The term “happy feet” may trigger memories of your last relaxing foot massage or the animated movie about a dancing penguin, but for the kids living in Langa township – it’s something that gives them inspiration, guidance, purpose and much, much more. In 2007, Siviwe – a name that means “our prayers have been answered” in Xhosa – started a gumboots dance group in his home community of Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town. The dance, which was created by black mine workers during the apartheid era, is made up of a combination of clapping, stomping, and slapping the sides of rubber boots – creating an intense beat…and when we first heard it, it was coming from 5 to 12 year olds!
We first met Siviwe at 8am when he came to pick us up at our hostel. I had found his tour guide website back in San Diego and emailed to see if he could show us some of the community projects in Langa. Little did I know, he had founded his own. The tour began in a little garage across the street from a building of hostels – aka, three families per 10m2 room, where Siviwe had lived just last year. The walls of the garage were covered in the names and handprints of the dancers, who – after putting on their boots – lined up to perform on the outdoor stage that read “Happy Feet” in colored paint. Lights, camera, action! These kids were amazing!
What was even more amazing was getting to know Siviwe and his partner-in-crime, Natti, both 27, both passionate about the kids and the project, both inspiring people. I use the term inspiring because they are just like you and me – ordinary people – yet they have created a project that is literally changing people’s lives. Without proper guidance, kids in the area can easily become involved in drinking, drugs, crime, etc. – the type of behavior that could quickly transform their difficult situation into one even worse. Siviwe and Natti provide a place for kids to go when they‘re not in school, keeping them off “the street” and their feet happy. J
After seeing the kids perform, we accompanied a group of volunteers from the UK to some of the poorest neighborhoods in Langa to distribute food parcels. We entered each home to drop off the packages, always amazed at the number of people sharing the same space. We asked Natti, “How does it work when three families are meant to share a room with three beds?” He told us that the parents sleep in the bed, often with the youngest child, and the other children sleep on the floor….and if there still isn’t enough room, will sleep in the communal kitchen/living room. Immediately, we realized that there was nothing for us to complain about.
As we walked around the hostels, we were consumed by the strength and openness of the people. The kids, not unlike the kids from Happy Feet, played outside in tattered shirts and ripped shoes (if they had shoes at all), always ready to give you an unexpected hug or smile. The parents and grandparents, often found gathered in the common area of the hostels, were welcoming and peaceful. They weren’t angry or complaining. Despite the decades of being denied any possibility of social progression, they talked with Will and me during our brief stop inside their homes without the slightest bit of hostility or blame. Siviwe explained that his generation now feels a duty to them. To those that endured such repression and hardship. Thus, the first thing he will do, naturally, when he has enough money, is move his parents into a better home.
After saying goodbye to the British volunteers, Will, Nati and I took a minibus for 6 rand (less than $1) each to Guguletu, a neighboring township. We had been invited to watch the soccer match. The Chiefs (hand signal = peace sign) were playing the Pirates (hand signal = crossed forearms), two rival soccer teams from Soweto. But before helping our hosts cheer for their team’s (aka the Chiefs) victory, we made a stop at Mzolis, the best place to get braai in town! After picking out our meat of choice, the chefs brought it back to a giant grilling room – which you can walk through on your way to a tented hang out area. Apparently, the word had spread about Mzolis tasty meat (honestly, the best we’ve had!) and fun ambiance – as people of all colors, some of which had come from outside the neighborhood, were there, together.
After meeting up with Siviwe (who had just finished doing another tour), the four of us moved to a nearby house to get away from the beat-boxing, techno music, and loud crowds of people around Mzolis – and concentrate on the game. As we watched and talked, we learned that people from all different countries have been trying to help the Happy Feet project. Touched by their dedication (they both put in some of their own money for the project) and love for the kids, the British volunteers had come to donate food, a group of Germans are holding a fundraiser next week, and some Australians, who had gone on the Siviwe tour, created his current website. Everyone saw a good thing and wanted to help make it work. Now, the French and the American enter the scene – hoping that we can share their story with others.
Little by little, with some help, Happy Feet may become the sustainable after-school program that Siviwe and Nati now dream about. What do they need to make this happen? Their own center to practice. Transportation to and from the center and the kid’s houses. Nutritious food to feed the kids on a daily basis (as of now they do their best, but still need help).
If you are ever in Cape Town, I highly recommend that you contact Siviwe and Nati for a walking tour of Langa township, and learn more about the Happy Feet dance troupe. Some companies offer a driving tour of the township, please don’t do this. If your intention is to learn about the people and their culture, opt for a personal, interactive experience – looking people in the eye rather than looking down on them through your digital camera from a two story bus. It is not only disrespectful, but embarrassing. Besides, you can’t get any hugs from all the kids up there!
Hope everyone is well! Big hugs from Cape Town!
From the skyscrapers of Pudong (including one that looks like a bottle opener that the japanese were not allowed to put their flag up on because it is the tallest in Shanghai) to the "platanes" lined street of the french concession through the bustling streets of the Yunan Bazaar and Gardens - you will never be bored in Shanghai!
