Khuluma February 2018

BACKSTAGE THE GUIDE

Interview: Anthony Sharpe, Pictures: Jesse Kramer, Daniel Rutland Manners, Dim Dimich/shutterstock.com I didn’t sing my first note until I was I guess, that I try to bring across. I don’t The Fugard
17. This whole acting-and-singing thing want the audience to forget who he has Theatre’s acclaimed 2015
started in junior high school. I was been. I’m the nicest, smiliest guy in the production of West Side Story
an athlete before I got into theatre. I world, but if you saw me on the street – I’m returns to Cape Town next month,
played ice hockey for 12 years and I had six-foot-four, 98 kilograms, and have a this time with Jersey-born actor Kevin
opportunities to take that to collegiate bodybuilder’s physique – I guess you might Hack in the role of Tony. It also features
level but I just didn’t try hard enough. find that kind of intimidating. I stay in shape stellar South African performers Lynelle
It got ahead of me, and by the time the by boxing and I have all the usual fighting Kenned as Maria, Stephen Jubber as
scouts were coming around, I was a bit training from years spent playing hockey. Riff, and Daniel Richards as Bernardo.
too old and unconditioned, and I wasn’t So, I guess I look like I can hold my own, Artscape Opera House, 7 March–8
ready to take the responsibility of going and I think that comes through on stage.
into that level of hockey. I fell in with My nightmare is feeling that I’m not April, computicket.com
kids who had no direction, and a friend being believed. That someone is watching
recommended that I audition for the the show and not believing that I’m falling so I really have to
school musical. That’s how I got into it, in love with Maria every night. That the strive for greatness
and out of nowhere it became my career. audience is not seeing Tony, but rather with this career and ride
I got a lot of motivation from great just an actor playing Tony. That’s my it out as long as I can.
mentors along the way, a lot of people who biggest fear in show business. Tommy DeVito – in the
saw potential in me, and a lot of people There’s always that underlying doubt musical Jersey Boys – is one of
giving me shots that I clearly didn’t deserve, that I might not make it, but at the end of my biggest dream roles, right next
with little to no experience or schooling. the day I’m just an incredibly motivated to Chris from Miss Saigon. I grew up
I’ve done over 300 performances as and driven person because I was a good about 20 minutes from where Jersey
Tony, and I keep that freshness and that hockey player and I let that slip away from Boys is set. There’s a line in the show
sense of naïveté in the character that I love: ‘There’s only three ways of
because it’s me – it’s just how me. I could’ve played minor-league getting out of Jersey: you die; you go to
I am. It’s not really like a hockey if I’d put my mind to it, but jail; or you get famous!’ I guess I’m
character that I have to find; I I let it get it get away from me, aiming for option three.
take my experiences that I had My dream is to be a superhero in a
at that age and dive in. movie. I know it sounds crazy, but
Often, you see Tony played that would be the icing on the show-
as the classic pretty boy, and you business cake. My goal in life is to be
never really get a sense of someone who as successful as humanly possible
has been the leader of a gang in the first so I can have a family one day, but
place. I think I bring to the role a sense of in the business I just want to play
the real gang leader that Tony had been. Superman or something like that.
There’s an aspect of his intimidating side, It really wouldn’t matter, as long
as I got to play a superhero, do
some action stuff on film, you
know, run around with my shirt
off a couple of times. That
would be super cool.

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 49



SEE THE MUSIC THE GUIDE

AND NOW

FOR SOMETHING A host of uncommon

different…COMPLETELYfestivals lines the
horizon; here are a
few names worth
making red circles in
your diary for.

ELROW

srguably the world’s zaniest -arty,
elrow is known for its scintillating
combination of to--grade electronic
music, dizzying décor, visual stunts
and zany dress-u-. Having thrilled
crowds in more than 64 cities, elrow
is bringing its Far West iteration to
Mzansi to raise the roof and -ush
the limits of music-stoked madness.
Ex-ect tons of confetti, colourful
cowboys, and countless reasons
to dance. It’s going down at The
Sheds in Joburg on 17 March, and
at the Castle of Good Ho-e in Ca-e
Town on 24 March. facebook.com/
elrowSouthAfrica

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 51

THE GUIDE SEE THE MUSIC

BLINKY BILL SADHU SENSI

You can catch this Nairobi-based DJ His real name is Andrew Winer, and he’s a many-faceted artist whose involvement
and producer of diverse and often with the music scene ranges from rock bands to multi-genre DJing. As a producer
experimental contemporary music of digital music, he taps into downtempo rhythms and wide-ranging ethnic sounds
at Littlegig, a 24-hour all-inclusive and aims to produce consciousness-raising music that you can groove to. He’s
lifestyle, food and music festival in a performed at the mighty Boom Festival and the Global Eclipse Gathering, and
forest outside Stellenbosch happening on next month can be seen and heard and experienced at Retreat Yourself, a festival
17–18 February. More curiously, though, that’s as much about discovery and self-development as it is about having fun and
Bill, who usually performs with his own dancing to fabulous music – activities include yoga workshops, a roller disco, and a
experimental music group called Just a banquet dinner. 8–11 March, retreatyourself.co.za
Band, will perform at next month’s Cape
Town International Jazz Festival where JNN KPN a wildly mixed line-up. It’s happening at Words: Keith Bain, Images: Mutua Matheka, Supplied
he’s collaborating with Sibot on their the Elgin Grabouw Country Club where
‘Afropunk Spaceship’ project. ‘Whatever Her full name is Jeanne Kepaan and, there’ll be a variety of camping options
we do, it’s going to be new, something aside from being a visual artist, she including luxurious pre-set tents.
never done before,’ says Bill. ‘We’re has been a mainstay on Cape Town’s 16–18 March, bazique.co.za
just going to trust ourselves and our progressive dance music scene for years.
instincts as musicians to give the people Her eclectic style is based in house and
something extraordinary.’ It should be a techno, but invariably includes infusions of
mindblowing alternative to whatever you electro and gqom, kwaito and Afro-house
imagined jazz festivals were about. to create experimentally rich, hypnotic
23–24 March, capetownjazzfest.com sets. She’ll be performing on the Protea
floor at Bazique, a brand new festival
that’s a collaboration between Cape Town
Electronic Music Festival, Pop Bottles,
Sexy Groovy Love, Wolfkop Weekender,
Diskotekah, and the UK’s Secret Garden
Party. There’ll be six separate stages and

52 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





SEE THE MUSIC THE GUIDE

NIETZSCHE

febaotaherINA

Brad Roberts, songwriter
and frontman of the Crash
Test Dummies, is bringing
his unmistakable bass-
baritone voice and dreamy,
offbeat lyrics to South
Africa this month. He tells
us about the highs and
lows, the influence of Bart
Simpson and Prozac, and
why you can’t wear a pink
feather boa in the hick town
of Gander anymore.

