64
the spirit of water • magda minguzzi
the years but we can assure at least our people that we are Khoi».
of that day….It didn’t look to us with a genuine spirit. There was a
«You see, and that is what happened here when we left Cape Reci-
feeling of disrespect and that weather during that night taught me
fe and came home. And we could with joy in our heart talk about
that no, you need each other… forget about who is more senior.
the Khoi and the San and that was very, very important for me. We
We have to work hand and glove to make a success of life».
don’t have to be shy anymore and say who we are and what we are».
«The next morning the weather condition was opposite. Where
«Especially in places like Graaf-Reinet: all those small places.
we could stand, talk, listen and the programme could continue.
They say they are Khoi but never did the rituals so that is why it was
Eye opening …You must have respect for Mother Nature, respect,
so important to go there so that the people can also own their being
appreciate and look after Nature».
as Khoi and the people couldn’t stop talking about the Khoi and
«There was a holy fire and you know that fire has a very magnifi-
the San. Even the here in Port Elizabeth».
cent cultural value. For example, fire brings us to those parts in our
«You know we were so colonised, not the whole Khoi, but a lot of
lives where things went wrong. You must not remain on the wrong
them, tried to practice the customs, our Khoi customs and cul-
path but have to move forward. You have to burn it. And that fire
ture but even the Griekwa tribe was so colonised they actually for-
is telling me that the world needs each other. No one can be an is-
got about their past and practiced a westernised culture. They left
land by yourself».
their own culture behind and tried to do things the westernised
«During the site visit there was also a cloud in form of Africa. Now
way. But after the Way of the Water when I got home, I did some
I’m asking myself, how is it possible that the sky took the form of Af-
more research and called my leaders. And I said to them that I’m
rica in front of us. And then I said “we are the real son and daugh-
going to practice our customs, our culture, to bring it back to our
ters of Africa”. And the fact that your passion and excitement about
tribe. I’m gonna bring it back and I’m gonna practice that and they
the programme boiled over onto us made it a success».
gave me actually their blessing».
«There was an old man, I don’t know if you can remember, who was very, very sick that day, when we did the first site visit. And I
Paramount Chief Gert Cornelius Steenkamp, Oeswana
was worried about this old man (photo p.48). Two days before the
PGCS: «It was not easy to take us into that journey».
event he passed on. That was one of the deep secrets of how people
«During the meetings, there was a lot of talk and sometimes talk
force themselves that extra mile, to be part of something, and that
was on the table, favourable and not favourable, but there was no
extra mile is taking a lot of energy».
winner and no loser. There is always a compromise and based on
«Many of us were sure where they belong, but there were still
the compromise, it brings us where we had better understanding of
those who were still thinking “am I a real Khoi, am I a real San?”.
each other and better understanding for what was in front of us».
When you listen to what they said, after the experience in Cape
«What was very difficult for me, during the first day of the rituals at
Recife, they told me that they’d once again realized that they are
Cape Recife, was the fact that the weather had become so dramat-
First Nation».
ic. I could not understand what the main reason was. I remember
«I also remember Prof. De Wit. He was tired after the ritual. He
very well that experience of sleeping in the place, in front of the
came straight to me and asked me: “Where is the next genera-
sea. I’m still wondering in my mind the reason that the sea became
tion? There’s only leadership, but no young people involved”. And
so rough. Nature is a very, very difficult things in life but it teach-
since that time, I said to myself that we need to bring young people
es you a lot of lessons. And to me, that weather was binding us. I
with us so that they can learn. Although sometimes young people
remember there were some of us who were standing that evening
are not willing to learn».
