Joburg's Statue of Liberty

A Bulgarian friend of mine asked me to take a photo of myself wishing her boyfriend a Happy Birthday from Johannesburg, SA. She was putting together a sweet global birthday greeting collage for him. She asked me to take the photograph in front of some landmark or background that is unique to my locale. I chose one of my favorite pieces of public art in the Joburg CBD, The Firewalker sculpture

Lou & Serge and I in front of The Firewalker

The Firewalker by William Kentridge and Gerhard Marx  is an 11-metre high metal sculpture created by fractured pieces that split apart as you view it from different points. It pays homage to the women who walk along nearby Diagonal street with lit braziers atop their heads selling sheep’s heads 'smileys' or mielies (corn cobs) and the everyday activities of city dwellers.

NY's Statue of Liberty on the 4th of July

The image of a woman carrying light or fire on her head does, of course, evoke the image of New York's Statue of Liberty. But according to the artists, "She is a very particular Statue of Liberty - Johannesburg's Statue of Liberty - which carries with it, at every point, either the history or the threat of its own collapse."

HBD Rifi from Johannesburg, SA!

Go Engineers!

... and go IT / MBAs!

A RCYC Memorial Day weekend Regatta ... just like Mantoloking Yacht Club (NJ, USA)!

Finally ...

I finally replaced that hideous mall art that hung on the long wall in the hallway at Valley Lodge with these newly framed pieces of Ndebele arts and crafts.

Much, much better!

 

African AbFab

photo by Marguerite Slavik

Where were you a couple of weeks ago when I was looking for an expert to tie my Easter headscarf? I had to improvise myself.

Although I have to admit, no matter how much I practiced on my own, I never in a million years could have fabricated this incredible confection.

photo by Marguerite Slavik

The artist who created our headscarf wraps was Olga Mtshweni of Wrapsody.

Olga brought a bag full of her headscarves to the party, many of which are available for sale on her online shop. I chose a waxed hollandais fabric called "Nubia."

"Mama Africa and the Nubian Queen"

Each and every headwrap design Olga created for our little group was a unique work of art!

photo by Marguerite Slavik

Here is the best part about using the stiff waxed fabrics for your headwrap. I could literally take it off my head completely intact to wear at a future date!

sitting atop a gooseneck table lamp in the study until I get a proper hatstand!

Dancing in the Dark

There is an eight year old die-hard Salsa community in Joburg and it is driven by Samson Mulugeta, the impresario behind Sunday afternoon Rooftop Salsa in Maboneng and Friday Salsa Nights at the Greensider Market. Who knew?

The Salsa dance originated in the 1970s in New York City, with strong Latin American influences from Cuba and Puerto Rico. Samson himself is from New York although he didn't take up Salsa dancing until he moved to Joburg. He came to Joburg as a student eight years ago and never left. Now he is a freelance journalist and Joburg's Salsa King.

Usually the Salsa scene looks like this ...

The Greensider last Friday night (from the Rooftop Salsa FB page)

or this ...

the rooftop at Arts on Main (from the Rooftop Salsa FB page)

But this Friday, Greenside was a victim of the dreaded load-shedding so it looked more like this ...

Salsa powered by generator

But the mojitos were still flowing ...

 He makes one good mojito!

 So we danced in the dark.

We're not going to let a little load-shedding ruin our Salsa Night. We'll be back!

Pharrell is with us!

American Grammy award-winning superstar and eco-activist Pharrell Williams is the new style director for Woolworths, the South African retailer.

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“Williams is a global icon for social cohesion, advancement through education and environmental awareness. These same values lie at the heart of our business and form the foundation on which this partnership is built,” Ian Moir, CEO of Woolworths said.

“We hope Pharrell will help us make sustainability cool for the next generation of South Africans and help us create a better future for our children, our country and our planet.”
The “Happy” singer will collaborate with Woolworths to create eco friendly fashion.


According to WWD.com, Pharrell said of his latest project: ''The collaboration was to call on everyone to work together to uplift education in South Africa. For food farming that goes easy on the planet. And to create fashion that is not just cool, but also sustainable.''

Pharrell will head to South Africa in September for a concert tour, where groups will compete for a chance to to sing with him on stage. The event will be exclusive to members of Woolworths' customer loyalty programme WRewards.

I am a loyal Woolies customer and I have entered the contest! Wish me luck!

The First South African Roman Catholic Saint

It is the news that Catholics in South Africa and the rest of the African continent have been waiting to hear.

On 22 January 2015, Pope Francis met in a private audience with Cardinal Angelo Amato SDB, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In that audience a decision was taken by the Holy Father authorizing that Servant of God Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa died a martyr’s death. This opened the way for Benedict Daswa to be beatified, the first step towards sainthood which would make him the first South African Roman Catholic saint.

Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa was a primary school headmaster and devout Catholic who shed his blood at the hands of a gang that meted out mob justice on him. He had been cornered into a pub where he had sought refuge. He was beaten to death.

At the time, the elders of the village had wanted to hire a witchfinder but Daswa objected to their wishes. His opposition to some traditional practices earned him many enemies. Today, he is revered greatly in his South African home village of Nweli and stories about his great acts of courage and kindness resound everywhere in South Africa.
 