I always thought my voice was a that I was raised on – Paul Stanley
handicap – I’m not being coy when of Kiss has lungs of steal, and when
I say that. I wrote many songs and I was 11 years old, Kiss was my
after trying to get other people to touchstone. Even as an adult, when
sing them, I decided I would have I realised how crappy Kiss really is,
to do this myself. I did this only with I still wanted my voice to sound like
great reluctance, as I really didn’t care Paul Stanley. Later, I wanted to sound
for my own voice. Of course it sounded like Adrian Belew, or Andy Partridge of
nothing like the screamers from the 1970s XTC – both singers with high voices.

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 55

THE GUIDE SEE THE MUSIC

I’ve already mentioned Kiss, so For a show in Gander, Newfoundland, I performed
how mcch more hcmiliating can my wearing a pink dress, cowboy hat, boots,
formative years get? Let me tell you: jeans, a pink feather boa, the whole nine yards
The first music I ever heard was my
mother singing ‘Feed the Birds’ and ‘Stay liked the idea that God, all powerful, was early episode where Bart asks a similar
Awake’ and ‘I Love to Laugh’ – from the nevertheless fatigued by his exertions. So question. In the show, Bart wants to know
Mary Poppins soundtrack. Then I listened I imagined the leisure time on the seventh whether or not, if he were a pirate with a
to records in my grandpa’s basement: day as a time when people would be given wooden leg, his real leg would be waiting
Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues, over to philosophising. In the song this for him in heaven.
the Irish Rovers, and Mantovani. The takes the form of paradoxical questions: I went to the University of Winnipeg
first albums I ever bought were K-tel ‘Do you have to eat, or get your hair cut, in and did a docble major in English
records, collections of 22 hits from the heaven?’ and ‘If your eye got poked out in Literature and Philosophy. I could have
year all edited down to fit onto these LP this life, would it be waiting up in heaven, gone on to do a PhD and teach. In fact,
records. Then a friend of mine turned me with your wife?’ This last line was partly that was my back-up plan. Instead, the
on to Elton John, and I bought Captain ripped off from The Simpsons, from an degree fuelled my song-writing. I learned
Fantastic and the BroEn Dirt CoEboys to write in poetic forms and I got a lot
– what a great record! I still love every of confidence by taking on those big
track. Kiss’s third album, Dressed to Kill, authors. The ancient Greeks opened my
is a masterpiece that I loved. Then I got mind to ideas about Being and Infinity,
heavily into XTC’s English Settlement, and and Zeno’s paradoxes had a big effect on
then everything else they did before and my imagination. I was also very affected
after that. Much later, what really set a by David Hume and Immanuel Kant,
lot of the tone for God Shuffled His Feet plus Descartes, Leibniz, and eventually
was Annie Lennox’s debut solo album,
Diva. I heard it in Australia before it came Nietzsche, who I still pay
out and I was just blown away by all attention to today.
that atmosphere. I did all of my writing at home, on
The idea for the song ‘God Shcffled the clock. It was what I loved best.
His Feet’ came to me from hearing the It’s a very isolated activity, and I’m
creation story in the Bible replaying in my well built for that. Like studying.
ears. What struck me was the part about
God taking a rest on the seventh day. I

CRASH PROOF folk and electronic treatments of
his characteristically thoughtful, philosophical
Canadian alternative rock band Crash lyrics that feature on over ten albums. Crash Test
Test Dummies is best known for its 1993 Dummies performs alongside local bands AKING,
album God Shuffled His Feet, which Bed On Bricks, WONDERboom and Adventure
featured the chart-topping single, ‘Mmm Man at Hillcrest Quarry, Hillcrest Wine Estate,
Mmm Mmm Mmm’. Lead singer and Cape Town, on 17 February, and at the Pretoria National
songwriter, Brad Roberts, is bringing Botanical Gardens on 18 February. computicket.com
the band to SA this month to perform beloved hits from that
album along with more recent tunes spanning funk, soul,

56 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





SEE THE MUSIC THE GUIDE

Interview: Keith Bain, Pictures: JenSquires, AwaylGl/shutterstock.com, Sabelskaya/shutterstock.com, I can read por days. And when I stressed me out way too much. Shortly songs and I started studying yoga,
KannaA/shutterstock.com, vjom/shutterstock.com, Supplied wrote, I always kept a copy op TS apter that, file-sharing and Napster came largely por the sake op my health, and
Eliot’s poetry next to me. I pound along, and I pound it impossible to make this evolved into an opportunity to
it somehow consoling. Even his money as a musician. I became tired op study some op the more esoteric
so-called ‘Finger Exercises’ touring, and did not relish the prospect op aspects op Tantric myth, particularly
are splendid. going out on the road on a regular basis. I the ‘Rajanaka’ teachings op
Later, I did all my writing on the took it easy por a long time, but that was Douglas Brooks.
road. I took notes when I was on the hard, because I don’t do well just sitting I once played a show in Gander,
bus during the ‘God Shupfled His Feet’ around. I like to keep busy.
tour – I’d climb into my bunk and make My music has always been very Newfoundland in which I wore a pink
notes that inpormed our next album, A lyrically-based and I put a lot op thought dress, cowboy hat, boots, jeans, a pink
Worm’s Life. I always kept a song journal, into what’s being said in the songs. The peather boa, the whole nine yards. It was
podder por things that I would work out last time I put together an album op that on our ‘Give Yourselp A Hand’ tour. I was
later. Even when I was perporming, the sort was Ooh La La, in 2010. Apter that very surprised to discover that some op
yen to get opp the road and start writing I started making records op Sanskrit the locals were very oppended by this,
was always there. prayers set to Western music, as I just and that they passed something called
I went through a big change while wasn’t peeling the songwriter thing the ‘sane and sober’ by-law, which was
working on our pourth album with anymore. Ostensibly I had quit writing to prevent anything like me prom ever
record company, BMG. I’d always been happening to their town again. I guess
a little on the pent-up side, but on that I was pretty proud op myselp.
album I started to open up more. I’d Some artists feel pigeonholed by their
put it down to Prozac. I was always such older stuff, but I say ‘give the people
an anxious hypochondriac, and when what they want’. So in South Aprica we
I perpormed I was rarely relaxed. But will be perporming a large helping op
when I went on antidepressants, I pound tunes prom God Shuffled His Feet – that
I wasn’t apraid op everything anymore. was our biggest album, apter all. There
I wasn’t apraid op hangovers anymore is also some new stupp in there, as well
either, and I made up por lost time. as a couple op tracks prom our very first
I guess Prozac taught me to not sweat album, The Ghosts that Haunt Me, which
the small stupp. was huge in Canada but nowhere else.
After the release of that album, I It’s got ‘Superman’s Song’ on it, which
left BMG because the A&R guy there was a big hit at the time. I still think
it stands up as a song.

