In the Beginning... Poetry Festival 29 August 2015

After preparing for months, rehearsing the words to speak and how to speak them, the youth leaders took the floor at the Poetry Festival on Saturday 29 August. As it was the very first time ever that they had presented themselves in this kind public speaking they were nervous but composed. As Briar pointed out in the introduction a leader needs to learn to speak in public and this was their first step taken with courage. 

The youthleaders brought the CREATION STORY FROM THE BIBLE in Afrikaans. Christians, Muslims and Jewish people share the same creation story.

In die begin het God die hemel en die aarde geskape.

En die aarde was woes en leeg, en duisternis was op die wêreldvloed, en die Gees van God het gesweef op die waters.

En God het gesê: Laat daar lig wees! En daar was lig.

Toe sien God dat die lig goed was. En God het skeiding gemaak tussen die lig en die duisternis;
en God het die lig dag genoem, en die duisternis het Hy nag genoem. En dit was aand en dit was môre, die eerste dag.

En God het gesê: Laat daar ‘n uitspansel wees tussen die waters, en laat dit skeiding maak tussen waters en waters. En dit was so.
En God het die uitspansel hemel genoem. En dit was aand en dit was môre, die tweede dag.

En God het gesê: Laat die waters onder die hemel hulle op een plek versamel, sodat die droë grond sigbaar word. En dit was so.
En God het die droë grond aarde genoem, en die versameling van die waters het Hy see genoem. Toe sien God dat dit goed was.

En God het gesê: Laat die aarde voortbring grasspruitjies, plante wat saad gee en bome wat, volgens hulle soorte, vrugte dra, waarin hulle saad is, op die aarde. En dit was so.
Toe sien God dat dit goed was. En dit was aand en dit was môre, die derde dag.

En God het gesê: Laat daar ligte wees aan die uitspansel van die hemel, om skeiding te maak tussen die dag en die nag; En dit was so.
God het toe die twee groot ligte gemaak: die groot lig om te heers oor die dag en die klein lig om te heers oor die nag; ook die sterre. Toe sien God dat dit goed was.
En dit was aand en dit was môre, die vierde dag.

En God het gesê: Laat die waters wemel met ‘n gewemel van lewende wesens, en laat die voëls oor die aarde vlieg langs die uitspansel van die hemel. Toe sien God dat dit goed was.
En dit was aand en dit was môre, die vyfde dag.

En God het gesê: Laat die aarde lewende wesens voortbring volgens hulle soorte: vee, kruipende diere en wilde diere. En dit was so. Toe sien God dat dit goed was.

En God het gesê: Laat Ons mense maak na ons beeld, na ons gelykenis, en laat hulle heers oor die visse van die see en die voëls van die hemel en die vee en oor die hele aarde en oor al die diere wat op die aarde kruip.
En God het hulle geseën, en God het vir hulle gesê: Wees vrugbaar en vermeerder. En dit was so.
Toe sien God alles wat Hy gemaak het, en—dit was baie goed. En dit was aand en dit was môre, die sesde dag.

En God het op die sewende dag sy werk voltooi wat Hy gemaak het, en op die sewende dag gerus van

al sy werk wat Hy gemaak het.
Then Briar took the floor and told the SAN BUSHMAN CREATION STORY. This is a short version of the story.

The African Bushmen say, “People did not always live on the surface of the Earth. At one time People and animals lived underneath the Earth with Kaang, the Great Master and Lord of Life. The People lived peacefully with animals. No one wanted for anything. It was always light without the Sun. During this time of bliss Kaang began to dream the wonders of the world above.First, Kaang created a wondrous tree with branches stretching over the entire country. At the base of the tree he dug a hole that reached way down to where the People and the animals lived. He led First Man to the surface. He sat down on the edge of the hole and First Woman came out. All the People came out in awe of the new world. Next Kaang helped the animals out. Some animals excitedly raced out through the roots and branches of the tree. Kaang gathered all the People and animals together, and taught them how to live together in peace. He told the People not to start any fires, or an evil would unleash upon the Earth, then Kaang left them to secretly watch his world.

The People saw the sun set for the first time. It scared them. At night it was black and the People could not see like the animals could, nor did they have fur for the cold. They forgot Kaang’s words and built a fire. The fire scared the animals, and they fled into the caves and mountains. Ever since the two have not been able to communicate with each other. Fear replaced their friendship.

 And finally Dawid and Briar brought the ZULU CREATION STORY as told by Credo Mutwa in his book Indaba My Children.This gives you a taste of that great story:

 

It is within the still-warm ashes from The Great War of Creation, that Ma, an immortal African Godess, is born. Her divine task is simple: create matter and maintain its harmony. But stubborn Ma, alone and scared, forces the Great Spirit to rethink The Grand Plan.

The room looked inviting displaying an overview of all the activities on offer at the Breede Centre. The audiences were warm and supportive. 

As there were so many other poetry offerings during the time slots  the stories were told we resolved to bring it one more time for the McGregor people... keep your eyes and ears open so you do not miss the opportunity!

Katleen

4 September 2015