RSA-Overseas - The Expat Portal: Weekly Magazine

Washington DC - Recognition and status were not something Mkhuseli Jack ever imagined to gain from his experience as a freedom fighter.

Today a celebrated documentary produced and written by the award winning director Steve York, pays homage to Jack's non-violent contribution to the Struggle.

"A Force More Powerful -A Century of Non-Violent Conflict" focuses on the triumphs of strategic non-violent liberation movements in the countries of India, Denmark, Poland, South Africa, Chile and Nashville, Tennessee in the United States.

The documentary recently premiered in Washington, D.C. and was scheduled to be screened on the national Public Broadcast System this week.

In South Africa in the mid-eighties, strikes, boycotts and other grassroots efforts mobilised the masses to participate in non-violent protest. Jack, who became an activist after the apartheid laws prohibited him from enrolling for his high school education, was instrumental in the organisation of the white business boycott in Port Elizabeth in 1985-6.

Jack was detained without trial for a total of five and half years, tortured, banned, and haunted by the security police.

He had believed in organised, non-violent action that involved every individual, and eventually even the white community gained respect for this leader.

The boycott was a means to voice their demands and objections in a nonviolent way against a system that was unjust, committed to the cause of freedom for all. The foundations of apartheid started to crumble when the boycotts paralysed business economically.

His story as an extra-ordinary leader - "an extreme troublemaker and a true activist," as former Colonel Lourens du Plessis from the South African Defense Force describes him in the documentary - is portrayed in the film. Jack was flown to the U.S. from his home town, Port Elizabeth, to be honoured for his leadership and commitment to non-violent action during the South African struggle.

He addressed the audience at the premiere, saying that the other movements portrayed in the documentary, and especially the fate of the Jews, made his experience seem "light."

He highlighted the new challenges which face the post-apartheid South Africa, in particular pressing solutions needed for the HIV/AIDS situation. Jack admits that he now feels fear when he looks back on the part of his life that was spent in the Struggle. At the time, the cause left no room for fear.

"We knew you could die at any moment but I was not scared to die. That goes with everybody at the time, of our age. The enemy was hitting us al the time, but I was never, we were never scared."

After the premiere, Jack said that it seems unreal to think that apartheid and the Struggle is now part of the archives of history. He never thought he would live long enough to see freedom in his lifetime.

"The best case scenario was life imprisonment, the worst case was death" Jack said.

He views his participation in the Struggle as a survival technique, a necessity in order to end the humiliation and degradation of apartheid.

"I had passion for the Struggle" Jack said. "It was a point of no return." Jack said "A Force More Powerful" is very relevant in modern society, because its ultimate goal is the reduction of violence in the world.

"It is exposing the fact that leaders are failing in solving problems that are confronting them," Jack said, although reckons it is "regrettable" that the film only touches upon certain aspects of the South African struggle.

"There were those who embarked in the armed struggle, and those who didn't" Jack said, "The fact is, the price of fighting for freedom was very high." After the Struggle, Jack was faced with the choice of establishing a career for himself. He decided not to go into politics, and instead he went to Sussex University in England in order to prepare for a career as a business man..

He currently runs his own building and construction firm in Port Elizabeth, the city which will always be his heart's home. At the moment his company is involved in the development of two hotels, The Courtyard and the Road Yard, as well as the construction of the R11 million offices of the South African Breweries.

Jack was also appointed recently as a board member for Spier Wine Estates. He is optimistic about the future of South Africa, particularly because everybody now has the "freedom to say, or do, or associate with whom they want to."

He is particularly excited about young Afrikaners who regard themselves as South Africans, because South Africa is their "last place."

"Afrikaners have no other home, they do not have dual passports" Jack said.

He also says the Afrikaner political leaders have played a very constructive part in the transition of the country.

Although his own life has changed dramatically from staying in utmost poverty in a shack, to the freedom and opportunities which the new South Africa have given him, Jack is thoroughly aware of the legacy of apartheid.

Jack reckons a pressing issue which South Africa faces at the moment, is to bridge the gap between the elite and the masses, because the gap has widened in the last six years.

