By BUHLE NTUSI The richness of Makhanda’s history and culture is one of the few things that gives our town a haunting charm. As histories are passed on, from the lips of one generation to the ears of the next, they are told less like stories and more as legends. In my four years of living in the City of Saints, the legend that has fallen unto my ears is this: Over the past few decades what was once Makhanda’s sole crematorium had been repurposed and is now a women’s residence. Obviously, I had to exhume the truth of such…
Author: Linda Pona
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By SINAZO MAGWEBU Glenda Poswa’s smile matches the sunshine we’ve been blessed with following a rainy day. As we make our way to her room (cosy and sports shades of pink), she tells me about her Rhodes residence, Dingemans, and how a sign in the bathroom there triggered an important research project. Poswa is a third year BA student, studying Linguistics, Politics and Psychology. Recently she presented to her Linguistics lecturers and peers a research proposal titled ‘How discourses about menstruation affect women’s perceptions of themselves’. The research focuses on the kinds of words used to refer to menstruation and…
By LINDA BINZI I sat down with Nontokozo Mchunu, a TV teaching assistant at Rhodes University’s Journalism School, to discuss her experiences and insights into the TV industry. I approached her because I had heard of the movie Intellectual Giants of The Eastern Cape, which she was involved in as part of the production and sound team, as well as playing a minor role as an extra. This film, whose story travels around the Eastern Cape on a journey beginning in Makhanda, has achieved notable success. It was released earlier this year but has already been screened at festivals, including an international film festival in Zanzibar. Mchunu…
A big shout-out to MEW for these listings. POP UPS/ FESTIVALS/ EXHIBITIONS REPEAT EVENTS Thursday 3 – 24 NovemberOpening 3 November, 13:00 – 14:00Art Exhibition: “The Baganda” by Eria Nsubuga ‘SANE”Presented by Arts of Africa & Global Souths and Rhodes UniversityCurated by Ruth SimbaoEria Nsubuga ‘SANE’, originally from Uganda, has held solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions internationally. This exhibition consists of drawings, paintings and collage objects which draws on John Roscoe’s book, from 1911, The Baganda: An Account of Their Customs and Beliefs. The works critique “the entanglement of imperialism, Christianity and aesthetics”.@ RAW Spot Gallery, Arts Lounge, 5 Rhodes…
By SHANNON SKAE, health and life coach at Revive with Shan It is often difficult to accept the ending of relationships, the death of someone, a drastic change in your life, something traumatic that has happened to you, when someone betrays your trust, loving yourself, criticism from others, growing older, and the list goes on. So how do we reach or strive towards acceptance? Here are some tips: Focus on the things you can control and can change rather than the things you can’t.Set meaningful goals for yourself, especially short-term ones, one step at a time.Live in the present moment and…
By NANZA PLATANA Rhodes Education student Mahlatse Kevin Ramokgopa, 32, spent three weeks in intensive care at Livingstone Hospital in Gqeberha after sustaining a head wound in an attack at his flat on 2 October. Ramokgopa’s fellow student and flatmate has been charged with attempted murder following the attack and will appear in regional court on 8 November. Ramokgopa’s partner, Olwethu Ludlala, said Kevin had been discharged, but the incident left him slightly disoriented and with confused speech and articulation. “His speech remains largely affected, so he will be attending speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy,” Ludlala said. In a…
A big shout-out to MEW for these listings. THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER Acoustic CaféTantric Monk (Preven and a group of players ) – serpentine mix of raga and rock.Geoffrey Diver (guitar, vocals and ‘cura saz’, a small Turkish lute) – moving original music from a wide range of influences)Cult of Circle (a softer sound than we are used to from them) featuring covers of Neil Young, Rolling Stones, and some originals.@ The Vic, 8 New Street18:30R20/ Concessions R15 __FRIDAY 28 OCTOBERGraeme College Family Fun FairBurgers, steak rolls, sloppy joes, curry bunnies, boerewors rolls, and cold drinksPotjiekos & roosterbrood. Chip & dip. Tea &…
By SHANNON SKAE, health and life coach at Revive with Shan As a society, we have lost touch with our bodies and understanding of what hunger and being full means due to diet mentality and the overconsumption of foods (especially processed foods). The idea is not to waste food, which means finishing everything on your plate, whether you are hungry or full. We also eat due to boredom, sitting in front of the TV, emotional issues, and because it’s the weekend, all leading to losing touch with our intuition on food. What is intuitive eating? Intuitive eating refers to listening to…
By KUHLEKONKE DLADLA If I am to tell you this tale, I should start by stating that upon coming to Makhanda for university, I had no prior knowledge of this small, very fulfilling, and beautiful town of Grahamstown, Makhanda. You’d think I would have wanted to do a little research into the place I would be living in for the next four years. Nope, not me. Instead, I indulged in a few great fantasies about what I thought Makhanda would offer me. Great food filled with my favourite restaurants, namely Ocean Basket and McDonald’s. This dream quickly vaporised upon my…
By ARNO CORNELISSEN Gqeberha meets Makhanda Makhanda artist and teacher Mook Lion, invited me along for a trip down the N2. The destination: Gqeberha. The event: PowerTalks. Its idea is to encourage participation in creating discourses surrounding the notion of power through the “curation of environments that are simultaneously disruptive and conducive”. Curator Buntu Fihla, who is also a visual artist and graphic designer, lined up multiple platforms of art, artists, speakers, and topics of discussion. I’m a bit ashamed that I did not make it to any of the talks – guilty – but my attention was drawn – stuck – to Mook Lion and Fal.…