Today was amazing! We went to Pretoria for the 10 year anniversary of freedom! We got off the bus and began following the crowd down Church street toward the Union hall. People began to chant and clap and march/dance down the street. Tears streamed down my face as I marched with them. I was so moved by the pride and joy of the South African people. As we got closer to the area where the speeched and concert would be held men climbed up in trees while the women set up camp underneath. As far as I could see in all directions there was a sea of black faces. Throughout the whole day, I saw less than 50 white people including the 12 in my group.
We stood as a group near two trees and watched the people go by. People would smile, some would look at us curiously and others would clap or shake our hands. Once they saw our cameras they would crowd together in the hopes of getting their pictures taken. The African people, we have met have loved having their photos taken.
As it got closer to noon we followed the others into the crowd to get a view of the stage. So many people. We found a spot where we could see the big screens of what was happening. A beautiful young South African women kept sneaking glimpses my way. When I said hello, her face broke into a huge smile. We began to visit. Her name is Charmane and she has another name which means it is full or complete. She is 13 years old and she had traveled 3 hours by bus with her father to be at this celebration. As we took in the sights together, she wrapped her arms around Pennye and I. Her face was filled with wonder. As we left, I slipped a turquoise ring on her finger. She grabbed me and hugged me tightly, then she looked into my eyes and said, “I love you.”
Pennye, Lynn and I got our faces painted. Pennye had the S. African flag painted on her right cheek. Lynn and I had the flag on one cheek, “10” on our foreheads and “years” on our left cheek. People seemed surprised and amused by us and would reach out and clasp our hands or stop to visit with us.
As we left the celebration we stopped to watch a group of ZULU women dancing and were encouraged to join them. I felt too shy and just danced form the sideline.
Earlier, Lynn and I had wondered over to a watch a circle of people singing and dancing. As we got close to them a man grabbed Lynn’s hand and another grabbed mine. They then danced us into the center of the circle to dance with the people. All around us were people singing a freedom chant. It was incredibly powerful.
On our way back to the bus, a reporter stopped our group and asked if they could interview us for SA NBC Radio. Pennye and I were interviewed about our experience of the celebration and our impressions of the city of Pretoria.
As we headed back down Church Street to our bus, people were still marching up and down the street, carrying the S. African flag and chanting freedom chants. I stood 100 feet in front of the crowd as they marched toward me to get a picture. Before I knew it they had grabbed our hands in joy and friendship and brought us into the center of their celebration, clapping our hands, dancing with us to their songs of freedom.
I am overwhelmed by the beauty of these people. They have been so open and welcoming to us. Their pride in being S. African is inspiring, their joy is contagious and their sense of welcome brings me to tears.