...as we embarked on Highway to Heaven/Paradise Road " a simple tale of colonial exploitation" ....
We took a leap of Faith and followed our heart to the Capital city of South Africa. Passion took us straight to Tshwane formerly known as Pretoria a place I remember as the capital city of apartheid, a place that I was taught to fight taught to FEAR. A place where all kinds of decisions are made, indawo esasiyibiza ngeculo "siyaya epitoli siyaya oh siyaya epitoli." A land so far away from my beginnings but where my birth was recorded, a land I could only dream about.
We carefully looked for Church street where we would meet our "blind date." Thank God for the gift of Vehicle as it became our easy legs in finding this once upon a time Church street now known as Helen Joseph street. God Bless her soul if only she knew that this Divine street would be named after her and that sightless angels would bodyguard it with unending melodies and begging tendencies.
As we stepped out of a lift from the dark belly of Sammy Marks Sqr's underground parking lot, we were greeted with an uncomfortable heat probably created by the large group of "darkies" rushing to get the business of the day out of their way. Now that I think about it angikhumbuli ngibona ibala elimhlophana except for the mixed race woman who spoke fluent seTshwana and kicked her son from behind when He yelled "Mom wa'bora."
What an irony, here we were in the epicentre of white supremacy and we were struggling to identify "white" except for the architectural structure of the STATE THEATRE that stood strong and concrete as if there to keep time of times gone by.
Through all of this Bab' Alfred was on our minds as we knew that with him we would find solice. Haibo we weren't expecting so many Bab Alfred's in one street. Many men and women with the same name "blind beggars". Some stand so they can be noticed, others sit so they can be pitied. Some however simply just want to be saved so they do their best to be heard. They sing out loud a song of hope that things on the other side will get better in a place they like to call HOME where there shall be no more death, no more discrimination , no need for sight and insight, where they will find release.
From across the Helen Joseph street opposite Church square we hear our Divine appointment soothing our curiosity and letting us know that "hayo mathata Modimo hale teng." We rush to him with hope and for the first time in this life time I am released!!! Released from fear of being a street artist. The corner of Paul Kruger and former Church Street becomes my paradise as I harmonise to Bab Alfred's beautiful rendition of "hayo mathata." I feel a great sense of appreciation wash over me as people pass by and drop in 50cent coins into Bab Alfred's empty green camphor cream container. I forget about all the different performance spaces I have ever performed in and all the cheques I have impatiently waited for as I busk in the glory of nothingness. No fame , No borders, No fear just love pure love.
Bab' Alfred's lifeless eyes behind dark sunglasses look straight into my soul and awaken my Spirit. I am lost in love and soon I forget Pretoria and remember Humanity. I am re-baptised as an Artist and I feel born again.
After a hour and half of bliss we say our good byes and head straight to Randburg to continue with our mission of finding voices to speak with.
Bab' Martin whose veil covered eyes are full of life, greets us with the most amazing energy. We sit down with him and his wisdom puts us very quickly in our place. We thought we knew but we soon realise that we are blind. His knowledge of life is impressive for someone "who sees no evil" but feels it with great intensity.
When we ask him what he thinks of borders a subject matter we would like our work to revolve around he simply says uVALO loosely translated as "the feeling of Fear". We go on to explain the kind of work we do as Artists and once again without much thought as if he were an angel he whispers 'You mean Healing." Wow suddenly our miniature minds and under developed senses tell us we are hungry and we interpret this as physical hunger. Sorry for us we decide to indulge in Colonel Sanders prescription medication for the black hungry soul Kentucky Fried Chicken baby.
As much as my insides were getting oiled so was my mind. I know that the Truths I was receiving from Bab Martin were preparing the machine in me. I was being colonised with love and truth and it felt so good, I knew that not even the Queen of England could touch me now. I was on top of the world and the world was no longer on top of me.
We walked away heavy, not just with KFC but with POWER and SIGHT.
The HEALING had begun.
"Jesus said to the blind man open your eyes and see Hallelujah Amen, Hallelujah Amen"
"Jesus said Nicodemus you must be born again Hallelujah Amen Hallelujah Amen"
