Khayelitsha

With it being right in the middle of our finals month, here at the Kimberly House, tensions have been running a bit high. By the time the end of the week rolled around, everyone was in dire need of a break from the unending study sessions, group work and late night paper writing. Patrick, the caretaker at the Kimberly House, invited us all over for a braai at his home in Khayelitsha, the largest township in Cape Town.

Patrick's English is a bit hard to understand; and honestly, half the time I don't even know if he is speaking Xhosa or English (the other half of the time I am pretty sure he isn't speaking either, but rather chatting away in some incoherent tongue). That being said, when Patrick extended the invitation to spend a Saturday afternoon in his community, the only detail we actually comprehended was that we were to be picked up at 11am that upcoming Saturday.  

After being picked up, we first found ourselves not at Patrick’s house, but at a nearby community center. Here some of the youth performed traditional African dance accompanied by singing and drumming. After this wonderful performance we proceeded to travel to Patrick’s house, by means of a parade nonetheless. Once in Patrick’s neighborhood, the dancing continued while the food was prepared. Everyone joined in on the dance- men and women, young and old, white and black. What we had thought was going to be a simple meal with Patrick’s immediate family, turned out to be an entire community event. I spent the day teaching the children Spanish and English while they tried to teach me Xhosa; I had my hair styled my hair at least 5 different times by 10 different children; I attempted to learn African dance; and gave more piggy back rides than I can count. 

Although this community lacked the material assets that many westerners are accustomed to, I saw the pride on each of their faces as they watched their children dance. The rhythm and music served as a unifying force; it surpassed language barriers and overcame racial, cultural, ethnic and religious divisions. We were united in a day of celebration- and by the end of the day, the passion, life, and light that emanated from this community was overwhelming and inspirational.

As our van pulled out of the neighborhood at the end of the day, there were nearly 40 children chasing along side us; waving and reaching for final high fives through the van’s windows.