The celebration of the beatification of the Venerable Servant of God Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa will take place on Sunday 13 September 2015 at the Thohoyandou Stadium in the Diocese of Tzaneen, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The representative of Pope Francis at the celebration will be His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Amato SDB.

Chappie

Chappie is a science fiction film written and directed by Joburg native Neil Blomkamp. (Neil also wrote and directed District 9 and Elysium.) The movie stars Sharlto Copley, Sigourney Weaver, Hugh Jackman and Dev Patel.

Neil's work - much of it filmed in Johannesburg - is a kind of social commentary using science fiction as its vehicle for expression. District 9 (2009) was a singular anti-Apartheid metaphor, and Elysium (2013) is a more general metaphor about immigration and how the First World and Third World meet.  

Chappie is set in the near future where crime is patrolled by a mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.

According to Blomkamp, Chappie is more comedic satire than his other work. I have not seen it yet but my Computer Animator son in California has. Alex was surprised when I told him the inside joke surrounding the name "Chappie." (I never surprise him with my fun facts, so it was pretty cool to be able to it this time!)

Chappies is a brand of bubblegum introduced in South-Africa in the late 1940s. Chappies was created by Arthur Ginsburg while working for Chapelat, a Johannesburg-based confectionery manufacturer, as a competitor for the well established Wicks bubblegum.

The innovations of Arthur Ginsburg launched the Chappies brand into a position where the name Chappies became synonymous with the word bubblegum. (Like Kleenex and "tissues" in the USA or  Google and "search" the world over.)

The first innovation was the business model. While the Wicks branded gum was sold for 1c per piece, the smaller Chappies gum was sold at 1c for two pieces. This led to Chappies gaining value as currency as shopkeepers would give change in the form of gum. I remember my Past Experiences guide Jo Buitendach telling me the same thing. She grew up on Chappies and hands them out to the little kids she encounters while touring the CBD with her clients.

The second innovation was the inclusion of "Did you know" trivia on the inside of the wrappers. (Sounds like our Bazooka bubblegum growing up in the USA.)

Chappies was sold to Cadbury's many years ago, but they still maintain a nostalgic place amongst Joburgers - clearly including Neil Blomkamp.

Poetry and Jazz

Jazz and Poetry at The Orbit.

The Orbit began as a small Jazz Social Club in Troyeville, Johannesburg, in the early 2000’s. Peg’s Cosy Corner, as the venue was called, presented an intimate environment where musicians and jazz aficionados could hang around to listen to occasional live music and recordings till late at night around a drink.

Twelve years later, the venue was reborn in trendy Braamfontein as The Orbit Live Music & Bistro. We went to The Orbit for one of their Out There Poetry and Jazz Sessions. 

Poetry and Jazz. 

Poetry ...
Vangi Gantsho is a socially conscious poet and the founder of NO CAMP CHAIRS Poetry Picnics, held at the Union Buildings on the second Sunday of every month. She has performed at poetry events and festivals all over Africa.

Her work has been published in various literary publications, including The Agenda (2004), Sabel (UK, 2010), Wits Press (2011), Botsotso (2015) and she recently published her first collection: Undressing in front of the window. Vangi’s poetry is a reflection of her navigating this world… truthful and hard-hitting at times. Always BLACK WOMAN HUMAN! 

Jazz ...
The evening was accompanied by the Siphiwe Shiburi Trio. Yonela Mnana on piano. Siphiwe Shiburi  on drums. Amaeshi Ikechi on bass. They played on their own, accompanied Gloria Bosman and accompanied the poetry readings adding another layer of rhythm and movement to their performance.

Jazz and Poetry.

Jazz ...

Gloria Bosman also both sang on her own and accompanied the poetry readings. Gloria was born in Mofolo, but was raised in Pimville, Soweto. At no time did she consider that life would take her on a journey that would include stage and performing on as a professional performer.

From these early beginnings Gloria has amassed an impressive biography having performed and sung with the cream of South African musicians. Her stage career includes performances on various acts such as: SA Love, a musical of South African love songs produced by Christo Leach, Jubilation a gospel based musical directed by Ivor Jones, Woman in Spirit, The Lion and the Lamb, the award winning play by actor director John Kani. 

Poetry ...

Keorapetse William Kgositsile, also known as "Bra Willie" is South Africa’s poet Laureate since 2006. An influential member of the South African liberation struggle movement since the 1960’s, Kgositsile lived in exile across the African continent and in the United States of America for over 30 years. He made an extensive study of African-American literature and culture, becoming particularly interested in jazz music. During the 1970s he was a central figure among African-American poets, encouraging interest in Africa as well as the practice of poetry as a performance art.

Poetry and Jazz. Jazz and Poetry. A natural collaboration.

My Motiz Quilt

Now that winter's coming, I will be able to really make use of the beautiful quilt Vince bought me for Christmas. He knows how much I love quilts and have been missing being surrounded by them here in South Africa. Dear sweet boy!

But we do not need it for warmth outside of June, July and August, that's for sure. It could come in quite handy though when we're load-shedding this winter - like a quilted silver lining.

