This past Sunday my sister and I went to watch a 'play' at the Baxter that left me moved and humbled. The Crossing is a performance piece based on a true story. It chronicles Jonathan Nkala's journey from the small dusty village of Kwe Kwe in Zimbabwe to Cape Town six years ago. As indicated by the title, it is a crossing of many things: the border, cultural differences, innocence, pain and joy. It is a celebration of the human spirit, an inspiring testament of an exceptional young man who has to cross many barriers in order to get what he wants. And what does he want? "Life in abundance!".
Jonathan told his story with amazing humour that made listening to what he endured to get to South Africa bearable. As a Zimbabwean myself who left the country with my family in a caravan and R500 to our names in the early 80's, I was humbled to hear the journey he had to go on to try and find the 'freedom' South Africa promises. The Crossing is being developed by actress Bo Petersen along with Jonathan and she has spent the last year getting funding to make sure he can take his story around SA so that we all can appreciate the journey refugees make to be here. Jonathan supports himself and his family with his beadwork and is currently working on living his dream of recording an album.
I am humbled at the odds so many people have to face just to survive, and the next time I am offered beautiful beadwork on the street I will think twice before just turning away and maybe take a moment to reflect on the road that person has walked to be trying to make a better life for themselves and see if I cant support them in some small way on their journey.