"We have to embark on a conscious effort to close the gap, it is our responsibility," he emphasised.

Within the service sector, our labour force are unskilled and unequipped, which effectively means South Africa cannot maximise high technology, Jack explained.

He suggests community involvement on a grass roots level, including the establishment of community halls, playing fields and educational programmes. He sees his function as a business man, as his personal contribution to the new South Africa, because he creates work opportunities and labour intensive projects.

Despite his hectic business schedule, Jack is a devoted family man, who says his family is guaranteed his undivided quality time with him over the weekends.

At the moment, Mkhuseli Jack is a happy man. He has seen the freedom which he could never dream of. He was fighting for it - not for himself, but for humanity.

Now life has exceeded Jack's expectations, and he wants to contribute more to his beloved South Africa.

"I am happy with what I'm doing for humanity, but I should do more." Jack said.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Kytie Koekblik Column
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C. - Dit was op M-TV Maandag-aand, 'n program oor Suid-Afrika. Die Berg was natuurlik in die program, so ook die mooiste, mooiste Kaap, die palms van Kampsbaai, die berge, die rotse. Nooit gedink ek sal selfs loodregte rotse mis nie.

Ons Goddelike mooie land. Ek noem dit Berg-blues.

Dit het my volstoom na die naweek platgetrek, en ek wou net huis toe, huis toe. Bloubergstrand toe, na my honde, my ma'le en my mooiste Kaap toe. Ek was laas naweek in New York City om my favourite Suid-Afrikaanse band te gaan opsoek, die Springbok Nude Girls.

Die Springbok Nude Girls het hulle nuwe cd gaan mix in New York, en toe ek Vrydag-nag daar opdaag, kon ek in die hartjie van Manhatten gaan sit en luister na musiek uit die Home.

'n Grootste ervaring. Eerstens is daar iets ongeloofliks om na nuwe musiek uit Suid-Afrika in 'n wereldstad te luister. Te hoor hoe ons grooves 'n SA flavour het, hoe ons mense Suid-Afrikaners is.

Tweedens het dit gevoel asof ek vir die eerste keer in maande met regte mense kon praat, so tuis het ek gevoel in ons gesprekke, dis daardie klein goetertjies, soos verwysings na Oppikoppi-musiek fees en Pippie Langkous. Sommer 'n hele klompie liggies het aangegaan in my kop. Ewe skielik het ek besef hoe ontuis ek voel in hierdie Macdonalds-plek.

Nie soseer oor Amerika self nie, maar oor jou verwysingsveld wat soveel verskil van die mense wat jy ontmoet. Met tye voel dit amper onmoontlik om te dink my vriendskappe gaan ooit weer daardie dimensies en diepte gaan bereik wat jy met mense van jou eie kultuur en land kan aanknoop.

En ek was nooit een vir Afrikaner-laertrek nie, my vriendekring het bestaan uit Afrikaners, Zimbabweans, Suid-Afrikaanse Engelse en Portugese, mense met dieselfde belangstellings, met die land as ons groot bron van inspirasie en frustrasie.

Ek het ons mense gemis. My mense. Myself ook gemis in 'n mate.

Vervreemding. Mid binne-in New York City, op die metros van Washington. Daardie gevoel dat jy 'n deel van jouself hier vind in die vryheid van 'n nuwe kontinent, en ook die bekende jy verloor.

Ek het altyd kaalvoet geloop by die huis, soms sommer vinnig die kafee of die Spar ingedraf sonder skoene. Anders boer ek in sulke goedkoop Adidas plat tekkies of sandale - vir die swakke kniee.

Toe is dit nie volgens die DC dresscode geskik vir 'n trendy kafee/bar nie, en moins moet huis toe om te gaan hakskoene soek.

En die hakskoene knyp my verskriklik, dit was laatnag, die taxis jaag verby ons en my kniegie is seer en ek trek die goed summier uit. Ons was in die omgewing van die joolbuurt Adams Morgan aan die rondsoek na 'n taxi. "Put on your shoes" gil 'n jong Amerikaanse meisie met daardie kenmerkende nasale klankie in die stem vir my.

