Getting Your Soul Clapped in Mdantsane

We have the pleasure to present to you today an article written by second year journalism student Tukute Philasande. The Department of Media Studies of the Walter Sisulu Univesity in East London sends us from time to time articles, that are written by second year journalism students. 

"Soul Clap" fits perfectly the profile of our online maganzine and in our endeavour to promote and expose young talent in the Mdantsane we are publishing it today. 

 SOUL CLAP

Soul Clap sessions are a free entry fortnightly event on Wednesdays at Endaweni Lounge in Mdantsane NU6, which provide local artists with the much needed exposure.

The sessions were started by poet Thandeka Vabaza also known as Nkqo in 2010 to provide local poets, hip-hop and soul artists with a platform to show their talents while familiarising them with performing in front of an audience.

“The sessions are a platform where we encourage local artist to perform for their respective communities,” said Vabaza.
Sessions start at 8 pm and there are always headlining national acts such as My Man, Moonchild, and Ohayv, which inspire the local artists to believe that their dreams can also come true.

“I started the movement because of lack of understanding from our community as to what art is,” said Vabaza.

Among the artists who perform is Slulami Slujah Bunu, a member of Capital Effect, a soulful hip hop group from Mdantsane, and a solo act.
Slujah said: “The sessions have helped me grow musically and bond with my listeners.” They help artists to express themselves. “It’s live more than anything because you get criticised constructively.”
Xabiso Gqirana owner of Endaweni Lounge said that the venue has a capacity for about 80 people.

Slujah believes that there is room for improvement as “there is little space”. He suggested that a bigger venue is needed to accommodate more people as he believes still more people would like to come.
Akhona Mshiywa, a regular spectator, said: “The chemistry between people and the feel of performances are what drive me to attend the sessions.

Soul Clap sessions are proving to be a success unlike the sessions that were there before them which have ceased to exist.

According to Mshiywa discovering more poets is what brings more popularity to the sessions.Vabaza started the sessions with a clear vision in mind of what he wants to achieve. “I want to see sustainability in Eastern Cape artists,” he concluded. 

Article and Images by a 2^nd year Walter Sisulu University journalism student Tukute Philasande /WSU

To Pray, Celebrate And Sing Together

The Garden Of The Good Samaritan

The members of the group with their certificates

I do not want to become too developmental, too political or too socially critical with this blog. In fact I do not believe in the supremacy of Western knowledge or expertise. It is sometimes even impossible to transfer or apply this knowledge to an African context, even though the good-will is there on both sides. I do believe that Africa has to find completely new solutions for it's problems. And they have to be found by Africans.

But some projects just work out fine somtimes, even if it is only for a certain time, and some things are too good to forget because they can serve to encourage others. The images that you are seeing here were still shot on film. 

In 2004 a group of people, who were interested in gardening, received a formal training in how to establish  and run a permaculture garden. Additionally the necessary equipment for this project was donated. The training and the equipment were founded by an international donor organisation.The garden was started on the ground of the Good Samaritan Child and Youth Care Center in NU 3. I have written another article about the Good Samaritan a couple of months back. 

This is how it began. The images were taken over a period of several months. At the time all the different aspects of permaculture farming, for example how to make and use organic fertilizer, the knowledge of plants that are complementary to each other, were taught by Earth Innovations, a one man consultancy from the Eastern Cape.

Rain water was collected from the roof and mulch was laid out in between the vegetable plants. 

And this is how well they did! 

The vegetables were used in the kitchen of the Good Samaritan Child and Youth Care Center, to improve the meals for the children and a certain quantity could be sold as well. I have visited the garden recently and it is still functional. It is not run by the same people, which I think should never be the objective because people have to evolve and move on and cannot be bound to one project , but vegetables are produced. It is also an example how well Mdantsane can do !

More Street Life

I got not much to say tonight.

It's not always necessary to talk. Right ?

But I am sending some idyllic Mdantsane Street life scenes in your direction

Life is on the streets

and that is great

just the right thing for a grey Sunday afternoon

to close the week end off

Take care and see you soon.

