This land is my land. This land is your land.
It is the land of opportunity. Of a young democracy. Of falling. Of getting back up. Of dusting the mineral rich soil off yourself, learning from what made you stumble and becoming ever stronger because of that.
It is a land of sunrises and sunsets, more vibrant and colourful than most on earth.
It is a land of green, lush forestation; of bright jacaranda’s lining streets with purple rain; pink bougainvillea sleepily hanging over walls and fences, yellow cotton balls of thorn tree flowers calling out to bees to pollenate.
It is a land of dry Karoo, of sands and grass and cattle; shades of brown and neutral and earth.
It is a land of roads winding through and over and under mountains and valleys and passes. Of road trips taking you through seasons and small towns and several cultures all in one day.
It is a land of people. Where nobody looks the same. Or talks the same. Where accents are the first thing you don’t even realise you miss when you leave, and when you come back.
It is a land of languages. Of diversity. Of music. Of tongue clicks and gumboot kicks and supermarket ladies singing gospel while they bake the daily bread.
It is a land of welcomes. Where others come here as internationals and leave as Africans because of the place this land harbours in their hearts.
It is a land of genuine people. Where politicians might be corrupt (like everywhere else on earth) but the people, the real people are as real as it gets. Smiles aren’t fake. Other lands will attempt to seduce you with their seeming perfection, development and structure but that is all an illusion, synthesised, insincere. There is much more beauty in imperfection; much more potential in the undeveloped.
It is a land of plenty and also of need. Of need that can only be addressed by those who know the need intimately; by us, its inhabitants. Charity is part of how we live. We are taught to contribute to our community from the moment we start to learn.
It is hence a land we must keep looking after because God has mandated us by placing us here; by being born here, by growing up here.
It is a land of the people you love, and of the people who love you. Where you will leave but a part of it, of us, will never leave you.
