11/04/2025
Greetings. The centre that this page stands for has been so far ideational. The first journey of the story was about finding funding to attempt to bring the dream to life in Krugersdorp on the property we lived on which Hugh purchased from the Old Apostolic Church in 1954. That beautiful space would have been a powerful place to have a centre like the one I wish to create. That space has become unsuitable for the kind of work I would like to do, mostly from a safety aspect. And the non functionality of that municipality, etc. It finally was clear to the brothers, Andrew and Paul, my father and uncle, that it was necessary to sell the farm, as I was not going to be able to use it as I had wanted to. I could not find funding, nor afford professional help which I still feel I need in terms of law and business management. Cutting a long story short via Cape Town I have returned to Grahamstown Makhanda for some years now as I observed my parents submitting to the vagaries and infirmity of old age and needed to be present to provide necessary support. Andrew passed Jan 12, 2024 and Heather is well at 88 yrs and still kicking.
I am soon initiating the functioning of the idealogical 'Saronde IKS Centre' in this physical space, and adapting the vision to suit the parameters of this location. It is a wonderful space for the functions I see, being an 1820 and 1850 British stone barn and farmhouse with a large garden, with vegetables, some formal decorative, water features, large trees, alcoves for contemplation, accommodation onsite and a tipi.
Once registered as an NPO, still to be taken care of, then funding streams will be sought for support of the altruistic education and community outreach and healing initiatives. Four times a year a wisdom keeper will be identified to be platformed and available in person and online for an intensive workshop of a number of days, during which various outcomes will be achieved, interviews will be conducted and transcribed, and all the material related to the knowledge around the particular keeper will be then made available online, with ideas for teaching, instrument making, transcription methods, and whatever other skills and wisdoms are connected to that person and their practice.
A primary function in my opinion is firstly to create enlightening discussion around the decolonial debate, and secondly to offer platforms for IKS practitioners who are systemically undervalued and undersupported, offering them a platform with a proud historic association of research and publication and education about IK systems. To help give them dignity. And recognition for the beauty of their knowledge and practice.
Watch this space. I only have two hands but god willing and with the help of the ancestors the way will open up to bring everything about in the right timing. Before I pass away, my proud responsibility is to secure and make accessible the nuggets of information which we three Tracey's have focused our lives around. It is a story about our family, but beyond that, it is the literal sounding record of the sounds and poems and dances and instruments of the ancestors of sub Saharan Africa. An invaluable resource library from which transcriptions can be made to restore repertoire, instruments, and technology to people where their practices may have suffered and been lost. A way to inspire and remind African people of their rich and complex beautiful musical cultures. It is primarily for African people to know themselves, but obviously for inspiring all kinds of cross cultural communication, tolerance and respect.
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