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A walk in the forest with Zodwa via Khayelitsha Township

A walk in the forest with Zodwa via Khayelitsha Township

I think everyone of us agrees Zodwa is the character of the group, she constantly has us all having fits of laughter one minute and crying the next, and so there really is never a dull moment when Zodwa is around.

So I was very excited to finally meet Zodwa’s Mum, family, neighbours and friends when we went to her family home in Khayelitsha to film her story with Cliff Bestall.

Before I even had a chance to knock on the door Zodwa rushed out dancing on her unsteady feet, wrapped her arms around me with great gusto and sang a celebratory chant!

Wow!

Before I knew it I was rushed into her home, under an ornate chandelier that hung from the wood panelled ceiling above our heads, to meet her Mum, her neighbour, her cousin, her neighbour’s friend, the man from across the road, the pastor’s wife, an array of adorable children and everyone else who had arrived to welcome me to Zodwa’s community. 

In 2000 Zodwa became desperately ill with TB before being diagnosed as HIV positive, and the long delay in receiving any treatment meant that Zodwa really did have a very tough time for a while. For some the diagnosis of HIV has meant alienation from the people and community they love most, but it wasn’t like that for Zodwa, her family, neighbours and friends all rallied around, carrying her when she couldn’t walk to hospital appointments, and taking it in turns to care for her day by day, all of them acutely aware that her life was in critical danger. Her Mother began to prepare for her daughter’s funeral in the Eastern Cape. 

Sitting in Zodwa’s Mother’s house drinking tea together I couldn’t help but think of my wonderful family and friends back in the UK who have helped me when times have been tricky.

Zodwa and I sat side by side holding hands, silent for a just a moment, conscious that we are the lucky ones.

And so with lollipops despatched to all the children, and adults too for that matter, we departed for a walk in the forest.

For anyone who has been to the townships you will know trees are not the biggest feature of the landscape, the odd bush maybe, but no trees to speak of so, our departure to the forest was significant for Zodwa.

It was only as we walked hand in hand surrounded by beautiful trees that Zodwa whispered to me that she had never walked in a forest before. And as her eyes danced around with glee, noticing every leaf and blade of grass, she became my eyes, pointing out exquisite detail, the shower of diamonds above our heads as the light twinkled through the canopy, and the scorched bleached wood of the trees that were no longer alive and the palette of greens, blues, reds and browns that painted the delicate landscape around us.

We sat beside a stream listening to and feeling the water trickle all around our feet, and lay flat out on our back amongst the new saplings looking up at the azure blue sky, smelling the sweet scent of air around us.

“I am dreaming Rachel” said Zodwa in her delectable Xhosa English accent!

And so was I, dreaming for the moment when everyone would have the love, and support in their lives that Zodwa and I have experienced.

We lay in silence holding hands dreaming together……..  

(Rachel Gadsden) 
 

Posted by Rachel Gadsden, 08:11am 04/11/11