Verdwaas dog ek, nou vir wat.

Ek moet toe later hoor hoe streng hulle daaroor is, in hierdie stad. Selfs 'n vyfjarige word nie binne 'n winkel toegelaat sonder skoene nie - om redelike higienise redes.

Maar iets in my kom in opstand daarteeen, teen die sogenaamde vryheid in die land van "liberty."

Dit voel altyd asof die oog van die gereg oor jou skouer voel in Amerika, asof jy enige oomblik opgesluit kan word vir 'n benullige ou oortredinkie. Dit is lyk my die probleem, die polisiemanne hierrond het nie genoeg werk nie..

Maar aan die anderkant, ons het dalk te veel vryheid is ons land op die oomblik.

Kytie K.

Kytie Koekblik would like you to respond to her tongue-in-cheek running commentary on suburban life in America in this editorial. Fresh off the boat, she is ready to explore and experiment with American bath plugs and to drive on the other side of the road.

You can contact her here.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Lucky to have vision
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C. - "At the rate it goes in South Africa now, I don't think we will have a better life, it would be a worse life for all, " the king of African reggae, Lucky Dube, said in Washington this week.

Lucky is on a short U.S. tour and the concert in Washingtonwas a benefit for the Africa Alive! Aids Campaign.

A very relaxed, laid back Lucky spoke about prominent issues in his reggae and his powerful role as an entertainer.

At the moment, Lucky's music is specifically dealing with political issues of life in South Africa under the new government.

"A lot of things are happening now in South Africa that I don't feel great about." Lucky said. "The crime rate is putting everything completely out of control. That is the one thing that rules South Africa now, and to me it doesn't look like the government is doing enough to combat that."

Lucky said all the good work that had been done in South Africa, is now pulled back because of crime.

"Those people with money get robbed, we steal from those people, so some of the big firms are closing down. The people with the money are saying, what's the point of working hard and having money, because it will be taken away from you anyway," Lucky said.

He emphasised the fact that those with financial power who could be creating employment opportunities, are being discouraged by the climate and ethic in South Africa at present.

" At the rate things are, we will have no gap between the rich and the poor, because everyone will be poor," Lucky said.

He does not believe that this is what Mandela had envisioned.

"People are moving out of South Africa, taking their money with them and at the end of the day, we will all just be poor. I don't think this was in Mandela's mind, what he was jailed for. This is not the good and better life for all that he was talking about."

Lucky believes as an entertainer, he has a contribution to make in terms of education and awareness.

"Music talks to people that normally politicians don't even talk to. Music goes to places where politicians don't go. As musicians we play a very important role in educating people about politics and social issues." Lucky explained.

During the interview, Lucky was wearing his Peter Tosh T-shirt, as he feels a connection to the icon of reggae music and rastafarianism. Lucky says Rastafarianism brought a dimension of awareness into his life. "It is consciousness," he said.

He said he applies Rastafarianism differently to others in Jamaica and the Carribean islands.

"I didn't take to Rastafarianism as a religion, I took it as a way of life" Lucky explained.

He added that this has brought a certain element of conflict into the "Jamiacan connection."

" The guys from Jamaica do not have their own roots religion. As a person that comes from South Africea we have our own religion."

The Jamaicans look at Haille Selassie as God's representative on earth, or they see him as God, Lucky explained, whereas South Africans would not call Haille Selassie God, "because we know God."

He said to his understanding, the Jamaican rastas wanted to have something to believe in that was in some way connected to Africa.

"Rastafariaism had to be connected to Africa, because they always relate to Africa. That is where the roots are, in Africa, so they needed that connection."

But Lucky does object to the general notion that all blacks are Africans, despite the fact that their roots are in Africa.

"That is were they come from but some of the people won't be able to adjust to life in Africa. It is very different to what they have in America, and what we have in Africa. Life there is very, very different."

Lucky laughed, and said it was okay to see the animals in the Kruger National Park, or to walk in in the bush, but emphasized the fact that it differs significantly from daily life in Africa.

"When the politicians say to the blacks, go back Home, they don't tell people things about Home," Lucky said.

He also reassured African born whites about their right to claim that they are African.