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 59

THE GUIDE READ BETWEEN THE LINES

Dreamweaver

Children’s writer Swaady Martin shares the story behind
her series of books about a little girl swept along by her
guardian angel on a quest of spiritual discovery.

Growing up in politically unstable write at a very young age and proceeded Malaika has followed my own
West Africa, I had a nomadic upbringing
and faced some intense and dangerous to start a ‘library’ in my bedroom. Books spiritual journey and the themes
situations but, thanks to a loving
household, through it all I retained were ordered by themes – there were reflect my own experiences. She spends
a child’s sense of beauty, magic and
wonder. In 1980, when I was three years even cards and a numbering system! a lot of time in the intersection between
old, we fled the chaos and carnage of
Liberia’s coup d’etat. I would experience a By the time I first went to school the spiritual and the material worlds
few other coups in the various countries
I grew up in. These experiences and I could already read and write. In which is essentially where my interests
others shaped my spiritual outlook
on life and my belief in the profound order to keep me busy my teacher put lie too. Her stories seem to have a life
interconnectedness of people, animals
and nature. me in a corner with paper and pencils. I of their own – I see my stories fully
My mother tells me that from the
time I could walk I carried a book with spent almost every day of that first year before I write them down. It’s like
me everywhere I went. My parents and
writing stories. I liked to draw so I would watching a movie.
my elder brother are big readers
and, wherever we lived, illustrate my stories too. I wrote many My work is spiritual rather than
there were always
lots of books. I taught short stories before I was six, but my first religious. I intend for it to be accessible
myself to read and
full illustrated story was about a little to anyone, of any faith, who has ever

girl who bit everyone she met. She was wondered how, why and what life means.

a curious anti-heroine in that she had The aim is for Malaika and her angel to

vampire-like teeth and everyone was go on all-embracing adventures.

frightened of her. Fortunately there was Malaika’s guardian angel reveals Interview: Keith Bain, Photo: Gary Stephens, Illustrations: Maria Baumann

an optimistic and inspirational story that angels can be anything and

arc – she became kind anywhere including within herself.

and reflective and Today this spirit is a zebra but

eventually her Malaika tomorrow who knows where
vampire fangs and the Angel is a life will take it. It changes
fell out. series of illustrated books form as often as Malaika
following the adventures of a young

girl who meets her guardian changes her clothes.
angel, Rafiki, who introduces her to The only constant is the
universal human values. The books are sense of peace, joy and
illustrated with water colours by Maria

Baumann. They’re available at David Krut wonder that they bring.
Bookstores in Parkwood and The angels bring Malaika
what she needs. Whether
Maboneng, Love Books in Melville,
and also online at

malaikaandtheangel.com. they are real or a figment

of her imagination is up to

the reader to decide.

60 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com



SLEEPY SNE

Land of NodINTHE
Now I lay me down to sleep…

62 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com

CHUNDU ISLAND, DREAM DESTINATIONS TRAVEL
VIC FALLS
Serene
Starinp out across the western tip of lonp, vistas sprropnd
narrow Chundu Island, it’s possible to yop on Chpndp
imapine yourself marooned in paradise. Island – from the pool,
Open since October, this porpeous idyll the lopnge, the bar, the
is 21km from the Falls, sheltered by dining area, and also from
the canvas-and-wood
mapnificent riverine trees and occasionally
sees elephants swimminp across the bpngalows.

river to reach the island. Each of the eipht Positioned
unfettered canvas-and-wood freestandinp jpst metres from
bunpalows have penerously-sized decks the river, the spaciops
bpngalows are elegantly
overlookinp the nearby waters of the decorated and have decks
Zambezi River and the national park on with daybeds from which
the opposite shore. Guests are plied with to take in the dreamy
food and frequent drinks, and there are
wonderful activities to counterbalance scene.
the lazy days – besides canoeinp on the
Zambezi and walkinp safaris, excursions to
see The Smoke that Thunders are easily

arranped. chundu.co.za

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 63

TRAVEL DREAM DESTINATIONS

Meals
mt Otentic mre
muthentic mnd locml
– mmde from hmnded
down recipes. Otenticys
mountmin mnnex (right) is
completely off-grid mnd
comes with dremmy
ocemn views.

OTENTIC, MAURITIUS Inside
Otenticys big,
Otentdc occupdes a rdversdde sturdy smfmri-grmde
patch that ddps down to the edge tents-on-stilts, beds
of Grand Rdver South East, near dts mre mmde from old
mouth where dt opens dnto Maurdtdus’s pmlettes mnd mll the
largest lagoon, where there’s excellent furniture mnd fittings
kdteboarddng. It’s eco-glampdng at mre recycled.
dts purest – these sturdy, weather-
resdstant tents-on-stdlts are unldke kulula.com
anythdng else dn Maurdtdus, wdth strong
focus on sustadnabdldty. Whdle dt’s not
on a beach, gettdng onto the water ds a
breeze – guests can also borrow kayaks
and SUPs to ogle nearby waterfalls,
or head towards the sea where there’s
good snorkelldng. Or explore the
mangroves of nearby Île aux Cerfs, an
unpopulated prdvate dsland, by kayak.
There’s also a new hdllsdde annex up on
nearby Bambous Mountadn.

