Blogs from Swaziland, Africa - page 15

Driving into Swaziland in the late afternoon the scenery seemed rather forlorn. Dusty fields of brown stubble, sparce mud-brick homesteads and little sign of life. We drove through Manzini, the country's largest town, and were dropped off at the Legends backpacker hostel which we could see immediately was of the more basic variety. On the upside, our friend Dorian with whom we had spent much time at Eshowe and St. Lucia, was unexpectedly sitting on the sofa. Legends was a low grade backpackers in a prime location. We stayed there for a couple of days while we checked out that section of the Ezulwini Valley. Just down the road was the Swazi Cultural Village in which a guide explained the layout of the huts and Swazi customs. For example, when a man dies his oldest brother ... read more

Got up Friday with plans to interview a chief from Bogani's area and then go to Bulembu again and some of us would stay the night but we didn't know who yet. We got to Bogani's and his dad wasn't there yet. We ended up interviewin his dad and then went to the chief's krawl. It was very ceremonious: we all sat down on the ground and one Swazi guy introduced everybody and talked in Siswati and then Jim talked and there was some discussion and thanks and a prayer and we didn't go any further with the interview. We took some pictures and then went to Bulembu. In Bulembu we had lunch with David, an entrepreneuer who wants to revitalize Bulembu--an old mining town--into a tourist resort spot. He was quite the talker. Lunch ... read more

We interviewed Treasure, a girl had been abused multiple times, at the Mountain Inn first thing in the morning. I was not in the interview. She was with Ben and Janeen, a young American couple. From there we went to St Anne's school to talk with teachers about teacher-student abuse. I was not in the interviews. Mart, Tyler, Rob, and George were now with us. Next stop was SWAGAA--Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse. The interview there went well, I was again not in it. We drove as fast as we could to interview a Jericho sect prophet. We got there just at the end of the day, very nice but disappearing light. We went back to Mountain Inn for dinner, Jim and Mart had a meeting/dinner with the Minister of Health.... read more

Really got moving on interviews. Met and shot Bogani--very intelligent and perceptive. Then lunch at Nando's and interviews at Tum George Hotel with Petros. Then 3 generations of AIDS victims. Talked to Lynne. She's okay with me being gone longer. ... read more

Yet another one of Africa's gems. A wild land with amazingly colourful people. More text will follow..... read more