Mdantsane Ghost Town

Mdantsane Resembles a Ghost Town and Still Lacks Amenities

For many Mdanstane residents, March 4 1990, remains one of the most memorable days in the history of this township, when the homeland of Ciskei under the leadership of Dr Lennox Sebe, fell into the hands of one of his senior soldiers, Brigadier Joshua Oupa Gqozo in a military coup. 

Mayhem erupted after the announcement of the coup, when residents destroyed everything that represented Sebe's regime, and thus leaving the township in ruins.

When you drive around Mdantsane you can not help but notice many dilapidated buildings, which are a strong reminder of this ugly past, when the township went up in smoke as offices and businesses alike were destroyed. 

Nofikle complex in NU 1 used to be a bottle store and a butchery with living quarters above

What was supposed to be a celebration of the end to an era - the apartheid homeland system under which Mdantsane fell, turned into chaos.

These were exciting times for South African politics, as Nelson Mandela had also just been released from prison less than a month to that day.

These eye-saw buildings are almost everywhere, bearing the scars of that fateful day as many of these buildings are still in the same state of that aftermath, derelict and casting a folorn picture of this once vibrant township with great potential. 

The Xoilisani butchery in the far left corner in NU 14 used to be a butchery but is now a Spaza shop run by Somalian Nationals 

  

Having mentioned that, however, there is a glimmer of hope as some of the buildings have since been renovated. The downside is the fact that the township still lacks basic amenities like cinemas, small business centres, old age homes, youth centres, swimming pools etc. 

Mushrooming around the township are instead church denominations, which seems to be invading almost every avaliable building as a result of breakaway fractions, branching out to different premises. 

The building used to be the Embo butchery but is now used by a church

 

Also spaza shops, mostly run by foreigners nationals like the Somalians are found everywhere.

Some however have seen the need to promote a healthy lifestyle in the township by turning some of these buildings into gymnasiums, which is also a positive way to develop the youth and keep them away from the streets.

This is a building in N U 11 which has been turned into a boxing academy and gym

Story and Pictures by Siyanda Nkonyeni

A Strong Vision

Mdantsane FM has a strong and ambitious vision. Bravo !

" A leading development orientated radio station that is not only accessible but attractive to both public and private interests by promoting the needs of the community."

 Banner spotted on Oxford Street.

Visions are like capricious ladies. Beautiful, seductive and enchanting. They dance and swirl, twist and hide, change clothes all the time, flirt, walk away from you and come back when you don't expect them. 

They need a strong man but can't be handled too hard otherwise they break and loose all beauty. They need a lot of adoration and passion. And they have to be feel loved and cared for all the time. 

Great Vision !

Don't let ever go of your lady Mdantsane FM !

In Full Swing

To cross the road in Mdantsane on a Friday you have to keep your eyes open for a hole in the traffic and then get into full swing. Or stay on the side you're on !

Street Scene In Mdantsane

Ethel - Life As A Female Car Guard

It was last year around Christmas, that I saw Ethel for the first time. She is the only female car guard I know.

May be, in the bigger South African cities there are more women who earn a living like this, but not in East London.

Two days ago I saw her again, sitting on the small wall at the Esplanade in Quigney. I stopped to have a chat with her.

Ethel works in the area around the Wimpy. Although the sky was of the brightest beautiful South African blue and the ocean was calm and looked like in the Mediterranean, this day the Esplanade had a lonely and deserted feel. Municipal workers were setting up the yearly Christmas decorations on the street lights.

She is close to seventy years old, but does not know her real age. Everyday she travels from Mdantsane, NU2, where she lives, to the Esplanade. 

Last year she got hit by a car on the road and severly injured. She spent several weeks in hospital. She has what she calls, a big plate in her right chest, which is very painful often. Since then she walks with her upper body bent to one side.

" The doctors told me that I will have to go to the hospital again to have the plate removed because something is not right, " Ethel says.

My question as to why she still wanted to work as a car guard after having such a serious accident and considering the fact that guarding cars is obviously a male dominated and sometimes also violent field of work, where competiton is not taken lightly, she said :
" It is still easier than at home ". 

" Some of the men are not happy to have me here, but I just stay out of their way .May be they don't chase me because I am short and old. Others think I am crazy ".
Ethel is not more than 1,40 m tall.