by Akissi Beukman
As I sit with my red notebook, so generously gifted to each one of us who entered the portal you created for us, with my jagged handwriting and scattered notes, on the 30th of June, a day that is so scarring on the history of South Africa; I remember that the notebook is red, its name is ACT UBUMBANO and symbolic of the salve of solidarity and unity across diverse nations & communities coming together to engage.
The first word that jumps out at me scribbled here is “kumba” that one of our participants Iso brought up meaning “soil/skin”. How we are of the land. Language denoting the reality. Our last group meeting saw us present our ideas on our reckoning with injustice and I am reminded of the saying “We are the resources!”. Beautifully echoed by “kumba”.
Each moment in that room spoke deeply to how interconnected our struggles are, and not only that is SHOWED us. That even amongst difference ,our hearts were connected by one thing and that is the right to a dignified life through liberation.
I will never forget the great wisdom that room held for two days straight with great respect and love shown by each of us to each other.
I personally have left the space with the gift of perspective enrichment, new friends and comrades to go forth into the world with. To direct people to.
I learned humility, strength and a return to connection.
At times brought to tears and equally laughter! The joys and sadnesses of our shared and different realities. Issues of hyper individualism, power vs sovereignty, mental health, agency, the grey areas in community building, the concept of time as a resource , auto ethnography, the nourishment in the food by Nourisher Nono that spoke to us returning to the land and the cycles.
The gratitude, the gratitude!
We spoke about the conditions of convenience being a manufactured chaos , the question of “need” or “greed”.
The incredible importance of decolonial play as methodology in the space, the collective breath in the room, the funnelling of our energy back into ourselves and the movement as we ACT.
I am particularly grateful for how eager I was to engage because for myself this has been a challenge due to my social anxiety and how beautifully I was received. How most participants said they felt the same and how happy they were to be received with reverence.
There has been nothing I’ve attended with such heart, such authenticity in the unknown and such brilliance in thinking, as this Youth Hub.
It takes a special group of facilitators and people in the room to create the transmissions we did that will echo through our voices everywhere we go.
I remember Kuda showed us how stillness , observation and silence is an act of revolutionary courage. How presence does not have to be loud but intentional!
How priests and witches could sit in one room and rejoice and cry and share a drink over dinner.
I reflect on the feeling of dignity and respect I felt as I checked into the hotel room and felt like I had a reason to be here, the excitement that our words can shift worlds through our action and connection.
And for this reminder I am grateful, for every moment called to learn and listen I am grateful. For each consideration of who we are and what we can offer , not only this, but “why we are”.
That the reminder will always be that when the space is curated for belonging , we will belong.
That healthy change is inevitable under such conditions.
Camagu!
I will always be available to be in communion with you again.
Warmth and blessings always
Akissi
