!) and the Soweto Gospel Choir, singing Weeping at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert at Hyde Park in London in June 2008. Weeping is remarkable for the fact that, even though it was a protest song, it avoided being banned in the 1980s, a time when banning was all the rage, and instead became a hit. Weeping was composed by Dan Heymann and originally sung by the Cape Town band, Bright Blue.
African Jazz Pioneers and Jonas Gwangwa from the best of South African Live jazz on the John Player Jazz Music Special:
Koos du Plessis singing one of his compositions, Skielik is jy vry (Suddenly you're free):
Josh Groban, Vusi Mahlasela (who comes from Mamelodi, not too far from where I live!) and the Soweto Gospel Choir, singing Weeping at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert at Hyde Park in London in June 2008. Weeping is remarkable for the fact that, even though it was a protest song, it avoided being banned in the 1980s, a time when banning was all the rage, and instead became a hit. Weeping was composed by Dan Heymann and originally sung by the Cape Town band, Bright Blue.
Labels: African Jazz Pioneers, Bright Blue, Jonas Gwangwa, Josh Groban, Koos du Plessis, Nelson Mandela Birthday Concert, South African music, Soweto Gospel Choir, Vusi Mahlasela, Weeping
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20 November 2008
When we moved into our house, there was no fence at all. We put one up after we had a break in, and although it felt a bit like living in a prison, we thought it would be irresponsible not to take all reasonable precautions to prevent harm coming to anyone living in the house. For a while we felt safer, but then, two years ago, crime began to escalate rapidly. By that stage, most people in our area were living behind high walls and fences, but these did not prevent burglaries, armed robberies and attempted hijackings becoming the order of the day.Then two women who are neighbours decided to take action. They began holding community meetings, and after a lot of discussion, the community in this area implemented two things: a community patrol and an sms system. The patrol is run by a security company employed by the community. Men on quad bikes patrol the area 24 hours a day. People living in the patrol area contribute financially to cover the costs. Financial contributions are voluntary, but enough people contribute to make the patrol a viable option. The sms system allows us to alert each other via our cell phones if we notice anything strange or if we have a problem that other people in the area should know about. In addition to preventing crime, the system has helped reunite a parrot, rabbits and numerous dogs with their owners. On one occasion it was used to find a lost child (thankfully this only took 10 minutes).
The results? Crime has dropped by 97% since implementing the patrol. The community has a good working relationship with the police. Co-operation is spreading into other areas; a joint venture with the Parks department is underway to upgrade a small park in the area; one park clean-up by residents has already taken place. A newsletter is being produced, meetings and community braais are held; neighbours now know each other better and high walls feel less like prisons. Safety is a community issue, and standing together does make a difference. Crime remains something we need to be aware of, but we now feel less helpless and scared by it.Crime is a difficult thing to deal with. While I condemn crime, and any violence and victimisation of people, I am uncomfortable with the fact that discussions about crime often assume that the world is two dimensional, made up of criminals and victims; baddies and goodies. None of us are wholly good or wholly bad. Probably, given certain circumstances, I too, would be capable of criminal action. But recognizing this should not prevent us from taking responsbility for preventing harm to ourselves. Standing together as a community is a way doing this. How we choose to stand together will be different in different communities. Employing a security company will not always be the answer, but the principle of working together as a community is the start of a good crime prevention strategy. ¶ [url for this post] [0 Comments] [Links to this post]
19 November 2008
Follow up on Feed in Tariffs bill
Discussion around the Feed in Tariffs private members' bill in parliament has resulted in the government promising to have a renewable energy strategy in place by February 2009. Hardly earth shattering stuff, but discussion has helped keep some focus on renewables. Read more.Labels: feed in tariffs bill, renewable energy, renewable energy legislation in South Africa
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14 November 2008
Yesterday South Africa began a period of official mourning for one of our most loved musicians, Miriam Makeba. Miriam Makeba, 76, died shortly after performing at a concert in Italy on Sunday 9 November. According to her band, she enjoyed the performance, and finished it with one of her most famous songs, Pata pata (Touch, touch). A fitting exit for a dedicated musician and remarkable human being.
Miriam Makeba singing Pata pata in Brazil
Miriam Makeba's warmth and humanity informed her life and her music. Her commitment to Africa earned her the name Mama Africa; but also brought her pain, as her outspokenness against apartheid led to 31 years of exile after the apartheid regime revoked her South African citizenship in 1960. Other sorrows, such as the death of her daughter, did not diminish her joy or vitality.