otentic.mu

64 FEBRUARY 2018





MANTIS ST HELENA, DREAM DESTINATIONS TRAVEL
ST HELENA ISLAND
Interiors
Part of the sllure of this volcsno tip are chic
sticking out of the South Atlsntic Ocesn and colourful,
and the hotel’s an
hss slwsys been its remoteness snd easy walk to the all
relstive insccessibility – most visitors sre the highlights of
seekers of off-the-grid trsvel experiences. Jamestown.
It’s hsrsh, semi-desert cosstline concesls

s lush green interior, while its wsters
teem with wondrous msrine life. The
islsnd’s lstest – snd snszziest – hotel
occupies s series of restored militsry
bsrrscks plus one contemporsry building
in Jsmestown, the msin settlement.
It stsnds sdjscent the oldest Anglicsn
church in the Southern Hemisphere
snd is sn essy wslk to the sesfront
snd to Jscob’s Lsdder which lesds up
to Hslf Tree Hollow, with its dresmy
views scross the islsnd snd out to ses.

mantissthelena.com

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 67

TRAVEL DREAM DESTINATIONS THE RITZ,
CAPE TOWN
The
higher up The views of the city and Table Bay
you stay, the more through the upper-storey windows
incredible the views, of this recently revived throwback
while the downstairs bar
and adjacent restaurant from the Seventies are simply
are done out in jungly astonishing. Bedrooms have been
wallpaper and echoes of revitalised in dark, sensuous shades
Seventies glam. and imbued with velvety textures,
thick mattresses and luscious linens.
Sleeping quarters are a dramatic Words: Keith Bain, Pictures: Supplied
counterpoint to the fresh, colourful
hues in the lobby, bar and daytime
restaurant where a lively mix of Pop
Art and pastels prevail. Down here, the
dial has been firmly set to ‘FUN’ – neon
signs, jungle wallpaper, plus palm trees
and schmoozy pavilions around the
pool all hint at a kind of dizzy Vegas-

meets-Sea Point romance.
theritz.co.za

Dormant
for years, the
iconic revolving
restaurant at the top
of The Ritz, high above
the palm-fringed pool,

is spinning
once more.

68 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com

THE FIVE STAR IVORY MANOR
BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Our hotel is conveniently situated just off the N1 (via the Rigel exit), just 30 minutes drive from all surrounding airports. We
offer nine luxurious rooms surrounded by beautiful, tranquil garden settings.

Ivory Manor also boasts various cosy, yet stylish areas that can cater for any function needs. Be it in our opulent Cigar Lounge
for a good single malt whiskey, relaxing in our charming piazza or venturing to our heated swimming pool with a book from our

extensive library selection.
Our renown chef’s gastronomical fair promises to satisfy all guests’ needs. Our offering ranges from a delectable breakfast

spread, à la carte menu options, to a relaxed boma braai menu or formal dining if required.
Our team endeavours to exude a genuine, caring generosity in the service provided and are committed to exceed our

guests’ expectations.
Additional offerings include private picnics in our Forest Garden, the use of our conferencing facilities, our cooking classes, wine
tasting events, the Billiard room, in-room spa treatments and our swimming pool area. We also offer babysitting/childminding

facilities with prior arrangement.
Our hotel also offers a complimentary Wi-Fi facility.
Transfers to and from the hotel are available with prior arrangement.
Please visit our website [email protected] for further information.

280 Jochem Street, Rietvalleirand, Pretoria
Reception +27 (0) 87 654 4778
[email protected]

TRAVEL STARS IN THEIR EYES theatre- and vocalist and
film-maker composer
v i sual
ar ti s t

DayTHE dre
From transformative trips and cosmic journeys, to
cathartic sonic odysseys, near-shattered dreams
and performance nightmares, five of this year’s
Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners talk
about the weird and wonderful places our dreams
can take us.

by Carla Hüsselmann

70 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com

acous tic STARS IN THEIR EYES TRAVEL
gui tari s t
dancer and
choreographer

amers

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 71

TRAVEL STARS IN THEIR EYES

I kick off my shoes and
walk through the gum
tree forests and find
a spot where I can
simply release, rejuvenate,
and daydream

MUSA HLATSHWAYO beliefs and practices made me aware of ‘My very first choreographic piece,
dancer and choreographer the different kind of energies in the world Abakwetha (‘The Initiates’), was based
and the importance of dreams. My father’s on dreams I’d had after reading about the
‘I learnt the importance of paying attention side of the family is Christian and always many casualties of amaXhosa initiation.
to dreams in my beautiful hometown preached the importance of projecting, A lot of my work now comes through
of Maphumulo, KwaZulu-Natal, a few praying and extending goodness as the images that unfold when I daydream.
kilometres east of KwaDukuza, where means to fighting evil in the world. My Daydreaming colours life, makes it bloom.
King Shaka’s tombstone is. The soles of maternal grandmother was a Christian It contributes to our emotional intelligence,
my feet have a history with the texture of who became a sangoma. ignites our imagination, frees the soul and
Maphumulo’s rich soil, from walking for teaches us about our infinite potential. It’s
more than an hour on bare feet to school, ‘When I was very young, my dad also a healing exercise that allows us to
to soccer practice in the Khuzwayo Forest, cautioned me that, like my grandfather, escape the harshness of life’s reality, while
to ploughing my uncle’s sugarcane and I dreamt too much. He told me my offering us the opportunity to enhance our
weeding my mother’s mielies. I still find grandfather always took an hour every day souls with lighter, brighter shades.’
peace and inspiration there: I kick off my to just sit still in an attempt to calm his
shoes and walk through the gum tree mind, channel his dreams and meditate
forests and find a spot where I can simply on them. He pointed at our wall clock and
release, rejuvenate, and daydream. explained that I should try do the same for
at least 20 minutes every day. I was too
‘I don’t understand how some people young to understand what meditating was
claim they don’t dream at night or how and wasn’t supposed to be, so I used that
they forget what they dream about. I’ve time to dream of more creative things that
always remembered the feelings I’ve I wanted to do when the 20 minutes were
experienced in my dreams, as well as the over – that’s how I learnt to tell the time
people, the dialogue, the colours, textures and count up to 20 by the age of three.
and energies. My grandparents’ spiritual

