I Am Ubuntu (HERITAGE DAY)

I am made of struggle

Centuries of blood, pain and tears

I am made of hustle

Everything the colonizer fears

I am Krotoa’s legacy

The khoi woman who defined her own destiny

My hair bends to the waves of the ocean

And my skin glows the colours of the mountain

My heart beats to the rhythm of the klopse

And my soul seeks the guidance of my ancestors

I am made from the boeber on Thursday evening gadats

To the pepper-briyani on Friday afternoons

The weekend gatsby

And the double-o from the family functions

I was raised on spookies from the school tuckshop,

Chappies from the bhai on the corner

And the poring you hide from the oorage family members

My strength comes from my community

Their willingness to always support and stand by me

My resilience comes from my heritage

Something I am not ashamed of but able to leverage

My courage comes from my culture

A variety of languages, skin colours and points of view perfectly sculptured

I am the consciousness of Steve Biko

I am the power of Saartjie Baartman

I am the bravery of Imam Abdullah Haron

I am the intelligence of Karima Brown

I am the Salt River streets

And the signal hill outline

I am the woman standing before you

I am Ubuntu.

*Featured image by author