Grahamstown: "Inkcubeko Nenaldo"

Dr. Michelle Cocks, Rhodes U.

We today was a busy day! (I think all my days are this way!!)

We left Port Elizabeth at 7:00am for the picturesque, two hour journey to Grahamstown.
 We arrived at the beautiful campus of Rhodes University where we met with one of the authors of "Voices of the Forest" at the Anthropology Department. How cool is that! (We studied that book as we prepared for our adventure to South Africa.) Dr. Michelle Cocks gave us a presentation on Bio-cultural Diversity, and we learned about how the Xhosa culture relies on the forest to maintain their cultural and religious beliefs.  But with Apartheid, the Xhosa people were placed in townships, far away from the forest.  This has taken a toll on how they are able to uphold their cultural beliefs.



Next, we traveled to Nombulelo Secondary School.  We sat in on a 10th grade class' lecture on South African biomes, delivered by Mr.Mluleki Nkosi.

Did you know South Africa has nine different biomes? And six of them are near Grahamstown! Some of them I heard of before, but some were new to me.  I learn something new every day!









We went with Mr.Nkosi to Dassie Krantz Forest.  We traveled to the top of an enormous hill overlooking Grahamstown. Students from Nombulelo joined us, too. Vegetation was sparse, there were rocks all over, and it was crazy windy... we couldn't figure out where the forest was!

Heading down into the forest

Then we ducked down into the brush Brer Rabbit style and found ourselves out of the wind and delving down the hillside into a quiet, peaceful forest! There were moss covered boulders, vines, and many trees and bushes I have never seen before.

Mr.Nkosi continued teaching us about bio-cultural diversity, pulling the day together with "inkcubeko nenaldo"; being in the cultural environment.  The Xhosa believe this is how they must stay in touch with their ancestors, and the learners and teachers closed our eyes and simply focused on the sounds in the woods. It was incredibly peaceful and surreal.

Quietly appreciating nature/getting in touch with our ancestors

When we hiked back to the top and emerged into the wind, it was back to reality.
Our driver took us to an out of the way farmer's market (those are the best!!) to do a little shopping.  He swore by the meat pies, so I bought a lamb and mint one for supper. I've never had lamb before, and it was pretty good!
Tomorrow - back to work at Emafini. The learners await!

Overlooking Grahamstown