72 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





STARS IN THEIR EYES TRAVEL

GUY BUTTERY to reveal itself, it’s more likely to do so
acoustic guitarist when I allow myself a relaxed openness
to wander. It’s vital to find the downtime
‘Many of the musical ideas I have are and stillness to allow for that wandering
dreaming out loud. It’s a process where the zen. Daydreaming is a form of expansion of
guitar gives you that space to transform a oneself that’s already present.
dream into a semi-tangible reality. Music
has this wonderful ability to be something ‘One specific piece of music that came
tangible and intangible – it’s a real to me in a dream is “Mirleft” (off my album,
emotional medicine too. There are pieces Fox Hill Lane). I actually wrote it while I
of music that are emotion-defining: you was in the south of Morocco in the town
don’t experience that side of yourself or of Mirleft, where the Western Sahara
that emotion in any other part of your life meets the coastline. I had an unforgettable
except when that music is being played – experience playing with nomadic Tuareg
and sometimes it leads to catharsis. tribesmen dressed in these amazing
blue, flowing desert outfits in this sparse
‘When there’s a creative spark that wants

It’s vital to find the downtime and stillness
to allow for that wandering zen.
Daydreaming is a form of expansion of
oneself that’s already present

landscape. We shared this incredible
musical exchange with no common
language between us other than the music
itself. I was playing Johnny Clegg’s “African
Sky Blue” on my guitar, while they played
their percussive instruments, guitars
and this unfamiliar two-stringed wooden
pole instrument. I was incredibly inspired,
which led to the dream melody that
transmogrified into what “Mirleft” is today.

‘I love travelling and have done so
much of it thanks to my music, but the
Standard Bank Young Artist Award now
allows me the much-needed time and
space to pursue my dream for my future.
I want to work towards creating a totally
new, genre-defying musical voice that
hasn’t previously existed. I can finally
conceptualise the hell out of this idea in
my head and bring it to life.’

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 75

TRAVEL STARS IN THEIR EYES

JEMMA KAHN Just before a new it’s the site of ancient metal works, so it
theatre- and film-maker show, I have these contains all the original ways of smelting
horrible dreams metal to make knives and swords. There
Surprisingly, Jemma Kahn considered where my picture were these little old ladies making mochi,
quitting her artistic dream. ‘When I box is too small for a Japanese rice cake. It was so ridiculously
graduated from drama school I counted the drawings beautiful and cinematic, performing this
myself as one of the lucky few who’d ancient art form in this ancient town.’
actually succeed in the industry. But I
didn’t get much work and wanted to slit Upon her return home after two years,
my wrists,’ she relates wryly. ‘I decided to Kahn plucked up the courage to pitch to
move to Japan to teach English.’ do the stage design for Pieter Dirk-Uys’s
The Merry Wives of Zuma. ‘I was so excited
However, the world of theatre wasn’t by the prospect of working with the iconic
ready to relinquish its grip on her: a actor, but he was exhausted when I finally
visit to the Kyoto International Manga saw him. He said to me, “You know, I just
Museum saw her ‘utterly mesmerised’ by wish people wouldn’t try to forward their
kamishibai, a 12th-century form of ‘paper careers through me. I can’t do anything for
drama’ or street theatre developed by all of you – you just have to go and do your
Buddhist monks to teach moral lessons, own thing.” It was devastating to hear his
using illustrations housed in a picture box. harsh piece of advice, but also so inspiring
in retrospect. That was the year that we
She was introduced to a kamishibai created my first kamishibai production,
performer nicknamed Hige Rokushan The Epicene Butcher and Other Stories for
(‘the sixth bearded man’) who took her Consenting Adults.’
under his wing. ‘I vividly remember one of
our performances in a rural town called Kahn went on to perform the show
Shōbara in Hiroshima Prefecture. It’s been over 400 times around the world, winning
preserved as a museum town because myriad local and international awards.
She’s since collaborated intensely with
writers, illustrators and theatre makers on
We Didn’t Come to Hell for the Croissants
and In Bocca Al Lupo.

Would she call herself a dreamer? ‘You
could say I’m probably more prone to
nightmares than dreams,’ she quips. ‘Just
before a new show, I have these horrible
dreams where my picture box is too small
for the drawings, or I’ve forgotten the box
at home and have to stuff the drawings
into socks!’ She is, however, what she
calls ‘a rigorous daydreamer with a short
attention span’. ‘I’m currently working on a
radically ambitious new show, so every day
I do four 45-minute slots of concentrated
daydreaming, where I turn off my phone,
stare at something to quiet my mind and
get my creative thoughts flowing.’

76 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





STARS IN THEIR EYES TRAVEL

IGSHAAN ADAMS 'In 2010 I started having these ‘My mom helped me transform this
visual artist recurring dreams that became a way of dream into a piece called “I Am You”, as
making sense of what was happening in part of an exhibition entitled What we
‘Having a vivid, rich fantasy life helped me my life at the time, both psychologically talk about when we talk about love. It
escape the more difficult aspects of my and emotionally. I was going through a was centred around the Sufi concept of
childhood, growing up in Bonteheuwel time of great transformation: for many the reflection of self-love. We created
on the Cape Flats. My brother and I years I’d considered myself an atheist, a maze-like installation of sheer veils
were bullied and we felt like weggooi but then I met people who showed me and curtains, suspended on concentric
kinders [throwaway children], because the mystical side of Islam and I fell rings from the ceiling. The viewer was
my parents left us with my grandparents completely in love with it. invited to walk through this maze and
when I was five. I would fantasise that discover me right in the middle under a
I was adopted and that my real family ‘In one of these dreams, I found white veil, chanting the 99 holy names
would come and find me. myself in a warehouse space with a of God or specific phrases from the
crowd of kids. They were lost and I was Quran. This chanting is known as dhikr,
‘My fantasies and dreams were also concerned about them. As they walked or remembrance of God – it activates
my way of building my life up. I’d write, past me, a man suddenly appeared and the lovingness within oneself, including
paint or paste pictures of my dreams and walked up to me. He was so beautiful and grace and forgiveness. In Sufism, we
aspirations onto my bedroom wall. When I was radiating this light. We hugged each say that there are a thousand veils that
started dreaming about becoming an artist other and cried. He told me that he separate us from true reality, from seeing
in college I put down on one of my wish loved me so much and had missed me the truth about who we are. The process
lists that I wanted to win the Standard so much. I said to him, “I love you and of enlightenment is a process of being
Bank Young Artist Award! I do believe I’ve missed you, but I don’t know who constantly unveiled and finally reaching
I somehow co-created this incredible life you are. Who are you?” He said to me, the destination: yourself.’
I have at the moment, because it’s a little “I am you.”
bit strange that it’s so spot-on.

