1/2/12

After yesterday’s leisurely entrée into 2012, many of us (myself very much included) were somewhat hesitant to begin a busy day at 7 am. Nevertheless, in the nebulous morning air we sleepily trudged onto our 18-passenger van for the first leg of the journey. In order to reach our destination – Robben Island – we had to endure a tumultuous 45-minute trip on a ferryboat.

The island, which was most famously used to isolate political prisoners, now serves as a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit. A former prisoner named Sipho Msomi narrated the majority of our trip through the prison. He told us about his experiences as an inmate, noting that he and other prisoners were initially kept in solitary confinement, then beaten and interrogated. They were also forced to work in a highly dangerous limestone quarry. Despite the unspeakable cruelty with which they were treated, over 1000 former prisoners returned to the island for a reunion in 1995. As a testament to their triumph, each of the ex-prisoners, Nelson Mandela included, placed a stone of a different shape, size, and color in the center of the quarry.

"Today when I look at Robben Island, I see it as a celebration of the struggle and a symbol of the finest qualities of the human spirit, rather than as a monument to the brutal tyranny and oppression of apartheid. It is true that Robben Island was once a place of darkness, but out of that darkness has come a wonderful brightness, a light so powerful that it could not be hidden behind prison walls… "
-Nelson Mandela

Feeling particularly fortunate to have our freedom, we left Robben Island and had lunch in small groups at the Waterfront. We then hopped back onto the van and (relying on Sedick's expertise) managed to track down the Minstrel Carnival. According to Sedick, nearly 2000 troupes, complete with matching uniforms and full bands, participate in the carnival each year. We had an incredible view of the celebration; it was one of the most colorful, exciting events I've ever witnessed. People of all ages were decked out in costumes, songs, dances, and poses for cameras.

I was most inspired by the looks of utter exuberance on the faces of adults and children alike. The carnival was a consummate manifestation of the rich cultural vitality that infuses Cape Town!