"People say they must go back to Europe, but where must they go?" he asked.

A mixed audience attended the Aids benefit concert in Washington, and Lucky's brand of gentlemen's reggae was delivered with his characteristic chutzpah. He produces an accessible, easy listening reggae, different to the raw Caribbean version.

He says although his music deals with political, social issues, and even personal issues, the songs are really about people.

"They're not just songs from the sky and the river, the songs talk about peoples lives, the day in day out kind of thing," he said.

With a saxophonist, percussionist, and backing vocalists , Lucky's version of reggae has acquired an interesting, complex musicality that made the authentic Caribbean reggae by Culture seem monotonous during the Washington concert.

On top of this, Lucky's whole personality fires-up when he is on stage, he is a born performer who comes alive on stage.

"I feel very good," Lucky said about his career at this point. "There is a few things that one could have maybe started on earlier in a career, but generally everything is okay."

He had dreamt about success ever since he started out, and contrary to his name, he was not just Lucky.

"That is what kept me going, even from the time I started, I could see where I was going. I'm happy that what I saw then, is actually happening now," he said.

When it is happening for a musician, the question always remains, where do you go from here?

"Maybe the next thing would be grammys and stuff, life as a musician goes on, you get to a point where you just want to keep going really. That is without saying I want to tour, because I've toured, or I want to record, because I've recorded plenty stuff - just to see your music going as an artist, your music going on and on and on is a great feeling."

Reggae is also unique in its ability to address current issues, because it really is "Music with a message" as Lucky suggested.

At the moment, Lucky is pushing the issue of Aids prevention and awareness.

"All I know is that Aids is an incurable disease, they haven't yet found a cure for it. And in the meantime there are ways and means of trying to avoid it, like the use of condoms and the no-sex thing - though I've seen that the no-sex thing part of it doesn't work. So I think it would have to be the use of condoms that should be pushed now. The other option is the safest, but that, whoa.."Lucky laughed.

He also said Africa is the scapegoat for AIDS, despite the fact that it is a world wide disease. In Africa drugs are simply less available and affordable.

"Most of the people are pointing at Africa, that is where aids is, that's where it comes from, but people all over the world have aids, not just Africa - that is just the attitude. The issue of aids mostly is sexual thing, people get it through sex and stuff like that, but people have sex all over the world, not just Africa, " Lucky said.

At the moment, Lucky Dube is a happy - lucky man. "I'm just not married" he said, in case any lady felt lucky enough.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Die taal wat ons praat...
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C. - Skool- afrikaans en Verskriklike Frases wat hulle in die weermag opgetel het, het 'n duidelik blywende invloed gehad, veral op die expat Suid-Afrikaners van die VSA.

'n E-pos woordeboek van tipies Suid-Afrikaanse terme is onlangs saamgestel en deur 'n groep expat Suid-Afrikaners in die VSA, na mekaar aangestuur. Hulle mis die boerewors, die braaivleis en Die Taal, al is dit ook in hulle ingedril.

Die interressante ding is natuurlik, dat die Suid-Afrikaners nou eers kleurvol praat vandat hulle uit Suid-Afrika uit weg is.

"Ag" en "Nogal" en "baie dankie" en ander tipies Suid-Afrikaanse frases, word links en regs deur almal in hulle sinne saamgegooi. Sekerlik klink die 'homesick' Suid-Afrikaners meer Suid-Afrikaans as ooit tevore.

Die woordelys van Suid-Afrikaanse slang, bestaan interressante genoeg meestal uit Afrikaanse woorde.

Die verduidelikings en spelling van sommige van die woorde, vat die koek. Die woord "bergie" is alombekend, veral in die noordelike voorstede word daar na bosslapers en rondlopers verwys as bergies.

In die expat- woordeboek is dit 'n "boemelaar wat in die strate van Kaapstad uithang." Die term het glo van die Berg af ontstaan.

Natuurlik het babbelas, biltong, braai, boerewors en die goeie ou bakkie (pick-up truck) ook 'n verskyning in die woordeboek gemaak.

