My pride ,My hair!

We all have hair, with different textures and lengths.It is a natural defence mechanism against temperature and insects, for many it is also a piece of identity. Through time and across multiple cultures hair has defined and still defines many roles or people in society.

 Today some of us love our hair as it is, while some would rather change their natural hair for something more 'current'. Well, I am an advocate for freedom of expression, which many come in different forms, including hairstyles.

Living in Europe, for the first time in my life I have come to really appreciate my hair. I am not talking about recycled or machine made plastic strips, I'm referring to my thick dark,  frizzy, curly, kinky and bouncy natural, proudly African hair covering my head. Carefully and evenly planted  from the edge of my forehead, all the way around my head to meet at the back of my neck.Much like mature grass across veld and hills of an African landscape. It has become a great part of my identity as an African. Not only because many of my German friends are envious of me as I decide to roll dreadlocks in one week and then just trim the next week, they envy how my hair shines under the sun, while keeping a cool temperature ,much like a natural air conditioner. They wonder at the beauty, the perfection of my hair and the elegance in the way each hair curves in its journey upwards. My hair completes the definition of me as an African man, dark and lovely.
 

Recently, as I was scrolling through my Facebook home page, I came across a post entitled 'Looking Smart',with a picture accompanying it. In the picture were high school students smartly dressed in their full school uniform. As impressive as it was, I couldn't help but realise that all the girls, with the exception of two, had fake, Synthetic extensions planted and hanging on their heads!
 

Young African women! I cannot help but realise the symbolism behind this,though we are no longer colonised as a people in Africa by other nations,but we have volunteered ourselves to keeping to the imperial western standards. We refuse to accept the legitimacy of the African model in this modern day and rather follow those, whose culture deliberately despises the dignity of Africa. 

I am just expressing my opinion, however for an African renaissance to take place we need to start to look at ourselves and take pride.

African man, African woman, You Are Beautiful!

Lebohang Dube

Izinwele,Hair, Haar

Zigqaje!Be proud! Stolz sein!

 

 

When I remember those who love me...

Mhla ngikhumbula abakithi

Mhla ngikhumbula abakithi.          ( When I remember those who love me -family)
Kuyaphela ubumnandi                  ( All the fun ends)
ngiyakhohlwa nanokuthi ngikuphi  ( I even forget where I am)

Mhla ngikhumbula abakithi.          ( When I remember those who love me)
inhliziyo yami iyaxola,                   (My heart is at peace)
iyakhohlwa izono zabo.                ( It forgets all their faults)
Ibona ubungcwele bodwa            (It only sees what is saintly)
Ngoba inkumbulo ayehluleli.        (For memory does not judge)
Isho okuyikho nje kuphela.          (It only says what is true)

Ohhe! Kodwa mina ngiyabakhumbula, (Oh! How I remember them)
bona abakithi,                                      ( They, to whom I belong)
Umama nobaba                                   (Mother and Father)
UMafedi noMondli,                             (Mafedi and Mondli)
Abaqapheli bami                                  (My gaurds)
ngoba ngisehlaza.                                 ( For I am still unripe)

-Lebohang Dube

Aibo! I'm in Germany

That moment when you're like, ' man I'm really in Germany!'

After preparing  for my trip to Bayern, packed and ready, off we drove. My good Rotarian Baba and I drove for an hour to Hof, the nearest big city south of Schleiz, where I would be taking a train. As I took my luggage from the boot I could see before me, the Hof Haupbahnhaf ( Main Train Station), an old ,classic style building  dominating the space before me.

With my heavy, red travel bag hanging on my right shoulder and my small 'tourist' bag strapped across and hanging on my left hip, we crossed the empty street and entered the building.

 A short walk through this old building with a simple interior, an office and a souvenir shop.We were by the train waiting area. My train was coming in at 11.44am, just a few minutes away.

As we were waiting for my train, Baba told me a little about German history, no, not about world war 2 or the Holocaust. About how the Germans came to love potatoes and why Germans are referred to as 'Frietz'. Little did I know that I was on my way to one of the most blessed town in the world.

After two hours on the Deutsche Bahn train, I finally arrived at Erlangen where a Rotarian picked me up in a classic convertible of a British make. In a few minutes we were in Herzungenaurach, a little town in the Franking region of Bayern. With about 25000 residents who call it home as well as two of the world's biggest sport clothing companies, Adidas and Puma.

On either side of the road are these huge state of the art buildings belonging to the rival companies. With Adidas owning most of the land across the road from Puma, with test centres, laboratories and showrooms, Adidas also employs most of the workers in this town. 

As an exchange student I attended the Rotary meeting that was held at the Adidas hotel. We drove up to the hotel with a black Mercedes convertible, so I had German wind blowing through my ears as we passed the Puma World, up past the Adidas and Nike outlets on the left and through the Maize Meal Fields to the hotel.We parked next to a a line of German cars, standing there as though it was a show day. There I met some of the movers and shakers of these two companies. Just to mention a few; the current CEO of Puma, the chief  lawyer of the Adidas Group and other members of the senior leaderships of these respective companies. Sitting with me where also successful local business people and members of the community.

In one conversation I had with the Mr Dassler from Adidas, he mentioned that he was frequently in Pietemaritzburg during its golden days as Africa's capital for shoe manufacturing. We exchanged our pities that the shoe industry in Pietermaritzburg is dead and buried with no evidence that it even existed. I told him about that current situation in South Africa where we have a very strong worker's union that demands unrealistic wages and conditions from investors, as a result we have investors running away to South Asia where they can have their products produced for less.

