A hundred or so students have been gathered outside the admin building of UniZulu where I am in a meeting for the past hour. The staff here in the building are not concerned, since they have not received any texts or emails of alert. After someone from UZ management addressed the crowd, they sometimes cheered, sometimes chanted and sang, but eventually they dispersed. Apparently, more gatherings of this nature have taken place over the past year. If the issues really serious and the tone of the crowd aggressive; they are called "toyi-toyi" and can pose danger to unknowing, but interested bystanders. Fortunately today, App students were on the other side of campus in the safe care Bhekani Buthelezi, the UZ choral director.
At 9:00 p.m Monday May 20
Now it is evening, students are safely in their house having a tutorial on reading tonic solfa, used for learning composed music in black South African choirs. Dennis and I are looking forward to visiting a school for children with special needs in the morning. The Appalachian students will teach music, Dennis will play soccer at recreation time, and I will visit with the teachers and the grannies who take care of the children.
Tonight, I will dream of four part harmonies, beautiful children and ankles that never swell. All is well in Zululand.
We walk everywhere in Zululand, sometimes long journeys. The walk to choir practice is always worth more than diamonds. At rehearsal's end, we sing favorite pop songs or ditties to gear us up for going home.
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