My dear friends
Amongst the flags of different countries that are on my
office desk there's one that is recognised by most people in this country - the South
African flag. Our new flag came in with the new democratic era, the New South Africa in
1994.
Talking about new things I'm reminded of a saying from my
childhood days, "Lokhu okusha sha okuvela eMelika" (This is something brand new
from the USA).
The South African flag is ten years old but my memories take
me back to the early 60s.
This is the country of my birth. As our people would say,
"Izwe lobabamkhulu leli" (This is the land of our forefathers). I've since been
to many countries of the world but the bond with South Africa remains the strongest.
Chibini, that's where my roots are. It's as if I can still
see my paternal grandfather, Gakanye Sibisi, pacing to and fro with his walking stick,
reciting self-composed 'izibongo' (praises) to my father's car. The roads were dusty,
singing filled the air, the traditional young women spoke in high pitches and laughed in a
chorus!
My thoughts take me to Ekhamanzi, to my mother's people, the
Jilas; uncomplicated, unsophisticated, hospitable with strong family ties. Till today I
marvel at the wisdom of my maternal grandfather, Sifesakhe Jila. He'd point to his pierced
ears, admit that he was uneducated, but you couldn't but marvel at the clarity of his
thought and vision.
This is the land that gave me my first language, isiZulu. I
believe that the Lord has given me a love for different languages. Whether I understand or
not, I get excited when I hear people converse in their mother-tongue. But I have to
confess that the language that echoes the loudest in my innermost being is isiZulu.
After a few visits to Europe I got used to the fact that the
clicks (c, x, q ...) in our language amuse those nations, but it was when we got to other
African countries that I realised how unique 'ongwaqabathwa' (the consonants of the
Bushmen) were.
A scene that comes to mind is a walk through the market in
Butare, Rwanda, in early 1994. I saw some women pointing at me, making a noise and then
burst out laughing. As we got nearer I caught it; they had been at a service where I'd
given them a taste of isiZulu. The clicks had fascinated them and that's what they were
trying to imitate.
South Africa is where I received my formal education.
Phaphamani L P School in KwaMashu, Durban, was my first
school. Miss Duma was our class teacher and the principal was Miss Mtshali. It was at
Phaphamani that we sang,
"Imith' igoba kahle ithi ithi
kunyakaz' amahlamvu kanje kanje.
Zophumula kanjani nann
Izinyon' esidlekeni
kunyakaz' amahlamvu kanje kanje?"
(Trees bend nicely, like this, like that
Branches sway like this and like that
How will birds rest in their nests
while branches sway like this and like that?)
Then came Noodsberg School, a few kilometres from Chibini.
That's where I learnt the song, "Master, the tempest is raging." What a
privilege it's been to experience firsthand that in the fury of the storms of life at the
Master's command,
"They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
Peace, peace, be still!"
What shall I say of Appelsbosch Secondary School? One of the
most influential teachers was the well-known author and poet Mr B B "Nonkamfela"
Ndelu. I remember him standing before us as we sang at morning assembly,
"Izwe lonke malibonge
lidumis' iNkosi
lijabule ngenhliziyo ..."
(Let the whole world thank
and praise the Lord.
Let it rejoice from the heart ...)
Yes friends, imagine how wonderful it would be if genuine
praise to the One true, living and eternal God would ring from shore to shore!
"Let everything that has breath praise
the LORD. Praise the LORD." (Psalm 150:6)
Have a blessed week further!
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