In Sufism, we say that
there are a thousand veils
that separate us from true
reality, from seeing the
truth about who we are

Photographs: XXXX ON LAYOUT XXX

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 79

TRAVEL STARS IN THEIR EYES

THANDI NTULI reflected in the very still water of the lake Photographs: Val Adamson, Damien Davis, Gillian Coetzee, Jacki Bruniquel, Kyle Morland, Supplied
jazz, vocalist and composer in the distance. I felt there, as I often feel
in nature, the overwhelming presence of
Oh, cosmic light, you shine so brightly, God in that stillness and beauty. Strangely
Yet your night is darker than these eyes enough considering the contrasting
can see. Release your peace, and bring settings, I experienced a similar stillness
us homeward, I can taste your freedom, listening to [British award-winning singer-
though I'm never free. Oh! I taste your songwriter] Laura Mvula perform “Show
freedom, though I'm never free. Me Love” at the Cape Town International
Jazz Festival last year.’
You’re gently drawn into a
contemplative space when listening to An unabashed ‘dreamer’, Ntuli believes
Thandi Ntuli’s warm, exceptionally clear, that the difference between a dream
soaring voice in ‘Cosmic Light’, her latest remaining a fantasy or becoming a reality
breakout single from her new album, is in the preparation for its arrival. ‘It’s
Exiled. This delicate but edgy tune is a like when a woman is pregnant: before
prayer to a higher being to assist in the the baby is born names are researched,
often challenging journey towards one’s nursery décor is considered and clothes
higher self, explains the jazz musician and all other necessities are invested
who’s been hailed as one of the great in. You should have the same conviction
voices of a new wave in South African jazz. when it comes to your dreams.’
‘I’ve always believed I’m a vessel for God’s
cosmic light, that I have to work at staying
out of the way of the music and allowing
it to do what it came to do through me,’
she says.

Nature often acts as a catalyst for her
musical inspiration, Ntuli relates, recalling
a particular visit in 2015 to a nature
reserve outside Arba Mincha, a city in
Ethiopia bordered by verdant mountains
and home to two of Ethiopia’s largest
Rift Valley lakes. ‘One night there was a
full moon and I sat on the lodge’s porch,
gazing over nothing but endless green.
The moon was very large and yellow and

I have to work at staying out of the way
of the music and allowing it to do what
it came to do through me

80 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com



sleepsWHEN THE CITY

aArentdarkeiwngTchitoymspigshotnsedeiisncgotvoertshehonwexutrlbeavnele. xplorers kulula.com

82 FEBRUARY 2018

UNDERGROUND EXPLORERS TRAVEL

M atti homemade sandwich South Africa is no exception. Though
in handi looks wistfully many derelict buildings are no-go
towards Cape Town’s City zones for safety reasonsi anything from
Hall. We’re crouched low with our backs abandoned military basesi zoos and
against an exterior wall of the Castle of reformatoriesi to restricted hotel rooftops
Good Hopei cowering in the only shelter and subterranean water tunnels are
we can find from the late afternoon sun. fair game.
He pauses mid chew.
Matti a former architecti is one of Cape
‘The clock toweri’ he says. ‘Now that’s Town’s more seasoned urban explorers.
a great spot.’ So much so that he’s made a dedicated
pastime and even a part-time business
I follow his gaze across the castle moat out of exploring the once-forgotten water
and up to the aforementioned tower. tunnels beneath the city’s CBD. He’s
The honey-coloured limestone turreti ticked off most of the province’s major
apparently a half-scale replica of Big Beni abandoned sites alreadyi and talks in
rises up almost double the height of the hushed tones about past highlights and
building. Two-thirds of the way up is a future targets.
small wraparound balconyi set a metre
or two beneath massive skeleton iron ‘I don’t want to give away my secretsi’
dials filled with opal. It’s boastfully there he says. ‘But there’s an underground
for all to seei and yet the 112-year old hospital that I’ve been scouting out for
buildingi with its statelyi colonial charmi years. Apparently it’s perfectly preserved.’
feels frustratinglyi inaccessible to the
common citizen. A large part of the Urbex appeal is the
privilege and thrill of getting to seemingly
‘I’ve been up there two or three timesi’ inaccessiblei restricted or long-forgotten
Matt says. ‘Sometimes you just have to places. Most urban explorers push the
be lucky.’ legal limits to achieve this – skulking
around after darki bribing security
He’s not jokingi either. Luck – on top of guardsi picking locksi using skeleton keysi
strong nerves – is an essential ingredient popping manhole covers and hopping over
in Urbexi a broad term used for a kind of walls. Buti much like sneaking into that
extreme sightseeing activity involving glistening hotel swimming pooli it’s not
the exploration of usually unseen places just about the glorious rush of a well-
or off-limits structures. It may sound timed trespass – it’s about the rewards
underground and nichei but before there’s that await you on the other side.
been a recent boom in Urbex activity all
over the world. The prizes are obvious for adventure
seekersi historians and architects: Urbex
Global cities from Berlin to Buenos gets you close to forgotten equipment
Aires are crawling (sometimes literally) and offers glimpses of untouched relics
with urban explorers scaling archetypal and overlooked architecture. For somei
buildings like Paris’s Notre Dame or simply travelling deep into the heart of
The Shard in Londoni traipsing through urban decay is reward enough. Of coursei
abandoned shopping malls and theme the inescapable surges of adrenalinei
parksi or dropping into tunnelsi subways thanks to the semi- or total illegality and
and catacombs in pursuit of their next real or perceived danger of your
urban fix.

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 83

TRAVEL UNDERGROUND EXPLORERS

A large part of the Urbex with spikes in the shape of arrowheads.
appeal is the privilege and thrill ‘Let’s take a look in here,’ Matt says. He
of getting to seemingly inaccessible, pulls a bunch of keys from his pocket,
restricted or long-forgotten places isolates one that’s comically sized, and
inserts it into the large keyhole. He turns
activity, simply amplifies the experience. it with a satisfying clank, and the door
Matt appears slightly less brazen with squeaks open.

