City Views: Sounding out the city of Cape Town by Cape Town Partnership

April 2013

CityViews

town

Photo: Lisa Burnell

Bringing the blessing Michael Weeder was born in District Six, forcibly removed from District One, and raised in Elsie’s River. Today he lives in the Central City. He’s also the dean of St George’s Cathedral at a time when its crypt is being transformed into a jazz venue. We spent some time listening to the extraordinary soundtrack of his life. By: Ambre Nicolson CV You were born in District One, on the Foreshore, and today you are dean of St George’s Cathedral. While these two areas are geographically close, the distance between them is great in other ways. Could you tell us a little of your journey in between?

I was born at the Cape Peninsula Maternity Home in District Six. We were living there with my paternal grandmother in a tenement flat on Amsterdam Street off Ebenezer in District One. We were moved out of there as part of a forced removal to make way for the new highway, the same one – both tragically and ironically – that was never completed. From there we moved to an Indian area in Elsie’s River, called Cravenby Estate, where we rented backyard accommodation from a Mr Singh. Elsie’s River was a culturally diverse place at that time, there were Muslim and Hindu people there, as well as Malawians and people from Namaqualand. I learnt to negotiate my way through these cross-cultural paths: coming so young from Cape Town, I was always on the border – partially in, mostly on the edge, but not completely so. So, I had many

homes, literally and otherwise, which welcomed me. While belonging to no one exclusively, I was embraced by all in different ways. I was blessed in that way, living in some ways in a borderland where I am both and neither at the same time. An experience shared by many, I know.

CV What is your relationship with music?

“The iPod has privatised music, whereas when I was growing up there was only one radio playing on the kitchen windowsill or in the lounge. You listened to what everybody in the house was listening to – be it pop, R&B or choirs. Enjoying music was a public, mutually influencing affair. I have fond memories of my mum singing Que Sera, Sera or What Will Be, Will Be.” Michael Weeder

Springbok Radio. You might laugh but it was on radio that I was first introduced to the likes of the Jackson Five, The Osmonds, The Beatles and Cliff Richard, and of course, Elvis! Now you see I am showing my age, but then, those were the sounds that gave us the soundtrack to our life. Or should I say our life from Monday to Saturday, because musically, Sundays were special. After church we always had to come straight home, to “bring the blessing” and then we would listen to the radio which mostly played mainstream Anglican music. But I do remember later in the evening there would be an hour or two of classical music and that always reminds me of ironing clothes in preparation of a new week and making

sandwiches for the next day. Then I also remember being introduced to Islamic music as a child when I visited my maternal granny in Garden Village, which is near Vincent Palotti Hospital. Now and then we would witness in one of the homes up the street the khalifah or ratiep – a legacy of Sufi mysticism, I think, from Indonesia. We witnessed and were drawn into these sounds of furious drumming, singing with its eastern cadence and longing. When I was older my relationship with music changed. I was introduced to the likes of Percy Sledge, The Manhattans and The Main Ingredient, and then later to jazz. It was that happy, streetwise saxophone of Robbie Jansen and Basil Coetzee on Dollar Brand’s Manenberg that got me doing the kapzella. My wife,

STORY of

One place is Loader Street in the Bo-Kaap. My great granny lived there. I had no connection to her since she passed away before I knew her, but it is from here that my paternal family came from, from the slave estates along Somerset Road. So I would often come here and walk up the road – the view of the city from there is very good. Another place is the Platteklip Gorge. To borrow a term from Celtic mythology, I think it is one of those “thin places”, where heaven and earth are close together. Lastly, I would say the V&A Waterfront, because while Platteklip is spiritual in

Wale ST

Please sir?

I still can't find a job and I have no more money

FINALLY, I've arrived in the city of opportunity

Let me tell you something. I was travelling towards Mitchells Plain, heading in the direction of the Goodwood Showground during the State of Emergency. As I drove over the bridge there ahead were the blue lights of a roadblock. Soldiers with their rifles lined the 500 metres or so between where I was in a line of cars. I was slowly marshalled towards the cops ahead who were selectively pulling cars off, searching the boot. Already

THIS IS MY

CV What spaces in the city inspire you?

CV In South Africa, as around the world, music and song has often been used as a means of subversion. Do you agree that music can be an effective means of protest?

Gi v e where i t makes

Oh, you poor guy

A difference When someone asks you for money, what do you do? Even though your intentions are good, giving handouts actually helps people stay on the street. It’s a vicious cycle.

DIGNITY BASED ON A TRUE STORY

TO BE CONTINUED ...

6 5

I’m not hiring you looking like that!

some students were at the back of a police van. I had sufficient UDF posters and pamphlets in my car to get their attention. A cassette of the late Robbie Jansen was playing in my car music system. He was singing, “Freedom, where have you been, I’ve been searching all over.” As I inched forward towards what seemed imminent arrest, I kept the tape playing but turning it softer all the while, till all I could hear Robbie whispering, “Freedom, where have you been hiding yourself ... ” Somehow the voice and sound attuned me to the spirits of our Khoisan ancestors, so that by the time the policeman’s flashlight lit up my face, I could calmly muster a “Good evening, Meneer” and the officer waved me through. By the time I was heading past Bonteheuwel, I turned up my system and Robbie was singing “hoya-tjie-bongo”.

THE CYCLE BEGINS:

2 2 WEEKS LATER

PART ONE:

Bonita, who was then my girlfriend, laughed because she thought I was being deliberately comic.

essence, the Waterfront has an earthier lure. I go there to watch a movie and imbibe the smell of coffee scented with perfumes.

DO YOU...

You again?

KEEP GIVING HANDOUTS? GO BACK TO FRAME 3 AND REPEAT THE CYCLE.

OR...

YES?

HELP BREAK THE CYCLE?

Give

? SMS ‘DIGNITY’

TO 38088

Check your phone for the link &

SEE HOW YOU CHANGE THE STORY