Miriam Makeba singing Oxgam
Despite being the first African woman to win a grammy, one of Africa's best known musicians, and singing with world reknowned musicians such as Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba remained a humble person. I remember a radio interview I heard with her, where in talking about her early years touring with the musical, King Kong, she told the story of how, the first time flying overseas, she went and changed into her pyjamas when the lights were dimmed on the plane. Her ability to share stories like this, along with her exceptional musical talent, and her commitment to music and human rights, explains why she is loved and revered, and will be sorely missed.
Miriam Makeba, is one of singers in this video of Nkosi Sikel' iAfrika. The videa was taken at the Paul Simon Graceland concert in Zimbabwe in 1987. Her first husband, South African musician Hugh Masekela, is also in the video along with South African guitarist Ray Phiri and the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambaso.
Miriam Makeba's first husband was Hugh Masekela, and she was also married to the activist Stokely Carmichael. A memorial service, open to the public, is to be held on Saturday 15 November at the Coca Cola Dome in Johannesburg. Hamba Kahle Miriam Makeba.
Miriam Makeba singing Pata pata in Brazil
Miriam Makeba's warmth and humanity informed her life and her music. Her commitment to Africa earned her the name Mama Africa; but also brought her pain, as her outspokenness against apartheid led to 31 years of exile after the apartheid regime revoked her South African citizenship in 1960. Other sorrows, such as the death of her daughter, did not diminish her joy or vitality.
Miriam Makeba singing Oxgam
Despite being the first African woman to win a grammy, one of Africa's best known musicians, and singing with world reknowned musicians such as Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba remained a humble person. I remember a radio interview I heard with her, where in talking about her early years touring with the musical, King Kong, she told the story of how, the first time flying overseas, she went and changed into her pyjamas when the lights were dimmed on the plane. Her ability to share stories like this, along with her exceptional musical talent, and her commitment to music and human rights, explains why she is loved and revered, and will be sorely missed.
Miriam Makeba, is one of singers in this video of Nkosi Sikel' iAfrika. The videa was taken at the Paul Simon Graceland concert in Zimbabwe in 1987. Her first husband, South African musician Hugh Masekela, is also in the video along with South African guitarist Ray Phiri and the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambaso.
Miriam Makeba's first husband was Hugh Masekela, and she was also married to the activist Stokely Carmichael. A memorial service, open to the public, is to be held on Saturday 15 November at the Coca Cola Dome in Johannesburg. Hamba Kahle Miriam Makeba.
Labels: Graceland concert, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Oxgam, Pata pata, Paul Simon, South African music
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13 November 2008
At the beginning of this year, power cuts made South Africans aware that we face significant challenges in electricity generation and distribution. Renewable energy is an obvious possible solution, and in reaction to our energy situation, e-REACT, a Renewable Energy Lobby group, made up of members from different political parties in the South African parliament, was formed. The first major initiative from the group is a private members bill (REFIT) which proposes introducing Feed in Tariff legislation as a way of supporting renewable energy in South Africa. Feed in tariffs mean that our electricity supplier, Eskom, will buy energy from renewable energy suppliers at a fixed tariff for a fixed period of time. This energy will then be fed into the grid. This feed in tariff model has been succesful in promoting renewable energy resources in other countries, most notably Germany.
The bill is due to be discussed in parliament on 18 November at 12h30. You can show your support for the bill by emailing any one of the following MPs stating your name, telephone number, fax (if you have one), email address and a note saying why you support REFIT:
Dr Ruth Rabinowitz (IFP) reureka@iafrica.com
Gareth Morgan (DA) morgan@da.org.za
Lance Greyling (ID) lanceg@id.org.zaJudy Chalmers (ANC) jchalmer@mweb.co.za
Alternatively, you can sign an online petition in support of the bill.
For more information about the bill and its background see:
Article in Mail and Guardian Online
Gareth Morgan's Blog (MP for the Democratic Alliance)
For more about feed in tariffs see:
SEPco document library: Feed in Tariffs v. Renewable Set-Asides article
Labels: electricity, Eskom, feed in tariffs, feed in tariffs bill, private members bill, renewable energy, South Africa
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11 November 2008
This photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license versions 2.5, 2.0, and 1.0Spent this weekend in the Magaliesberg area, with a loud flock of guinea fowl for company most of the time. Their calls signal that I am out of the city. Just love them.
This sound file (helmuted guineafowl from dobroide) has been sourced from the Freesound project . The file has been used, and should be used in terms of a Creative Commons license.