Die woord "bra" is baie gewild onder sub-kulture, soos die surfer-kultuur en ook in die algemene slang. Engelse sprekers gebruik baie die woord "boet" of "broe" in hulle sinne.

Volgens die expat woordeboek, is "brah" 'n " buddy, associate, peer colleague, friend etc,..Most often used amongst the "rookers" (pot-smokers)" Rokers word natuurlik eintlik met een klinker geskryf... "Hap" is 'n gewilde Afrikaanse woord onder die Engelse sprekers, veral in sinne soos "Do you want a hap of my biscuit?"

Die woord "dwaal" is ook 'n gewilde een onder Engels en Afrikaans sprekers, in Suid-Afrika en dan natuurlik ook buite Suid-Afrika.

'Jy loop rond in 'n dwaal" word in die expat slang woordeboek verduidelik as "the blank state a person gets into sometimes, walking around like a zombie.

Dof, dinges ("thingamabob of a whatchamacallit")dagga en "doff", geskryf met 'n dubbel "f", word ook gebruik in die nou Amerikaans-Suid-Afrikaanse weergawe van Engels.

Ons Afrikaners is so lief om te verwys na 'n "jol", om te s� ons het pret, 'n goeie tyd, of 'n partytjie. In skool "slang" is 'n jol 'n vry. Jol word in die woordeboek aangedui as 'n "jawl" of a "jorl." Ook die woord vry word baie deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Amerikaners gebruik, en beteken glo dieselfde as "graunch", of "kiss, to pet, to court." Ha-ha. Natuurlik is die ou gunsteling "lekker" in die woordeboek, asook "eina" en "gesuip."

Interresant genoeg, is die slangwoord "kief" in die woordeboek, in stede van "kiff", wat deur die Engelse in Suid-Afrika gebruik word. Die ander slang woord "sif" om na iets wat "suck" te verwys, is ook bekend aan Suid-Afrikaners in die VSA.

Die expat Suid-Afrikaners gebruik ook te lekker aan woorde soos "klap", "nooit", "skrik" en "vasbyt."

Die meer kontroversi�le is natuurlik ook ingesluit, omdat hulle so "kleurvol" is, volgens die samestellers. Almal weet daar is min woorde wat so lekker vloek soos daardie amper horribale Afrikaanses: die moere en die honde-dinges ensovoorts.

Daar is die meer aanvaarbares, soos bliksem - snaaks genoeg is donder nie in die woordeboek nie - en dan is daar natuurlik die gunstelinge vloekwoorde met meer impak.

Ons hoor mos altyd dat ons 'n ekspressiewe taal het. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Engelse en die ander expat Afrikaners, dra ook hulle deeltjies by om Afrikaans te verewig. Bedreigde Taal se voet.

Lees die woordeboek hier.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Nog 'n Kytie Koekblik!
Ilda Jacobs

Washington DC - Dit is een ding om skielik in 'n nuwe land aan te kom, Dit is 'n helemaal ander ding om met jou eerste, rerige job te begin na jy klaar geswot het en jy nog sterre in jou oe het.

Niks laat die sterre so gou verflou soos roetine nie: Opstaan om sewe-uur, loop na die Metro, ry op die trein, loop na die werk, stop by die Blimpie vir 'n cappuccino.

Werk, werk.

Gelukkig is ek 'n joernalis, en daar is eintlik 'n tekort aan roetine in my lewe.

In my geval 'n baie nat agter die ore joernalis, boonop uit 'n kleindorpie wat haarself nou in 'n grote w�reldstad bevind. Die avonture het soms movie-dimensies in my kop.

Laasweek het ek heel toevallig saam met 'n voormalige vryheidsvegter aandete ge�et in die vername Mayflower hotel. Ek het probeer lyk asof ek sulke plekke gewoond is, maar die dorpsnooi se mond wou net oophang. Die hotel se ingangsportaal is so groot soos drie straatblokke, goue kandelare, ligte, spie�ls, sagte matte. Om nie eers van my 120 dollar ete te praat nie, shrimps slaai, gebraaide shrimp, crab cakes, heeeerlike poeding.

