To Africa...with Love

"The eye never forgets what the heart has seen"-African proverb

On May 25 we celebrate World Africa Day and I felt compelled to write about my beloved Africa.

Africa is an incredibly special place, its easy to get lost in the darkness and despair that seem to engulf this magical place and we forget to celebrate her. Today I’d like to celebrate all that she is to me.

I was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. My middle name is Nothando which is the Xhosa word for “First Love”. My father gave me that middle name because I am the eldest child the “first love”, for years I never told people my middle name because it felt fraudulent to have a Xhosa name when I have no Xhosa Ancestry like I was claiming part of something I was not. Once upon arriving back in South Africa I stood at the passport control desk waiting for my stamp, the woman (A Xhosa woman) took one look at my name on the passport, looked up at me ,smiled and said “ Welcome Home Sisi we missed you” my heart soared. In South Africa we strive to foster the spirit of Ubuntu "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity", I never felt it more than in that moment, she never looked at me like I was trying to claim something I am not she looked at me like a sister.

I’ve ready many novels about Africa, one of those novels that has stayed with me long after I read the last page was The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver which I read just as the world started shutting down in 2020 and I realized my relocation was on hold and that I would be in South Africa for the time being, at the end of the novel I felt I had come to the end of a very long, exhausting, emotionally taxing, beautiful African Adventure. This continent I get to call home is filled with so many stories and mysteries and if I lived a hundred lifetimes I would only scratch the surface of what Africa has to offer.

I wanted to share some facts about this special continent

1. Africa is home to 54 Countries (I have only visited 4 which is shameful)

2. There are between 12500-3000 languages spoken in Africa ( I speak only 2 ..again shameful)

3. The Worlds largest, tallest and fastest land animals come from Africa (Elephant, Giraffe, Cheetah)

4. Africa is the most centrally located continent on the planet both the Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude) and the Equator ( 0 degrees latitude) cut across it (we are literally the center of attention…I LOVE IT)

5. Africa is the hottest continent (trust me there is no heat like an African heat…its glorious to a sun worshipper like me)

When trying to describe my relationship with Africa, words fail me but I have found them in this poem called “ Africa Smiled” by South African poet Bridget Dore

Africa smiled a little when you left.
"We know you", Africa said,
"We have seen you and watched you,
we can learn to live without you,
but we know we needn't yet"
And Africa smiled a little when you left.
"You cannot leave Africa" Africa said
"It is always with you,
there inside your head.
Our rivers run 
In currents
In the swirls
of your thumbprints;
Our drumbeats counting out your pulse,
Our coastline the silhouette of your soul"
So Africa smiled when you left.
"We are in you" Africa said
"You have not
Left us
Yet"

I have been blessed to call this continent home. I grew up between the mountains and the ocean, the vineyards and the wildlife. I have left Africa many times and I have and will again make my home elsewhere but she is always there, in the African continent shaped charm I wear around my neck bouncing next to my heart that will always beat to an African drum.

Happy Africa Day my Queen! I am because of you.

With Love always

x