Today was a long day of exploring new places. First we went to the township of Langa, which is the oldest township in Cape Town. They are one of the townships in Cape Town that have decided to open themselves up to the tourism industry to support their livelihoods. We visited a community center there that housed many different artist studios and shops. There we learned about how the studios teach small groups of community members different art forms such as pottery, sculpture, and fiber arts. The pieces that they create are then sold and the proceeds are used to buy new materials and support the artists and their families. We were especially impressed by the art that was made from reclaimed materials, such as soda cans, plastic bags, and computer keys. Many singers purchased pottery, jewelry, and other pieces to bring back to Boston. At the end of our visit we sang in the courtyard of the center. One community member told Alastair that before he saw us he thought we were a group of Xhosa kids singing, which was an amazing compliment to receive.
Then we headed to Stellenbosch, which is a university town about half an hour east of Langa. There, singers were then given free time to walk around the main shopping district. Many singers chose to eat lunch. The four of us decided to eat lunch on the bus and then went in search of Kristen’s Kick-Ass Ice Cream. There we tried Honeycomb, Dark Chocolate, Coconut Fudge, and Biscoff ice cream. The ice cream was delicious and Kristen if you’re reading this, please consider Boston as a location for one of your stores (we will sing at your grand opening!). Then we explored the town, went into some shops, and walked around the church and river. We also admired the architecture, which is a form of the Dutch colonial style that we’ve seen a lot of around Cape Town. After we all made it back to the bus, we headed back to the retreat center in Constantia.
During our rehearsal we spent time discussing the day and the contrasts we noticed between Langa and Stellenbosch. These two places in particular exemplified the stark wealth disparities that we have been noticing and talking about in Cape Town. We then spoke about how these disparities also exist within our own communities and choir, even if they aren’t always as visible as what we saw today.
To end the night, some singers set up a nail salon (Alastair’s nails are looking fabulous), while others played games and sang some old songs with Kimani (Ndikhokele Bawo and Bonkabaphandle, anyone?). Then we all went to bed and it was sweet dreams until our goose friends woke us up again in the morning.