In die vertrek langs ons, was ene Clinton en Jesse Jackson in 'n funksie. Ek is gebodysearch vir die okkasie toe ek toilet gaan.

Binne een week ontmoet ek twee top Suid-Afrikaanse musikante, Hugh Masekela en Lucky Dube. Dinge waarvan ek voorheen net kon droom.

Dit is geweldig opwindend, maar dit is ook angswekkend. Veral reg aan die begin, toe het ek vreeslik benoud gevoel toe ek begin nadink oor versekering en werksdruk en die idee van 'n Baas.

Maar hierdie Baas van my het 'n eg-Suid-Afrikaanse hart, so dit maak dinge makliker.

Laasweek het hy 'n oor 'n duisend dollar se biltong bestel vir arme Suid-Afrikaners wat heel duidelik te lanklaas die ware jakob tussen die tande gehad het.

En die baas van my het 'n sin vir humor, so ons lag baie in die kantoor.

Hy verpes "unsolicited phone calls", wat natuurlik onwettig is in hierdie land.

Vanoggend bel daar 'n hoopvolle verkoopsman. My baas het aan my streng instruksies gegee om geen informasie weg te gee nie, want anders word ons name verkoop aan ander potensi�le kliente.

Nee, s� hy oor die telefoon, ons besit geen computers nie. Dit ten spyte van die feit dat al ons computers vir hom loer. Die man moes vir hom uitgevra het oor ons besigheid, want ek hoor my baas met 'n groot glimlag s�: Nee, daardie besigheid van my is "defunct".

Nog druk die telefoon-mannetjie kliphard deur, en vra of my baas dan ons besigheid verkoop het.

Nee, s� my baas geduldig, ek het dit nie verkoop nie, dit het gedissolve, maar s� jy nou eers vir my of hierdie 'n "unsolicited phone call" is, want ons aanvaar nie "unsolicited phone calls" nie.

Dit is hoe 'n mens ontslae raak van hulle, verduidelik hy na die tyd. "Nou is my naam nie eers 'n dollar werd op hulle lyste nie."

So stadig maar seker leer ek die trieks van die trade. Ek is, op instruksie, baie liberaal met besigheidskaarte. Dalk te liberaal selfs. 'n Ou man het my eenslag lastig geval na 'n onderhoud, en skryf toe aan my dat hy my uitverkies het..

Die Baas het baie gou 'n kort en kragtige e-mail uitgestuur om aan die man te s� dat ek geen persoonlike e-mail ontvang nie. Laaste sien van die blikkantien.

Dus ontvang ek ook my opvoeding hier in die nuwe werk, op die nuwe kontinent.

Ek leer om nie se�ls nat te lek nie, maar die stickertjie af te trek; ek leer om als met my kaart te koop; tjeks uit te skryf, 15% tips te gee in restaurante en om so kortaf moontlik te wees met unsolicited callers -anders word jou naam verkoop aan 'n bemarkingsbesigheid, anders trigger jy 'n onstopbare sisteem van foon-oproepe omdat jy "telemarketing responsive" is.

Ek leer om meer konserwatief aan te trek, maar nie te underdress nie, want as joernalis moet ek nie die aandag op myself trek nie. My Baas het my juis vertel van die "travel dress", 'n onkreukelbare swart nommertjie wat jy oral heen kan dra.

Die lewe hier, is lekker en gemaklik. Soms is dit moeilik om te glo hoe maklik. Iets so eenvoudig soos 'n Ride-On Bus, het ons nie in Suid-Afrika nie. Daar is nie busse wat deur residenti�le areas loop nie, en die enigste Golden Arrow derde w�reld busse, is betrokke in oorlog met die taxis. En ja, dit klink ongelooflik - maar daar is al busdrywers dood.

Hier staan ek soggens op en vang die "free Bethesda Shuttle" werk toe. 'n Bus ry sonder om te betaal - te goed om waar te wees.

Daardie movie-realiteit, elke kort-kort moet ek myself knyp om te dink, dit is my nuwe suburbia leefstyl. Elke oggend as ek een word met die Amerikaners wat in sneakers met hulle hakskoene in 'n sak oor die arm werk toe stap, elke oggend as ek die koffie met die kappie'tjie op koop en aanstap werk toe saam met talle ander met koppies koffie, dan tref dit my.