He also told me that there has been a general shift away from South Africa due to this. This led me to ask myself as a potential worker: Do I need a job so I can pay my bills and have a living or stay unemployed while demanding for a perfect job that does not exist in reality?

After an amazing weekend at Brombachsee, where we sailed at the dam and splashed into the water every now and then, I received a massage from Adidas.

Mr Frank Dassler, the chief lawyer at Adidas wanted me have a meeting with me and give me a tour of the complex. He had heard me say that I wanted to study Law at the Rotary meeting.

Excited, the next morning I prepared myself for the meeting. Got on the bicycle and went up, carefully and slowly cycling so that I don't get sweaty. There it was before me, the Adidas World building and I was about to enter it!

After confirming that I had arrived, the receptionist notified my host and gave me a visitor's card with my name on it. A few minutes later a kind lady came to escort me to Mr Dassler's office....

Lebohang Dube

Impela Ngiyohlala Ngikhunjuzwa.

Nginsundu, ubunsundu bami abuhleli esikhunjeni nasebaleni lami kuphela. Lokhu kuyinto, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, esengiyibonile futhi ngayamukela.  Kuleli dolojana engihlala kulo lapha eJalimani yimi ngedwa umuntu onsundu futhi wendabuko yase-Afrika. Ukuhamba kwami nokuhlala kwami lapha kuyinto okuphungwa ngayo itiye, impela ngisho noma ngingaphunyuka , isishiphi sami sizwakala idolobha lonke.

Akekho lapha ongathi ekanendaba nobukhona kwami kulelidolobha. Izingane ezincane uzibona zingigqolozela emehlweni, phela eziningi azikaze zize zimubone umuntu onsundu. Noma abazali bazoqweba izingane bazikhombise mina emabhasini. Lokhu kuyangijabulisa ngoba phela umthente uhlaba usamila, lezi zingane seziyokhula zazi ukuthi umhlaba awugwele abantu abafana nazo nje kuphela, kukhona nabanya abantu bobuhle obuhlukile.

Ingwe idla ngamabala! Ungabona lapho ngime emarobhothini ngilinde ilambu elihlaza, abashayeli ubabona bethe njo lapha kimi, impela baze baphuthwe irobhothi elihlaza.
Uthi ungacabanga, uma ngibingela abantu abadala ngizazisa, uzwa sekuyibo abangitshelayo igama lami nokuthi ngihlalaphi, ngiqhamukaphi.

Noma ngingazama ukuzikhohlisa, noma ngingalukhuluma ngize ngilukhiphe ngamakhala ulimi lwalana, ubunsundu bami, lobu obujiyile esikhunjeni sami, lobu obulotshiwe emlandweni wami, yebo ngisho lobu bunsundu obungilandelayo zinsuku zonke noma ngabe ngikuphi angisoze ngabubabekela buyincazelo yami.

Lebohang Dube
EJalimani

The best love from a brother I might never see again....

It was at a petrol station on the outskirts of Rome that our tour bus stopped to fill up before entering the city. We were all tired from the long hours of travelling in a bus through Europe, I was certainly. Then, as the other exchange students were rushing to get refreshments or to the rest rooms, I noticed you calmly walking away towards the wire fence and went behind the cargo truck. I could not help but feed my curiosity as to why and where you were going and followed you. There you were, harmoniously smoking away your cigarette as the sun threw itself over the western horizon. We had not really met before, except pass a few greeting words during the trip, but here you were my friend, warmly offering your cigarette to me as though I had always been your 'puff pal'; 'no thanks , I don't smoke', I declined the offer and you just smiled in amazement as though you expected me to be a good old experienced smoker. Then the conversation changed from asking each other whether one smokes and drinks or not, to talking about the basics of life; hardships and our experience in Europe. From then on bra I found I realised that I had found a brother, a relaxed Chilean guy who enjoys the company of people and really embraces them with a warm heart and amazing smile.
You found  my culture and language very exciting, I suppose. I call you my bra because are just that bra, a brother to me.
Never to forget the crazy times like taking 'sexy' photos from across the street in a little tourist village in the Thuringer Wald, to having ice-cream sitting as a group on the street pavement! Of cause I always remember you when I make a grammatical error in ma Deutsch because you always stopped and corrected me, even as we sweaty on the soccer field!
My dear brada Benji, thank you for being such a fresh and cool person. I will definitely miss you my bra as you turn your face towards your home land, Chile.
Thank you

Latest Maritzburg Fever Article by me about Deutschland! Enjoy!

Spring time, fresh experiences

Spring time in Germany is a time of renewal and revival, not only does mother nature show off her refreshed look, so too do the people. Everybody seems to be in a festive mood, giving gifts and enjoying the sun.

After nearly three months of snow covered hills and frozen lakes, a one appreciates the lush green forests and vividly coloured fields. Flowers blossom everywhere and everyday one awakes to a sweet fresh smell of nectar.
My exchange experience has also seen a fresh revival as I have moved to my second host family. The Pollack family lives in the central part of town where everything is at reach. My school is just 5 minutes away and so are the snack shops. I enjoy learning a lot from my host mother, Susanne and going swimming with my host sisters, Anne(18) and Linda(16). This is a family of three, now four, and we enjoy quality time together or visiting extended family.
I have also enjoyed my last Rotary Youth Camp in Fochheim near Nurberg in Bayern where I met more amazing exchange students from all around the world. 
As June begins i look forward to Summer and exploring more of the German culture and land!