Written by Jamie McLaren Lachman (Jabulani Nene Mshengu)
It is wonderful to be back in eMahlathini. Two years ago, myself and Bongekile from Clowns Without Borders (www.cwbsa.org) facilitated the Njabulo Intervention Programme with AIDS-affected children and their guardians. Today - on a brisk, foggy day typical of the Ofafa hills - we have returned to be part of Woza Moya's ongoing support groups. Sibongile, Annabel, and I are joined by Sue Hollingsworth from the School of Storytelling in the United Kingdom (www.schoolofstorytelling.com), as well as Woza Moya staff, Thembi, Dingene, Bonakele, and Zamakile - the last three having trained with Clowns Without Borders in 2009.
It is wonderful to be back in eMahlathini. Two years ago, myself and Bongekile from Clowns Without Borders (www.cwbsa.org) facilitated the Njabulo Intervention Programme with AIDS-affected children and their guardians. Today - on a brisk, foggy day typical of the Ofafa hills - we have returned to be part of Woza Moya's ongoing support groups. Sibongile, Annabel, and I are joined by Sue Hollingsworth from the School of Storytelling in the United Kingdom (www.schoolofstorytelling.com), as well as Woza Moya staff, Thembi, Dingene, Bonakele, and Zamakile - the last three having trained with Clowns Without Borders in 2009.
When we arrive at the community centre, the guardians are already waiting for us. So many familiar faces and bright smiles greet us! Since this is a combined support group with gogos (grandmothers) and people living with HIV/AIDS, there is also a slight tension in the room. The two groups rarely have the opportunity to integrate and connect with each other. However, this tension soon dissolves as Bonakele leads the group in a rousing song, prayer, and physical warm-up. We then teach a traditional song, "Skorokoro," and offer to share some stories that the guardians could then tell their children. Sibongile tells a story about stone soup bringing community together. Dingene tells one about a how children mirror their parents. Sue has us rolling in laughter with a tale about a magical pot and an elderly couple. In the listening, the group seems more at ease with each other. But then, the magic really begins...with dancing!
Chairs are cleared and bodies begin to move to music. It is amazing to see how eager the women (and one man) are to dance together. Excitement and joy echoes in the hall as the rhythm and movement kicks up dust from the floor. It is clear that the highlight of the day is the dancing. In reflection afterwards, some guardians share that they feel a lightness in their bodies. Some can't remember the last time they danced to music. Others recall dancing only as a child. Some remark that it was only in the Njabulo programme that they danced though they missed it so much. "We love dancing. It is important that we have a space where we can do it without our children seeing us. That way we can be free."
We look around the room and see a remarkable change in the atmosphere. Faces are glowing. Eyes are bright. People have connected. The session continues by sharing stories of positive things that happened during the preceding month. We then eat lunch and close with one last song and dance in a circle - "iZola Budd." The singing goes on for a long time with each guardian taking turns to traditional dance in the middle of the circle. At this point, tears of joy well up in my eyes to see the strength of each woman dancing proudly with others supporting her. It is the recognition that though life may be difficult and the burden of responsibility in the family great, there are also opportunities to reconnect to a sense of joy and happiness through the simplicity of play, song, story, and dance. As we finally end our day with them, one grandmother shows us that someone has forgotten her walking stick in her excitement!
"When was the last time you told stories?
When was the last time you sung a song?
When was the last time you danced?
If you cannot remember or if it was a long time ago,
The time is now."
- African proverb