Kytie Koekblik is in die V.S.A.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Homegrown grooves gets elite off thier feet.

In truly South African fashion, the crowd was screaming "Amandla, Ngawethu." A few attempts at ululating was heard, fists and limbs were being waved at the two genius musicians.

It could not have been Home.

This was the establishment of Washington D.C., dressed to impress from head to toe in suits and elegant African attire.

During the last three songs of Hugh Masekela and Sibongile Khumalo in concert, the elite was jiving to the homegrown grooves, singing along to "Bring back Nelson Mandela."

Hugh Masekela and Sibongile Khumalo performed in Washington on Monday in the final concert of the Kennedy Center African Odyssey Tour 2000.

This final South African musical celebration was the culmination of the past four seasons, starting in 1997, during which the Kennedy Center presented the best of African arts and culture.

The Kennedy Center, located in Washington, is America's living memorial to President Kennedy, as well as the nation's busiest performing arts facility.

The African Odyssey Tour has taken Masekela and Khumalo on to the American road and all across the States over the past few months.

Prior to the final performance, Masekela attended a formal dinner during which members of the audience were allowed to ask questions about his life and music. Other than being an ingenious musician, Masekela also is an enticing speaker.

"I was so young and so focused on to music, nothing was going to stand in my way" Masekela said about his success internationally.

"I will share one of my secrets with you," he told the audience, "Talent is not enough. You have to learn the ways of your business or profession, and you need a certain kind of aggression, accompanied by clear vision."

Masekela charmed the audience with his witty cracks and dynamic personality. "Passion without direction can get you into great trouble" Masekela said amongst bouts of laughter. "Even with direction it can get you into trouble sometimes."

The political dimension to his life, was frequently brought up during the question and answer session.

Masekela gave his perspective on South Africa today by relocating it within its history.

"We can forgive, but not forget" he said from the stage. "We must never forget where we come from."

He said we must remember that South Africa is the only country in Africa that has had two European wars, while the blacks were servants in both.

"The English also drove the Dutch out", Masekela said. "We have inherited 350 years of so much destruction."

He recalled incidents of destruction during the years of apartheid before he left the country in 1960.

"The destruction that took place, will never be known" Masekela said. "But everyday when you come into South Africa you see the architecture of apartheid in the different levels of life."

He said that during the apartheid regime, every black person was basically a criminal in the eyes of the law.

"It wasn't as cruel as crazy," Masekela said with his characteristic humour."It was complete insanity."

He pointed out the irony of the present today. "One cannot find one person who was on the side of apartheid, as if all in South Africa had been scizophrenic for all those years."

Masekela told the audience story of his life, going back to his days in a small coal mining town of Witbank. He said his grandmother was the first generation to "succumb to colonial conquerors."

There was nothing else but music that mattered in young Masekela's life, he said. The family had a gramophone, and he was obsessed with records.

When the nuns, monks and parents were complaining about him, he told the anti-apartheid activist Father Trevor Huddleston, who had a formative influence on him, to "Give me a trumpet, and I won't bother anybody."

"If every Christian was like Father Huddleston, I'd be a missionary" Masekela joked. Huddleston was eventually banned from South Africa. Masekela said at the time he was significantly influenced by the urban African American music and culture.

"African American lifestyle had a massive effect on the urban township life in South African" Masekela said.

Through much difficulty, Masekela obtained a passport and left for London in 1960, before he was recruited to New York City.

When he was faced with the choice of returning to South Africa, he said he realized that being an international musician would provide him more of a platform to speak from about his country's hardships.

Masekela said he would love to see an infrastructure in Africa which would cater for its musicians and artists.

"For us to travel and live abroad should be the exception, not the rule," he emphasized.

He would like to see an entertainment and recreational infrastructure to remind Africans of their African heritage and culture.

The President of the Kennedy Center, Lawrence J. Wilker, reckons African Odyssey achieved the same goal.

"African Odyssey 2000 has provided a way for the center to highlight a core element of American culture and to reach many segments of the community, " he said.

