Beloved Traitor ... Elsabé Brits

"Emily Hobhouse is such a phenomenal woman. She was a humanist and a fighter for human rights. She was truly a woman of her time and our time ... a true pacifist. She was on the side of peace and showed the world that war is never right," says Elsabé Brits on the iStart2 Show this week. "One person can make a difference."

Emily Hobhouse died alone. There were no clergymen or mourners at her cremation. An unsung heroine in her own country. Her ashes were shipped to South Africa.

Many years ago, in the early 1900's, Emily Hobhouse wrote: “Personally I believe that segregation of any of either race or colour or class is the wrong policy and one which can only lead to discontent and ultimate disaster.” If only someone, then, had the vision and foresight to have listened. 

Listen to the interview with Elsabé Brits, author of Beloved Traitor and hear her incredible story:

Elsabé travelled in Emily Hobhouse’s footsteps, retracing her astonishing story. In Canada she discovered Hobhouse’s handwritten notebooks, scrapbooks and letters in a long-forgotten chest. Elsabé shares her journey with us and gives inspirational insights into the life of an extraordinary woman and her lifelong fight for justice.

Tune in to the Start2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30 to listen to our sustainability conversations.  Radio Today broadcasts on 1485 MW (AM) in greater Johannesburg and countrywide on ‪#‎DStv‬ audio channel 869.  

 

Radio Today also streams globally on www.1485.org.za. Not to be missed! 

Tribal Echo ... Frazer Barry

"I love people," says Frazer Barry, musician and frontman of Tribal Echo, on the iStart2 Show this week. "I just want everybody to love one another. We breathe the same air, we eat from the same soil. We are different tribes, but it is my heartbeat."

"We've got so much to learn from one another and so much to give to each other. I challenge my African brothers, my coloured brothers and my white brothers on how we hang together. I know how it looks in a typical white neighborhood. You don't know how it looks in my town. Come visit me. We must make a conscious effort to embrace the unknown. You must get out of your small world."

Frazer is adamant that more muso's and artists must come together to embrace one another's culture. "We've been quiet for much too long. We must sing out, paint out and write out! I believe every South African can wave a white flag. There's different ways to getting this country to prosper again." 

The captivating lyrics of Tribal Echo's music will make you laugh, smile, cry and give you food for thought. Tribal Echo's Eclectic Roots Rock is a fresh new sound on the South African music scene, but  closely related to the indigenous sound of their (Western Cape) culture and the stories of the Western Cape people.

Listen to the full interview with Frazer Barry - aka "die Rymklets Troebadoer"

Frazer Barry with iStart2 Ambassador, Pops Mohamed. We feel a collaboration in the air!

#Woordfees gigs oppie spyskaart in Stellenbosch:
Saterdag 11 Maart
13h00 - #DieRymkletsTroebadoer, Bloekomhoek
20h30 - Tribal Echo by Amazink

Maak soes djy wiet!

The Answer lies in the Soil .... Alan Rosenberg

On the iStart2 Radio Show this week we chatted to Alan Rosenberg about Agroecology and the evolution of Agriculture. What are the challenges that we  face in farming? Is Agriculture an Art? How do we enable people to become connected? How do we collaborate to share?

Alan initiated, wrote and published a few books: “Organic Agriculture A Handbook” for South Africa, “Global Health in Crisis, The Answer lies in the Soil” and  “Biodynamic Agriculture, A Conscious Choice” He has also written and published “Agroecology, The Promise of Future Flourish” All books available through Lindros.

Hear what Alan has to say!  Podcast of the show ... just click play! 

 



Upcoming shows:

If you find tourself in the Stellenbosch area this week, join us at the Woordfees!
Don't miss the show KONNEXI with: Luna Paige, Pops Mohamed, Schalk Joubert and animation Charles Badenhorst

US Woordfees, Stellenbosch
kykNET Fismer (US Konserwatorium)
6 Maart 14:00
7 Maart 17:30
8 Maart 20:30
R130. Bookings at Computicket.

See you there!

Sustainability Conversations ... Man cannot own land

"Agriculture can never be an exact science. There is an inescapable kinship between farming and art. For farming depends as much on character, devotion, imagination, freedom and a sense of structure as on plain knowledge or academia. It is a practical art," says Alan Rosenberg.

"When one looks at the practices of modern Agriculture one sees that they are working out of the mineral kingdom of nature. This is a lifeless kingdom immersed in the physical. For a true sense of Agriculture we need a balance, a natural occurring symbiosis between the four kingdoms of nature. These are the mineral kingdom, the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom and the kingdom of man. Life begetting life."

"The disadvantages of not being true to the above is the situation we find ourselves in today. The lack of a true cultural understanding that it is man’s birthright to have access to food; that it is a spiritual fact that man cannot own land but merely be a custodian for a period of time; that the earth needs to be fed not the plant; that as with any other organism if it is healthy it will have a natural resistance to pests and disease."

A healthy organism can only flourish if it is fed out of the living. It can only be sustained out of the living. The task of the farmer is to immerse himself as far as possible in this area. It seems an almost obvious solution that this can only be done out of what is described as Organic Agriculture.

"Fundamental to this is the direct relationship between the health of the soil and the health of the people who feed from it. This is known fact. There is a proven difference between food grown conventionally and that, which is organically grown. There can be no doubt that nutrition is the basis of any man. If we receive a healthier diet from nature’s way of growing would any sensible person not choose that way? Can man be so clever yet so unwise. There should be no doubt that the present way of Agriculture is bound to fail as it is not self-sustaining and is a materialistic way of working within nature."


