The Great Granny Revolution

Shooting Diary 3

Good Friday 2006:

On Good Friday when most of Alex was in church, Stephen Lewis came to the clinic with Alicia Keys and Angelique Kidjo. They brought a clown who led children's activities for the afternoon. Interviewing Angelique Kidjo They handed out candies and treats to the children while the GoGo's sat in the garden and watched. Rose had arrived at the clinic at 8 a.m. with a few community workers to start cooking a meal for the GoGos. She was worried about them becoming dehydrated and hungry as they would spend the entire day there. They got me to stir the mealie pap, which required the strength of a sumo wrestler and my attempt caused gales of laughter. With three camera crews (not including us) working out of two big vans full of catered food and it recalled to my mind the phrase 'bread and circuses'.

During the festivities a woman with a crutch came and, tugging on my sleeve, indicated that I was to follow her a little ways away from the crowd. She had a little one, perhaps 15 months, by the hand. When she had my full attention she explained that she wanted to have a partner to write to, a North American Grannie of her own. By the time I had made a note of this, two other women had come and joined us. They wanted to put their names down too. This linkage is so important to them. They are bringing me letters to take with me and one woman has sent a small hand made rug for her Grannie. They often say that they don't write because they are busy, or lazy but I suspect that they are so accustomed to treating white people with caution it is difficult to know what to say. I find that as the days pass and Robert and I keep returning to see them, they are relaxing and becoming far more open. Of course humour is always something we can share.

It is customary here for families to gather at Easter. People travel back to the homelands or the rural communities from which they came to Jo'burg. Many of these women had changed their plans so they could be there. Why? Because Stephen Lewis is trying to help us and we will be here to help him they tell me.

By the end of the day we were all sunburnt as we followed Magdeline and Caslina home with all their grandchildren. For me every day I spend in Alex with the GoGos is a good day. Every opportunity to get to know more is exciting. At the end of the day