The final performance of African Odyssey will go down in South African musical history as one of the most successful collaborations between two phenomenal performers.

Both Khumalo and Masekela are not only skilled, brilliant musicians, but they both posses that rare, natural ability to captivate an audience with their personalities.

On stage they become the music, as their every muscle twitches and moves to the intricate rhytms of their brand of afro-jazz. Focus seems to guide them on their journey through their music, which conjures up images of South African skies, landscapes and the heart of our expressive, vibrant African culture.

What you witness when Masekela and his band takes the stage, is not your accompanying restaurant background jazz band, even their smooth ease-into-me songs demand your focus and undevoted attention.

This is serious showbusiness, from the brilliant executionof the perfectly rehearsed band, to the expressive spontaneity that is so integral to the heart of their music. A sense of true enjoyment and accomplishment is also generated by these musicians on stage.

Throughout the show, Masekela is the centre of the music, he conducts the way forward, the climate changes, he is the heart and soul of the show.

When he takes on his trumpet, the extension and longing and joys of his soul comes to life in his phrases. Extra-ordinary, is about all there is to say.

Khumalo joined the band half way through the set. Her voice capabilities seem to border on the humanly impossible. She could echo phrases of Masekela's trumpet, and she astounded the Washington audience with her flexibility and range. She became the floating and teasing trumpet, she seduced with the deep dimensions of her lower register, she contorted he voice into sounds and pitches that left everyone over-awed.

What Khumalo and Masekela brought to Washington, was a celebration of South African culture - and the grooves even got the stiff establishment of their feet.

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Features & Briefs

JAMES SMALL UP TO MISCHIEF
Former Springbok rugby players Christian Stewart and James Small have been at it again - this time a heated argument at a black-tie function at the Fancourt golf resort near George. Small and Stewart have clashed before - over a woman at the Stormers' pre-season training camp in 1998.

It is not known what the argument was about this time but Stewart told Sunday Argus the episode had been "overplayed and completely overdone".

Witnesses say the pair had to be separated by South African ace golfer Ernie Els. Stewart said: "This is ridiculous. James and I had a couple of words about a private issue between the two of us but that was all.
"It was a party and everyone had had a couple of drinks by that stage.
"Unfortunately when James Small is involved in something everyone makes a big thing of it."

Small reportedly owns property at Fancourt which automatically gives him membership of the exclusive estate. He could not be reached for comment.

Thanks to www.eep.co.za

ABORTIONS IN SA
SA State hospitals are performing abortions at a rate of at least 107 a day, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang recently revealed.

At least 30 094 terminations were performed in 1999, the vast majority of them in Gauteng and KZN, the two most populous provinces.

Abortions were banned during the apartheid years.

CIRCUMCISION IN THE N. PROVINCES
Last year about 9 000 boys went to circumcision schools in the Northern Province. Scores of teenagers fell ill and two died.

To minimize sickness and death at the schools, and particularly the spread of HIV and Aids, the department was distributing razors to the traditional healers so that they did not use the same razor twice when circumcising initiates.

There are about 30 initiation schools in Northern Province that accept about 45 boys at a time at a cost of R200 per initiate.

The initiation process takes almost a month.

BLACK GIRL PAINTED WHITE
A 14-year old black girl was painted white at a Pep Stores in Louis Trichardt when she was suspected of shop-lifting. Offering to pay any medical and psychiatric costs, the company publicly apologized to the nation and fired staffers, Albert Mbezi & Thelma Strydom, for their role in the painting.

NEWS BRIEFS
* The white population is on the decline, partly due to emigration but mostly due to declining fertility rates which have now reached "below-replacement" levels of 1,9 children per woman. Among blacks it fell from 6,8 in the mid-1950s to 3,1 children per woman.

* Blood tests done under Operation Blue Crane found that nearly 1 in 6 SANDF soldiers are HIV positive. This means that nearly 12,000 of SA's 70,000 strong fighting men are infected.

* Transparency International's index on perceptions of corruption in public life ranks SA 34th out of 90 countries surveyed. The organization has an office in SA.