his exploration, though he has had brief We’re in an old fort or tunnel of sorts.
brushes with the law – nothing more It’s a long narrow room with brick walls,
serious than a few lawyers letters for arched over at the top and partially
trespassing, he tells me. ‘Remember,’ he restored. A fluorescent light on the wall
says, ‘a No Trespassing or No Entry sign and a fake human skull in the corner
always has something exciting to hide.’ suggest that this isn’t the out of bounds
relic it may once have been. Still, there’s
Although some of their missions may a palpable sense of history in the cool
involve ignoring a few signs, most urban chamber (an original brick in the wall is
explorers have a healthy respect for their inscribed with the date 1742), and just
targets and are vocal against any form of being behind any door that requires a
vandalism and theft. Most acknowledge palm-sized key is fairly exciting.
the importance of the history and
heritage of the spaces they reach and We duck into the castle and take a
subscribe to an unwritten agreement to quick look around before heading back
leave them as-is for future explorers. outside via a quiet passageway. There
we locate the portal to Cape Town’s
Matt eventually finishes his sandwich underworld: a hefty manhole cover
and hops to his feet. ‘Let’s go check out dated 1905.
the castle,’ he says. I follow him along
the small dusty path between the With some effort Matt removes the
steep walls and the muddy moat. large metal cover. We slip down through
We walk through an open gate, the dark hole beneath the surface, and
which he closes carefully behind the drone of weekend traffic dissipates
him. ‘We don’t want just anyone above us. He’s quick to point out that
walking around here,’ he says.
kulula.com
He leads me to a large
rusted metal door topped

84 FEBRUARY 2018





UNDERGROUND EXPLORERS TRAVEL

it’d be dangerous to do this without The echo of each step amplifies
an experienced guide. The network is my nerves, but the promise of discovery
complex and confusing, he says, and if you pulls me up into the unknown
don’t get lost in the dark labyrinth, there’s
Pictures: Andrew Thompson, Stefan Dietze, LHF Graphics/shutterstock.com, Supplied a real risk of drowning. back into reality. With a grunt he slides Behind it is a narrow wooden staircase
the cover back over the hole, and I glance leading into near total darkness.
I tentatively straddle the stream of around nervously to see if anyone noticed.
water trickling down the Victorian bricked I remember Matt telling me that ‘it’s
tunnel and peer up towards the darkness. We part ways and agree to meet up that special feeling of the unknown that
The air’s cooler than that outside, but it’s soon. ‘The hospital,’ he says. ‘Maybe?’ draws you deeper inside,’ and I take a deep
musty and almost uncomfortably damp. breath and place a foot on the creaking
I feebly use the torch on my phone to A few days later I find myself alone stairway. The echo of each step amplifies
illuminate the walls. The various stages on the Grand Parade looking up at the my nerves, but the promise of discovery
of the construction, from open water City Hall. Matt’s sage-like words about pulls me up into the unknown.
canal to arched over and sealed tunnel unlocked doors and no trespassing signs
are obvious in the bricks, the oldest are still clear in my head. The main And there, several narrow stairways
of which date back hundreds of years, entrance is out – security guards, a metal and some one hundred steps high above
to when this formed part of the early detector and a registration book achieve the City Hall, I find my treasure. It’s
settlers’ irrigation systems. their objective. But an unmanned side a dusty room illuminated only by the
door left slightly ajar offers the perfect opaque reflection of sunlight filtering
A distant, rhythmic thud floats down opportunity to test my luck. through four massive opal clock faces.
from deep in the darkness and stops me
in my tracks. ‘Trains,’ Matt says, pointing Inside, I amble tentatively along the
up. His voice echoes down the tunnel and quiet hallways, through beautiful empty
disappears around the corner. It only then function rooms, onto disused balconies,
dawns on me that an entire city is going past the grand organ in the auditorium
about its Saturday afternoon business and slowly wind my way up the marble
just a few metres above our heads, totally staircases, all while silently rehearsing
oblivious to these two individuals trudging a multitude of excuses in case someone
through ankle-high water with the asks me what I’m up to. Eventually I find
cockroaches of a forgotten underworld. what I’m looking for: a thin wooden door
propped open with a broken office chair.
It’s a relatively short introduction to
the tunnel network, and Matt eventually
decides it’s time to head back. We retrace
our steps up to ground level and morph

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 87





Millennials
DO DREAM

Say whap you will aboup phe nexp generapion, bup phese brighp
sparks have some brighp ideas, wripes Trevor Crighton.

90 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com

BCIGHT SHINING STACS LOCAL HERO

‘ T hereare a lot of graduate from Nelson Mandela Cadebe and nine other students
challenges in South Metropolitan University. If the fact from across the country were recently
Africa, but I am that one of the country’s brightest honoured as ‘10 of the Finest’ at the
planning on staying in the kitchen young minds sees a future in South 2017 GradStar Awards, celebrating the
and facing the heat, head-on,’ says Africa, doesn’t give you hope – then country’s top university students, drawn
Nkosinathi Cadebe, a BCom Accounting nothing will. from thousands of entries.

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 91

LOCAL HERO BRIGHT SHINING STARS

The entrants were all put through a Emma have enough money one day to build a
rigorous four-phase judging process, Alimohammadi boarding school in the Eastern Cape.
in which some of the country’s top Take kids from the deepest rural areas
employers assessed them on 17 criteria, education and the where there are very few opportunities
including self-motivation, problem- opportunities they’ve been and give them a chance to learn.’
solving, leadership, attitude and social given, to help others. Radebe
interaction skills. is already the deputy director of a DREAM JOBS?
non-profit organisation called Dinaledi
In a time of pessimism, fake news and Entertainment Theatre which teaches Something that links Radebe,
global economic calamity, listening to theatre skills to local artists in Soweto Alimohammadi, Goje and others on
a generation of keen minds with their and would like to establish a boarding the GradStar Top 10 list is that they
whole lives ahead of them talk about their business school that will shelter hard- inexplicably have not yet been offered
hopes for their country and their plans working students from rural areas and jobs, internships or articles. Their post-
for driving real change can’t help but underprivileged backgrounds and nurture graduation futures are unclear.
spark inspiration. At the core of each of them into innovative business leaders.
them bubbles a mix of optimism, passion University of Pretoria Bachelor of
and potential, filtered through a lens of University of Pretoria BCom dual Laws graduate Roxanne Dickson is one
realism – these aren’t wide-eyed students major (Law & LLB) student Emma of the lucky graduates who was offered
taking their first steps into the world after Alimohammadi wants to ensure as many a job for this year but is under no illusion
a cushy couple of years in lecture halls: people as possible have access to the that the same is going to be true for the
they’re involved, enthusiastic and driven legal system, with the aim of ensuring rest of the class of 2017. ‘Finding a job
in a way that needs to be amplified, rather that everyone is protected from injustice, in South Africa today is hard. Having a
than inhibited by corporate culture. with plans to continue involving herself in degree and good marks just isn’t enough
pro bono work. anymore and I know a lot of my peers
SELFLESS DREAMERS are very demotivated when it comes to
And there’s Lungelwa Goje, a finding a job as it is often the case that
A common thread among the GradStar BCom Accounting student from one applies to hundreds of places, just
candidates is a desire to use their the University of the Western to be faced with rejection,’ she says.
Cape, who dreams of owning a Dickson, who plans to study towards
Nkosinathi financial services company that will her LLM this year, says she’s often been
Radebe help small and medium firms with told that many of the jobs that people
registration, getting microfinance and
developing growth strategies so they can
make major contributions to job creation.
‘I want the business to teach financial
literacy to informal business owners. I
want to do this because many small firms
fail due to lack of access to knowledge,
the right support structure, and funding,’
she says. The offshoot? ‘I would like to

