What in the name of Papa Smurf is Jesus doing at the airport? 


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I recently went to the Netherlands for an academic workshop and conference., Digital Humanities 2019, Utrecht. Upon my  return from the trip, as I was walking through the airport, I came across a sticker on one of the sliding doors just as I passed custom security. The sticker read, 'Only Jesus can give you peace'. At first I went past the sticker. As I kept walking I thought to myself, this cannot be right. I stopped and went back to take the above picture. 

I took issue with the sticker and I posted something about it on my Whatsapp status. I also sent a very strongly worded email to OR Tambo International Management complaining about the sticker and requesting that they take it down immediately.

My issue was this: We all know South Africa is a secularist country, even though we celebrate and observe Christian holidays as a country (well majority). Our constitution recognises all religions in this country and supports freedom of religious expression. My issue was that the sticker was first and foremost, in what I deem to be an inappropriate place, i.e. international arrivals at the airport. I thought this was not a true reflection of the South Africa we are. As a South African citizen I became concerned about South Africans who do not subscribe to the Christian faith, or rather do not subscribe to Jesus. Let me not be presumptuous as Jesus features in more than just Christianity. What and how are they supposed to feel coming home only to be welcomed by a Jesus sign on their way home? Moreover, what of the international guests who think we are a rainbow nation that prides itself in cultural and religious diversity. They walk in the airport and Jesus is there to welcome them. What about the representations of all the other religions in this space?

I am raising this issue because a friend started taking issue with me after reading my Whatsapp post and claimed that this was the rejection of Christ. He started quoting the bible and used what he called 'historical facts' about Jesus and how the Pharisees, etc. rejected him. I was then reminded that this was freedom of expression after all. My response to my colleague was that I was not raising a Biblical issue here. The issue is a constitutional one. It is about respect for other people's religions and not shoving your own down people's throats in what is technically supposed to be neutral ground when it comes to religious matters. Have you ever seen a religious advert at the airport, I asked my friend? Why do you think we do not hang crosses and put bibles at reception at our workplaces? Some hotels have even stopped putting those little blue Gideon bibles in their rooms out of respect for other religions.

Why are there no religious symbols in trains, government buildings, etc.? That's because we respect the fact that we have multiple religions in this country. We don't make the assumption that everyone is Christian or subscribes to Jesus. That is why you are allowed to decorate your office with religious symbols in some places, because it is a private space. But you will never find such in an open area such areas as reception, boardroom, kitchen, toilets, etc., unless that particular business, or organisation is a religious based one. This sticker is violating people's rights by being presented in a place that is accessed by people from all walks of life. I am not against people expressing their religious freedom. Of course people can place their stickers anywhere they like, but the entrance to a country at an international airport, mmmm....I am not sure if I can see a whole management figure authorising such. I stand to be corrected. 

What matters to you?

I recently went on a school trip to rural Venda. I knew that we were going to a very rural area but I have to say my findings were way beyond my expectations. In this day in age, one would not expect to find a place in South Africa where people don't have electricity and no flushing toilets. I could easily deal with sleeping on the floor, in a mud hut, with floors that have cow dung for flooring and take a bath outside, and having to squat whenever I needed to relieve myself. However, what I could not take was children walking 3 hours to school, living their homes in the crack of dawn and returning just before the sun goes down. Those who have shoes and lunch are the fortunate ones. This reminded me of where I come from. I also come from a rural area, okay maybe semi rural because you can count the number huts and goat/cattle kraals in just one hand. Most of the houses of where I come from are very modern and there is electricity and running water. There are hardly any "rural" activities. Anyway, I also used to walk a long distance to school, but it was certainly not 3 hours. I always had lunch, which the class bully always took away from me, so I often had to go to my grandmother's house to have lunch, and if she was not there I just went home before after school.Yeah, I love my food like that.

As I saw these children living the way they do, I just couldn't help it but feel guilty about the way I always complain about stupid things all the time, like, there is no way in hell wearing the same dress twice in a week, or why should I eat my bread with no cheese in eat, or I will not have a plate of food which doesn't have any salad in it. Here I was staying with people who live on pap and morogo almost everyday. They rarely eat bread. Their breakfast is mainly soft porridge and those who can afford to, carry pap for lunch. You will never hear any of them complain about their food or the state of their torn clothes or their finished relaxed hair. They simply face each day as it comes and appreciate being alive and being happy, and just belonging to a family. The kids hardly eat sweets. Their only form of snack is the marula nuts that they pound out using stones. Cool drinks and "Sunday kos" are a luxury reserved for Christmas.

