South African Culture

So far I've shared a multitude of pictures of the beauty of Cape Town. It is a really gorgeous place, yet like any other country, South Africa also faces many harsh realities. However, unlike any other country, some of the issues that SA is plagued with are very much endemic and pandemic crises.

South Africa has some of the world's most alarming statistics when it comes to domestic violence, gender based violence, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. For example, a woman is killed by her intimate partner in South Africa every six hours. Yet men kill other men at seven times the rate that men kill women. SA also has the highest numbers of alcohol consumption per capita in the world. In this freshly scarred post-apartheid era, there are a lot of issues that still infect the scenic coasts and mountain ranges of this beautiful country.


















Jesus on the Cross wearing an AIDS ribbon at an Anglican church; Clinic center mural in Gugulethu

I'm in Cape Town because of these issues. They are complex and challenging, yet fascinating to study. I'm involved in a few public health seminars and have seen the multitude of programs and organizations that dedicate themselves to changing such a complex environment. Their work is arduous but admirable, they thrive on a common thread of such inspiring South African culture: spirit.

One of the most interesting things about the complexly woven fabric of South Africa is the spirit of its people. Here, things like depression and death can be seen in such a different light. A well-known photojournalist recently relayed one of his experiences about depression within the traditional African culture: such an overwhelming feeling of sadness or despair is normal to life. It can be seen as a phase in an individual's journey, signaling that one is "on the way to convalescence." It is such a beautiful light.

Today I went on a township tour. Here, townships are underdeveloped areas where informal illegal, informal legal, and formal settlements are packed together tighter than sardines. Many people from developed countries would consider these areas as "slums" because they're usually packed with shanties (aka shanty towns). It was such a humbling experience to see how so many people can live on so little - yet still be able to hold hope for so much. Although families in these settlements such as Khayelitsha and Nyanga, are considered to be living in poverty (the unemployment rate is appx 42% - the highest in the world); many still hold themselves as virtuous and proud citizens - proud in the sense that they are not in despair over their situation, proud in the sense that their spirit and resourcefulness carries them through to the promises of tomorrow.











































































Last two pictures in this settlement set: The entrance to a traditional healer's practice/clinic; Vicky from Vicky's B&B in Khayelitsha - Vicky used her entrepreneurial skills to open a beautiful B&B make a better life for her family. She's also partnered with the Department of Tourism to help other women in the community generate income for their families with their limited resources. More info: http://www.vickysbedandbreakfast.com/















Above: My lunch in Nyanga - a little bit of everything from squash curry to spicy beans to ostrich meat. South African cuisine is delicious.
Below: Traditional handicrafts - art depicting some of the settlements and beautiful beadwork.


















Below: District Six Museum (remembering the ruins of apartheid)



































These colorful houses are in Bo Kaap (originally a Malay settlement area)































It has been a long day...not to mention a long week here in Cape Town. But I am loving every new minute of it.