eye to eye

sighting heritage

exploring slavery and local heritage through the eyes of South African youth

a nine-day intensive workshop held at the Slave Lodge in Cape Town, South Africa, imparting story-telling and photographic skills

an Other-Wise media Workshop
commissioned by the Cape Town City Council

Participants memory poems

Nkosinathi Kilani remembers:

I remember the smell of brown matabele porridge in pre-school
I hate it to this day

I remember the taste of biltong that my father gave me
When I was young
Cutting off a piece for me when I got home from school

I remember the sound of drum
That was played by sangomas next to my house
At 3.00am, you couldn’t sleep
So you just get up and join them

I remember the feel of the road we used to play in the street
Our feet were bare
And it was so rough

Siyanda Mguzulwa remembers:

I remember the smell of smoke when we were young
We used to make fire
Outside because we did not have heater
In our house

I remember the taste of
Oats they make me eat every day and I never
Like it

I remember the sound of cat
We had a female cat and the neighbours had the male cat
And their cat
Would come outside our window at night
Making the sound.

I remember the feel of
My mothers hands when she washes me in the
Morning when I go to school
They were so soft
and smooth

Sanco Isaacs remembers:

I remember the smell of pencil chippings
And crayon wax when I was still in creche
And peanut butter and milkshake in primary school

While walking down our school corridor

I remember the taste of mielie pap with milk and butter
And “koolkos” while still in crèche.

I remember the sound of the tamed
Horses hooves “click clack click clack”
On our tarred street outside
While pulling a wagon
Horses was scarce and as a child for me
The horses was awesome.

I remember the feel of the warm embrace
Given to me by one of my school’s most
Popular and prettiest girls. To me it was
An embrace of acceptance
Because I wasn’t very popular.

Edraine Mentor remembers:

I remember the smell
Of my grandmother’s baking
cake

I remember the taste
Of Wilson Blocks, Bubbles
Frulati, at the bioscope

I remember the sound of
Old school music
My father’s Beegees records
Playing
On the old gramaphone

I remember the feel of
The water at the Kakapoo (Mondjie)
When we went swimming
Because it was always
like a journey walking through
the farm at Van den Horst
because if we got caught
the farmer would shoot the
kids with a salt rifle,
it was exciting, fearful
and fun

Orne Bester remembers:

I remember the smell of baby powder on my body
I remember the taste of baked bread that my grandmother baked, it was “leka”
I remember the sound of me crying when I was a baby
I remember the feeling losing a baby brother that I would or could look up to one day.
Sad feeling

Shameegah Goodwin remembers:

I remember the smell of my house like lavender and food
I remember the taste of the tea
I remember the sound of twinkle little star
When my brother
Made me sleep

I remember the feel when my mother’s warm hands
Washed my body.

Nolwazi Mehlomane remembers:

I remember the warming smell of my father
I remember the taste of pap and meat that
Ma father loved cooking
I remember the sound of the piano being played in the other
Room while I was doing homework
It used to be soothing, relaxing
I remember the feel of
Losing my dad when I was 10
I just felt empty, lost and alone and
All I did was cry. I used to bang ma head
Against the wall but didn’t feel anything.

Berenice Solomons remembers:

I remember the smell of the flowers in the park
Where we used to live
Summer
Age 2
Sweet

I remember the smell of schoolholidays going to
Visit my grandma’s cooking

I remember the taste of her yellow medicine.
Still get that taste if I
Think about it
Bitter
Disgusting

I remember the sound of my daughter’s first
Cry when she was born:
Heart melted – soft – gently
I started crying
To hear my bundle of joy.
Nearly 8 years now

I remember the feel of the car:
First time I drove it
My body blended in
As one
With the bakkie:
16
Speeding
Ford

Ederies Karriem remembers:

I remember the smell of anger and burn
Anger: the people that was fighting
Burn: I burn myself with a bowl
Of soup against my chest

I remember the taste of honey
Honey: my grandma always brought
Me home honey when I
Went to greet her and she
Came from work

I remember the sound of
Me being bumped over
I was riding on my bike then
This drunk driver came fast
Over the speed bumper and
Then he bumped me I flew
In mid air and I fell with
My head against a brick.
A sound like a ball against
The wall

I remember the feel of
My grandpa died
When I was just going out
On this Saturday morning it
Was cold when I just
Coming out to go I suddenly
Felt warm then I didn’t thought
Of that a few minutes i
Heard my dad was crying
Then I ask him what is
Wrong and he told me my
Grandpa died. I felt like
Dying to be with him

Thandi Botha remembers:

I remember the smell of soil
In my backyard in the morning
Grass in my garden
And flowers

I remember the taste of margarine, peanut butter and jam
Sandwich and pie sandwich before I go to school

I remember the sound of a train because we were nearer
The railway lines and it used to
Make the warning sound when there’s
someone crossing the railway line.
We used to think someone is
Being beaten by the train

I remember the feel of green peaches in my garden
Hard and hairy and I couldn’t
Wait to eat them
Tell me about the stomach ache!

Natasha Abrahams remembers:

I remember the smell of trees in my grandparents garden
Me standing with my blue dress and grandpa handing me Toffeelux sweets

I remember the taste of skaapkop on a Sunday
It was our family’s chicken

I remember the sound of jazz music when we
First moved to Atlantis
My parents were great dancers

I remember the feel of my father’s friend touching
Me in an inappropriate manner it was disgusting