Labels: guinea fowl, Magaliesberg
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04 November 2008
Perched on Salvo Kop, one of the series of small hills which surround the city of Pretoria, is one of South Africa's newest and most interesting heritage sites. Freedom Park celebrates and encourages the reconciliation of the various different South African communities, and commemorates the South African dead in 8 major conflicts that shaped South African history. It seeks a more inclusive heritage, wanting to reconcile and unite all South Africans rather than celebrate only one particular culture. Still a work in progress, completion is scheduled for 2009. Freedom Park first opened its gates to the public late in 2007, and there is at present no charge for visiting this facility.
Freedom Park has been a striking addition to the Tshwane landscape; entering the the Tshwane metropole area from the R21 highway, the graceful spiral of symbolic reeds which are at the summit of Freedom Park dominate the skyline. The park also provides an interesting visual counterpoint to the Voortrekker Monument, that Afrikaner nationalist icon, on the one hand; and the University of South Africa (Unisa) building, which juts out from the adjoining hill, on the other.
The Voortrekker Monument
Freedom Park
A visit to Freedom Park has been conceived as a journey (on foot, or by golf cart for those who have difficulty walking) which starts with an explanation of the purpose of the park, and a viewing of the eternal flame.
Next is the amphitheatre.
The amphitheatrePictures of the Kathina Robe Offering and sky lantern ceremonies
African symbolism is used throughout Freedom Park. The tall poles surrounding the amphitheatre are symbolic reeds, and the various parts of the park have been given African names. The first part of the park comprising the Wall of Names, amphitheatre, sanctuary (the building near the eternal flame where one can conduct a ceremony or light a candle of remembrance), Gallery of leaders (one of the parts not yet finished) and a high level hospitality suite is called Sikhumbuto, a siSwati word signifying a place of remembrance where the assistance of those who have passed on can be invoked for current and future affairs.
A wild olive tree, was planted by Thabo Mbeki as a symbol of peace at the back of the amphitheatre. The next stop in the Freedom Park journey is the Wall of Names.
The wall of names
Here the names of those who died in the Freedom Struggle, the South African war, the world wars and various other catastrophes in which South Africans have been involved have been carved into a wall so that they will be remembered. It is no coincidence that this wall and other elements are on the top of a hill; a hilltop is the traditional burial site of African chiefs.
As you continue of your walk around the hill, through proteas growing wild, on the way to the symbolic burial grave which is the centre of the park, there is a stopping place next to a pool for reflection, rest and meditation. This provides a break on your journey.Then one continues on to Isivivane, the symbolic burial site or Lesaka, where you are asked to take off your shoes. The site is shrouded in mist, and religious leaders from various faiths have performed ceremonies here in an attempt to provide closure for conflicts in the past, and help future reconciliation. Photos here are not allowed.
Also planned, but not yet on offer, is a large museum.
Freedom Park is an innovation in South African heritage and is well worth a visit. It is a monument to hope for South Africans and gives tourists an insight into post apartheid South Africa.
Entrance to the park at present is free; but you should contact the park at +27 12 4707400 before visiting, as you are only allowed in at tour times. Tours are currently run daily at 9h00, 12h00 and 15h00. A map and more information can be found at the park website.
Labels: Freedom Park, heritage, Johannesburg Meditation Centre, Kathina robe offering, peace for Africa, post apartheid, reconciliation, Salvo Kop, sky lanterns, Thai Buddhism
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02 November 2008
Maropeng is the name of the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind world heritage site, of which the Sterkfontein caves, where the famous Mrs Ples fossil was found, are the best known part.
Maropeng means "returning to the place of our origins" in Setswana and houses restaurants, a boutique hotel, craft stores, conference facilities and an interactive exhibition.
The educational exhibition is laid out in the building called the Tumulus which has been designed to look like a burial mound. It's an impressive structure which is aesthetically pleasing, and the unusual buildings do the job of making you aware that you are part of an ancient landscape.
The educational exhibition itself begins with an underground boat ride and then introduces visitors to the concepts of evolution, extinction and genetics. There's lots of interactive stuff. You can, for example, talk to extinct animals like dodo's ; but I suspect that most adults are familiar with the concepts on offer here. It's great for kids, but adults would probably get more intellectually out of a visit to the Sterkfontein caves.
What I loved about Maropeng is the way the unusual buildings are set into the landscape. There are wonderful views from the deck roof of the Tumulus building, and a stay at the hotel here would be a unique experience. The visitor facility was first opened in December 2005; and was designed Gapp Architects.
It is also interesting that Maropeng is the first public private partnership in the Gauteng province. The land is owned by the South African government, while the consortium, Maropeng a Africa, built and manages the facilities.
