Theuns & Juanita

[Patricia Lotte]

2 South African singers (Theuns Jordaan and Juanita du Plessis) that I'd never heard of before came over to Dubai this weekend. They gave 2 concerts (Thursday and Firday night) held outdoors in a resort on the beach. A small venue that gave us the opportunity to get real close to them and even have a good old chat after the shows. It was great! But what hit me most was how much South Africans miss their country. Some people accuse them of running away rather than facing the problems back home, but can we blame them for wanting better for them and for their children? Yes, they are living abroad, but they all share a love for their country that was extremely emotional to watch. I had shivers listening to them sing along to Bok van Blerk's 'Delarey' and 'Ons vir jou Suid Afrika'. And when they played 'Die Stem', many of them were in tears.

What I'm trying to get at is that no matter where life takes us, you will always keep that 'special place' in your heart and no one will ever take that from you.

[DUNJA WRBKA]

Too true Patricia.

In 1985 my mom decided to pack us all up  and take us back to her "home country" - Germany.  What saw me through the day was Paul Simons "Graceland" tape that I played over and over on my walkman...

Needless to say we only lasted 8 months and by that stage I was threatening to swim home if I had too....

Once an African, always and African!!!!