I did bring my extra special tee shirt memory quilt with me to South Africa, but out of all the other quilts in my collection in storage back in the US, I have especially been missing our NJ bedroom's all-white wedding ring and pastel and white Victorian fan quilts. Vince bought them both for me for different wedding anniversaries from a quilter near our ski condo in Smugglers' Notch, Vermont. More good memories.






They went everywhere from our first California king size water bed to our later "more mature" queen size ultra-mattress and they graced our bedrooms for more that 30 years!













He purchased my new African quilt from the quilter and batik fabric designer herself at the Sunday Rosebank Finders Keepers Market. Her company is called Motiz Ethnic Wear and Fabric. The quilt does not have a batting layer and it's huge - 245 cm by 230 cm!  It is made up of squares of shweshwe and African batik fabrics with pictures of safari animals and baobabs and rondavels and African crafts. So colorful and beautiful!

Lou & Serge approve!

One thing's for sure. Looks like we are going to have to build an African guest suite in our home wherever we ultimately settle back in the USA to showcase all of our new African treasures.

Ready for Winter Shedding

Webers and skootle? check. Candles? check. Solar lights? check.

And by that I do not mean Lou & Serge and their fluffy coats. I mean Eskom load-shedding. We've gone through a summer of it and judging by the many more Facebook complaint posts from my comrades in the neighbouring suburbs, Morningside has had it fairly easy considering. (Knock on wood. Pooh! Pooh! Pooh!)

living room space heater? check.

But by the looks of it, Eskom and the South African authorities have still not managed to get their collective heads out of their rather large arses, so I can only assume this is going to be one long cold winter. Not like the arctic vortex that besieged the northeastern United States this past winter, thank goodness. How many inches of snow, Boston? Eish. But cold enough to be pretty uncomfortable inside Valley Lodge.








 

master BR space heater? check.

And as I have noted before that we have an all-electric kitchen, our apartment similarly is also all-electric heat. Very load-shed unfriendly.

So along with the Weber braais and skootles, armies of candles and solar lights, fake fur throws and shawls, inverters, camp stoves and solar batteries at our beck and call, we've brought out our gas heaters from summer storage in the garage.

Let's just hope we don't run out of gas and propane! Knock on wood. Pooh! Pooh! Pooh!

Best in Show

Today we took Lou & Serge to see the dachshunds of the South African Teckel Club compete in a dog show.
















The show was hosted by the Goldfields Kennel Club on its sprawling showgrounds and clubhouse located in Bedfordview. Goldfields has been in existence since 1895 and has been affiliated to the Kennel Union of Southern Africa since 1909.  The club is the home of many of the top shows in the country including the annual Dog of the Year show in August.

Serge and his breeder / handler Alexandra von Weber

Serge is no stranger to dog shows.



















Vince showed him a few times back in the USA and he was awarded an Excellent by the Deutscher Teckelklub of Germany when the German judges came to Pennsylvania in 2010.

getting ready to enter the ring

But we have not registered the dogs with the International Kennel Club here in South Africa so for the time being we can only watch.

dogs will be dogs ... especially wire-haired clowns

afghans wear protective ear snoods before the show to keep them clean

The show today was not just for teckels and dachshunds; it was an all hounds show. There were separate competition rings for each breed of hound competing, including borzoi, afghans, Irish wolfhounds, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and pharoah hounds.

There was even a competition in which any breed of dog - even non-hounds - could enter. It was an obedience competition. Each dog pulled a cart through an obstacle course and was judged completely on how well they followed the silent lead of their owner. They were amazing!

Of course the dachshunds were still the cutest pulling the cart with their little legs.

Lou attracted quite a lot of attention with the South African Teckel Club. We have noticed when we travel outside of the USA that wire-haired dachshunds are much more popular than long-haired or smooth dachshunds. In South Africa, we were told, they are the dachshund breed of choice.

We were encouraged by all the dachshund breeders and handlers at the show to register Lou with the International Kennel Club and enter him in some shows.

And apparently American wire-haired dachshunds in particular are very desirable for breeding. They were all very excited to know that Lou is completely "entire" for breeding. You could just see his little ego inflating as they spoke. There will be no living with him now! We were given several names to contact should we wish to pursue a love life for Lou.

One of the breeders even showed us the proper way to groom Lou ourselves so that he will have the desired seal-like coat of the wire-haired show dachshund. I kind of like him scruffy but Vince is psyched to give it a try.


Of course we came for the teckel show but once we got there, we found a big surprise with the Irish wolfhound competition. They pipe their competitors into the ring to begin the show! If there is one thing I love, it is the bagpipe.

Once they are all in the arena, they pose for a group photo.

Sit!

Irish wolfhounds are cool and I'm into the bagpipe deal, but some of the handlers go a little overboard with the whole Irish thing!

Even though Lou & Serge were not competing, I still think they deserve Best in Show for being the cutest dogs there!
















Lou claimed his prize - a zebra squeaker ball chew toy! But with Lou's superior desirability and virility reaffirmed by the South African Teckel Club, I fear Mr. Zebra doesn't stand a chance.

grrrr