So then I wonder, how come people who have so much complain a lot? You find people complaining about their outdated cell phones, the hideous dress they got as a present, or the appalling food that a certain restaurant makes. Isn't it weird that the people who should not be complain about anything are the ones who complain all the time and those are supposed to be complaining hardly say a word? Strange? So what does this tell us about human beings? Maybe it is true what some people say, that the more money you have, the more problems you have. If there weren't any problems for the rich, they would not be complaining, would they now? Are the poor just quiet because they fell powerless to speak because they feel inferior? I wonder. So, which is the curse or the blessing, being poor or being rich? What would you prefer, being poor but happy, or being rich and miserable? What matters in life, money or contentment? I wonder....

969: ZAKATA

I recently went to watch one of the 969 productions that are taking place at the Wits Theatre. When I got the program in my email I printed it out and ticked all the productions that I wanted to go and watch. Zakata was one of them. Then as I was in the theatre chatting to a friend, he strongly advised me to go watch this play, knowing very well that I love good music, he said I would absolutely love it. So when the night finally came, I also convinced another friend to come with me. We were not disappointed. When it comes to music, I am very critical, I happen to be my very own biggest critic, I am never satisfied with anything I do when it comes to my music, and I always find that there is always room for improvement. Anyway, but with this performance, I was really happy with the music.

To cut a long story short, this play or musical play, is about the issues that women are facing in South Africa, very touching indeed. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster, one moment you are crying the next you are in hysterics. The music aided a great deal in carrying out the underlying message of the play. The ladies’ magnificent voices gelled together to form powerful harmonies that left the audience in awe. Short but very powerful statements were often used as punch lines, the well constructed choreography of the movements made me wonder exactly how long it took these women to perfect this amazing masterpiece.

I have to say, almost all the issues that are facing women in South Africa were dealt with, on a serious note, from relationships, to war aftermaths, to crime, to violence, you name it, and it was there. However, there one of most important issue I felt should have been there and was not was not was the issue of HIV/AIDS. Have they forgotten about it or did the feel it was big of a matter that it needs to be dealt with on its own? I would not know the answer to this question. All I know is that if you are going to make a play about matters concerning women, especially in South Africa, HIV should on top of the list, because as far as I am concerned, infected or not infected, it is women who are mostly affected by this disease. Who gets cheated on and get infected with HIV? Who gets sexually abused by their boyfriends and husbands, living them with HIV? Who gets raped and get HIV? Who looks after HIV infected people? Who looks after HIV orphans? “Since September 2, 2003, 9,591,588 women have been infected with HIV.” These women have done a great job with the play, there is no doubt about it, however I also think that the productions could have also managed to address the issue of HIV/AIDS as this is still a huge problem in our country, especially when it comes to women. This issue is still causing us a lot of paying. Many women are dying every day because of it; many are suffering because of it. Then why are we silent about it, we are in a lot of pain because of yet and yet we can talk about the husband who is cheating with another man, what about talking about the possibility that while sleeping with other men, or women, your husband could bring you HIV, then die, then live you with four children who will later become orphans when you die because of AIDS. This is not a fantasy, it is a reality, and people have dedicated their times and energies to find out what is killing most women, when it comes to HIV and these are some of the things that came out. I can go on forever, all I am saying is, women, let us use every opportunity we get to address the issue of HIV, maybe one day, our cry will be heard. Well dome ZAKATA for a brilliant performance, keep up the good work.

SA Youth Orchestra:Lubner Soloist Competition

What would the world be without music? I don’t even want to imagine it. Never in my life have I experienced such beautiful, elegant, soulful, capturing, breath taking…(I can go on for ever) performance. I am a big fan of classical music and in my 5 years in Johannesburg, have attended various types of classical music concerts; however none has ever left me breath taken as this one.

It was on the night of the 27th June that I went to the Linder Auditorium to attend the Lubner Soloist Competition. Eight young hopefuls participated in this event, after having being selected from a first round. Obviously the kids are very talented to have made it this far, however there is just one girl who stood out for me. Charilee Adams. I have to say, I have never managed to stay awake through a Bach Marimba piece for twenty minutes until that day. I was taken away from the first time the sticks hit the instrument. Never had I seen such soulful playing. I felt such emotion as she continued to soar through the piece, while swaying left and right in gentle but fluid, ballet like movements. You could almost feel the music coming to live and touching every soul present there. You could literally feel her breathing through the phrases and just allowing what was inside of her to come out. One would normally not expect percussion music to be so emotional, so soulful, so, so, so....................I'm lost for words.

The beauty of the sound of the instrument simply complimented this young’s women’s talent as it resonated every tone colour, every dynamic, every texture intended by the person playing it. I can go on forever about how great this young lady played. All I can say is thank you to the South African Youth Orchestra Foundation for giving such greatly talented young people a platform to share their gifts with the world. Charilee may not have taken the overall winner price, however, according to me, she is an overall winner (after all this is the world according to Iggy). Charie, you will go far dear. As a performer myself, I can only hope that I can one day also give such a magnificent performance, giving my audience their money’s worth.