LETTER TO MAKHANDA
By Nicci Hayes
Powerless?
I came home yesterday afternoon, having jangled my way through the tar graveyard that is Knight Street to a pile of rubbish (not mine) on our pavement. Just as I was settling down to do some work, the lights went out and I felt… well, powerless.
I thought about Festival-goers, and artists, and craftspeople, and cooks who bring so much vibrancy, and money, and deliciousness – not to mention so many jobs – to our town. I thought about how they must feel encountering the sadder parts of Makhanda, and I wished that there was something I could do to make them feel more welcome, more comfy, more joyful. But I also felt… well, powerless.
And then the lights came back on (thank you dear person who worked overtime again!) and I felt less sorry for myself and … well, lighter. And then it came to me.
I can’t fix the roads or the electricity or the general litter problem but I can bring a little extra light to festival this year. So, I appeal to my fellow Makhandans to join me: let’s help the National Arts Festival to light up our town. Let’s smile, and be extra welcoming, let’s put on our funkiest fineries, let’s haul out our Christmas lights, our fairy lights, our lanterns, our candles and light up our town in welcome and celebration of Festival and everyone who come to Festival. (And let’s hope we don’t cause another blackout by doing it!)
See you in the light.