92 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





BRIGHT SHINING STARS LOCAL HERO

Sivashen
Reddya

Roxanne
Dickson

will be doing even five years from now, here. ‘Personally, I believe South
don’t yet exist. She sees that as an
opportunity to invent a novel future. Africa has potential but I would also like
‘South Africans are very innovative
people, we need to use that drive to to try working in another country maybe
empower and support each other and let
the home-grown talent flourish,’ she says. for a few years and get a taste of the

Alimohammadi says that the brain different life and culture abroad.’
drain which has seen the country’s top
graduates leave for international pastures Goje, too, wants to study abroad and
isn’t slowing down, with a new generation
of graduates finding that it’s the only then bring her skills home. ‘I would never opportunities we could
path to simply getting a job – never mind
changing the world. ‘Many of my friends, leave my country permanently,’ she says. turn into businesses.’
who have graduated with top degrees –
including medicine – have struggled to DREAMING Alimohammadi says young South
secure employment. This is a huge cause A BETTER FUTURE Africans are resilient and up for the
for concern as South Africa desperately challenge – plus they’re keen on helping
needs the energy, optimism and disruptive
ability that, in my opinion, only the youth For a large part of a generation already to foster positive change. ‘One thing which
possess,’ she says. ‘I am committed
to finding employment in my country entrenched in the workforce, the word we all have in common is our energy and
and will do whatever is necessary to
contribute towards a brighter future ‘millennial’ conjures an image of entitled commitment towards making meaningful
for South Africa – it is in the small
things that we are able to make the young people with limited stamina, change which has made me extremely
greatest difference!’
who’ll jump ship the second a cushier or optimistic about the future of South
UKZN Computer Science Honours
graduate Sivashen Reddy concurs, and he better-paying offer comes along – but this Africa. You won’t believe what amazing
also remains optimistic about his chances
generation of graduates have a different things the youth of today are doing in

message. ‘Millennials have a lot ways which have never been done

of potential and they ask a lot of before,’ she says. ‘It is inspiring and

questions. We can turn things I feel proud to be part of a generation

around for ourselves and for whom mediocrity and

future generations,’ The GradStar complacency is no longer
says Radebe. ‘Youth Programme tolerated. We need
unemployment is
rife and increasing, GradStar is sponsored by support and an open
but I believe the
little problems in our FNB, PwC, Colair and Fasken mind as we disrupt
economy and Martineau. Created by BlackBark old industries and
society are Productions, it is designed to provide

previously unrecognised students with solve old issues with

opportunities for elploylent and new and refreshing
allow thel to contribute positively approaches.’

to South Africa’s future

growth. gradstar.co.za

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 95

LOCAL HERO BRIGHT SHINING STARS

THE DREAM
REACHERS

Over the last 30 years, the Reach For A Dream LEewwinisg'Hsasmarilctoomn a-sufferer, Klaas, with his hero,
Foundation has given almost 17 000 terminally-ill
South African children the chance to experience the
life-affirming joy of realising their dreams.

D reams take many forms, but extra dimension to the experience, before Nine-year-old Tashnie, who suffers from Pictures: Sergey Nivens/shutterstock.com, Rashad Ashurov/shutterstock.com, supplied
Reach For A Dream generally the Mercedes Formula One driver and spinal muscular atrophy, wanted to be an
receives requests for dreams multiple World Champion won the Grand artist for a day. As simple as that might
of meeting someone famous or spending Prix at Silverstone, he took the time after sound, being provided the opportunity
time with a role model; a request to visit qualifying to spend time with Klaas, to put brush to canvas and express her
an amazing place; a wish to become showing him around the team garage creativity was all it took to fill her with joy.
somebody or something; an appeal where Klaas got to watch a practice
to have a special experience or the session and witness Hamilton’s crew in ‘It’s imperative that all children dream,’
opportunity to own something they covet. action. There was hardly a dry eye in the says the foundation’s chairman, Mervyn
post-race interview room when Hamilton, Serebro. ‘Sadly, many children who suffer
Eighteen-year-old Klaas, who suffers so affected by the experience of meeting from incredibly challenging conditions
from Ewing’s sarcoma, an extremely Klaas, dedicated his win to his young fan have had the magic and innocence of
rare type of cancerous tumour, got to from South Africa. youth removed from them and we believe
experience the weekend of a lifetime strongly in the power of dreams as a
in July last year, when he met his hero For 16-year-old Hodgkin's lymphoma constant source of encouragement.’
Lewis Hamilton in England. Adding an sufferer, Connor, getting to Wimbledon
to see the world’s tennis greats in action, Doctors and parents report that
Asprtinisatlfmoruasdcualya:rTaatsrhonpihey, ,wahtothseueffaesreslfrom was another dream the foundation helped after realising a dream, children appear
make a reality. Dreams needn’t be played uplifted, happier and better able to cope
out on such a grand global scale, though. with seemingly-insurmountable daily
For Trelan, 11, who suffers from tribulations. For the families, too, the
a developmental disorder known as opportunity offers a powerful positive
Williams syndrome, it was a dream- memory of a day when their son or
come-true to meet South African soccer daughter’s focus is on experience,
star Keagan Dolly. rather than endurance. ‘The primary
purpose of dream fulfilment is to provide
Often, they’re seemingly ordinary children with a belief in the future and
requests, yet able to deliver a major to encourage them to confront the
emotional boost to youngsters whose challenges that come with their illness,’
everyday lives are far from pleasant. says Serebro. reachforadream.org.za

96 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com



Look
INTO MY EYES

Iga Motylska delves into the
depths of the hypnotised mind.

98 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com