 5 Mar 2008 @ 09:38, by Nigella Wraye
This title surely describes the writer. She has childhood memories of being immersed in the pristine natural woodlands of glistening dried grasses and strange leafed trees, a type of deciduous savanna in a high veld. There was a notion of being mesmerised by the beauty of such visions and the accompanying cacophony of songbirds, insect and distant primeval animal sounds. Supposedly such an experience must form the basis for all other life style judgements for it would seem to be so in this person's case.
There are friends too, whom I know, nurture the very same formative years experience. It may not be on open display as they disport the full Western type living, but underneath to their innermost selves, these notions formed the very heartbeats of their life, the bush. For a small child, up to the age of 6 or 7 say, to have already been aware of a mental state equal to that of meditation, is both a gift and and no mean achievement. It would suggest that whatever they have done in their lives is secondary and not primary to their existence. Having given themselves over to a large notion of goodness such as exists in the pristine wilderness and bush is to keep an essential separation from the vast simple materialistic world. Those items of consumption will be used with respect and not abused to excess usage being as they are not paramount to their existence. One could say there is much more SPACE in this realm unbounded by hard linear borders and base sheer utilitarian endless cycles.
There is a piece recently found in a current reading subject on how one african tribal people greeted the visiting white assistant district commissioner after his 2 day trek on foot through the Bush. It is transposed here and comes down from a previous pre-war heritage of thorough Victorian Missionary school and education standards put to the very africans there. This suggests that they did receive education from an early time and the level of consideration imparted by the teachers. And also that it did not hinder the Village Life culture of the people but actually enhanced it for them, creating a firm reference basis for themselves prior to taking the next vital step in their development process.
“I, Wenewenya, village headman and all the people have the honour of thanking you for your visit. We thank God for his immortal Providence and Guidance during your journey.
We have the honour to welcome you, our District Commissioner, as our true helper through all our difficulties and ignorance. Our gratitude to a great extent may rather be imagined than expressed in words. We are short of words to express our inestimable indebtedness.
Your all visits and instructions to us are constructive and inspiring and so are unforgettable to a man of understanding. We therefore thank you for your presence which shows further help to us.
I, Wenewenya, alone frankly say that your help and advice are noted with great distinction. I am an African Chief and do not know very much how to pay compliment to you on all your work you undertake in K., District.
As to the fact that you show a deep interest in helping me and all the people therefore I have great pleasure to appear myself before your honourable presence with great applause and affection.
I, Wenewenya, together with all the people, wholeheartedly welcome you with great joy. In advance we apologise for any mistakes we may make during the sitting of the meeting.
Welcome Sir, may God bless you and give you success on your work during all your lifetime. God be with you during your visit until you return to K., your honourable headquarters.”
In the Northern Province, part the former
Kingdom of Kitwa many hundreds of years ago.
This gives an idea of the sentiment and expectation greeting such visitors at the end of the 1940's era. The innocence and total reliance on achieving all assistance required imagined for the villagers as they knew it, is palpable. So is the trust and human warmth evident, on this so far ever so clean introductory slate to full on Western Civilisation.
N Solomonraye 3.2008
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