Read more here

On the iStart2 Radio Show this week we chat to Alan Rosenberg about Agroecology and the evolution of Agriculture. What are the challenges that we as society face in farming? Is Agriculture an Art? How do we enable people to become connected? How do we collaborate to share? Hear what Alan has to say!

Tune in to the Start2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485 MW (AM) in greater Johannesburg and countrywide on ‪#‎DStv‬ audio channel 869.  

 

Radio Today also streams globally on www.1485.org.za.

Witbooi en Witboy .... Video ( Extra: Radio Interview with Conny Braam)

We are happy to share a very special souvenir of the "Witbooi and Witboy - event" held at the iStart2 Hub in Centurion on 15 February 2017. The video contains excerpts of Conny Braam and Deon Maas in discussion with Attie van Nel and Christina Landman.

Conny highlighted her journey as Chairperson of the Anti-Apartheids Beweging Nederland and told us about her new book, "Ik ben Hendrik Witbooi." Deon Maas entertained the audience with his sharp wit and explained some of the concepts in his book, "Melk die Heilige Koeie," Serious, fun evening indeed! Background music by Pops Mohamed and the iStart2Sing Artists. 

We  also had the pleasure of interviewing Conny Braam on the iStart2 Show. To listen to the interview, just click play below. Music by Coenie de Villiers and Pops Mohamed. 



Thank you to everybody who made the Centurion evening an event to remember! Let's join hands and make this world a more sustainable place. 

Voice of the feelings ... Conny Braam

In 1971 Conny Braam, together with some others, formed the Anti-Apartheidsbeweging Nederland (AABN). The AABN played an important role in the international struggle against apartheid and Braam was the leader of this organisation that offered support to the African National Congress (ANC) in exile and informed the Dutch public.

Attie van Nel in discussion with Conny Braam 

at the iStart2 Hub in Centurion (Feb 2017)

In 1986 Braam was approached by leaders of the ANC in exile and asked to assist with Operation Vula. Braam went about helping with the setting up of safe-houses inside South Africa and with arranging the smuggling of documents into South Africa. She also made contact with people inside Europe where the ANC could arrange disguises and obtain things they needed. The highly secret mission consumed five years of Braam’s life as she dodged several attempts to assassinate her. (Source: South African History Online)

Conny has just released her book on the Namaqua King, "Ik ben Hendrik Witbooi", one of nine Namibian national heroes who lead a rebellion against German rule in the country back in the early 1900's.

“He is a fascinating historical character and I would say one of the great revolutionary guerillas of Africa. He spoke an Afrikaans that is closer to Dutch and left a wealth of writing including his diaries,” says Conny.

Attie van Nel and Pierre du Toit had the honour of interviewing this incredible woman about the considerable role she played in our country's struggle for democracy. We chatted to Conny about how the AABN helped shape the freedom we live in, her views on South Africa today and her new book about Hendrik Witbooi. Do not miss what she has to say!

Tune in to the Start2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485 MW (AM) in greater Johannesburg and countrywide on ‪#‎DStv‬ audio channel 869.  Radio Today also streams globally on www.1485.org.za.

Today we also feature the beautiful new instrumental song by Pops Mohamed and Coenie de Villiers, Naledi.

Have a wonderful week!

Sustainability of Artists ... Cesare Cassarino

"To make art is very expensive. I've got the soul of an artist. In my case I don't care about money at all. I learnt how to be functional and user friendly to make a living," says Cesare on the iStart2 Show this week. 

Cesare Attilio Cassarino is a bass player and composer from Johannesburg. A staple on the Johannesburg music scene since the late 80’s, he has performed in a number of varied musical situations. Cesare is a graduate of the Tshwane University of Technology where he studied Jazz. He was initially a sideman working primarily in Afrikaans music until the early 2000’s when small Jazz gigs took over the bulk of his income.

Cesare performing with Pops Mohamed

at the iStart2 Hub in Centurion

A short list of his performance credits include Somerfaan, Loyiso, Battery 9, Joos Tonteldoos en die Dwarstrekkers, Repo, Gang of Instrumentals, New Academics, Jonathan Crossley, Beukes and Delaney, Riku Latti, Anton Goosen, Jack Hammer, Die Wasgoedlyn, Michael Canfield, Alistair Coakely, Marcus Wyatt, Jazz Company, Tsunami, RJ Benjamin, Radio Kalahari Orkes, Greg Georgiades and the list goes on. When he is not busy making other people sound good or performing with Jazz Company he scours the internet for underground music and tinkers incessantly with guitar electronics.

We chatted to Cesare about what it takes to be able to make a sustainable living by doing what you love. "I want to be in the moment. I find myself wondering if I am an artist all the time," says he.

To listen to the podcast of the interview, click play below

Upcoming Shows:
KONNEXI Met: Luna Paige, Pops Mohamed, Schalk Joubert and animation Charles Badenhorst

US Woordfees, Stellenbosch
kykNET Fismer (US Konserwatorium)
6 Maart 14:00
7 Maart 17:30
8 Maart 20:30
R130. Bookings at Computicket

4 Stories, about 4 people who in some way feel disconnected from others and perhaps even from themselves. In these stories people are forced to recognize the connections that tie them to others and the things that disconnect them from what counts the most. 

These stories are told with poems, prose, music and animation art. The musical instruments include piano, guitar, bass, vocals and an array of African instruments played by Pops Mohamed. An audio-visual journey through the lives of your average South African citizen.

See you there.