Messages from assorted Kokos

From Kyla:

It is now the day before we fly home. I don’t want to leave! It doesn’t feel like we’ve been gone for a month mostly because I am still very happy with everyone here and should be annoyed with everyone by the end of a trip. I wish we could stay for at least another nine and a half days.

It has been an amazing couple of weeks. I should start by saying that South Africa was incredible. Kokopelli’s connection with Siyacula is very strong, and it was wonderful to finally meet the choir that introduced us to Thulani and so much of the African music we sing. Visiting places like the District 6 museum has introduced me to more of South Africa’s history, and provided a lot of insight into what the kids from Siyacula have grown up with. I think that the highlight of my trip was definitely singing in a circle with some of the members Siyacula, learning their songs, and providing further proof that Canadian kids can’t dance (well…some Canadian kids can dance, I’m just not one of them!).

My most traumatic part of the trip was losing my thumbnail. I have to say that private South African hospitals are incredible, and the doctors tease you for doing stupid things like slamming your hand in a door. Let’s just say that I found Ka Hia Manu very hard to perform for several days… and my thumb was bandaged like a cartoon character. Everything with the thumb is okay now, and my last performance of Ka Hia Manu was painless.

I guess I should write about the last couple of days. Our goodbye to Mascato was much happier this time- I think its because we’re all convinced we’ll see each other again soon! Our last concert was typical Maskoko magic and we all had a blast. Singing with friends from last year, the new Mascatos, and the Nedbank Singers was great. We learned new music, attempted some clicks, and just had fun. The energy was crazy! Our picnic on the parliament grounds wasn’t sad- I think we were just having fun sharing music, and MacDonald gave some of us a tour of the important landmarks and political areas. I almost got arrested for trying to take a picture of the state house (well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the security card did yell, “eh eh eh eh” at me…).

To summarize, this trip has been incredible, I’ve had a blast and don’t want to go home! I’ve had many adventures ranging from dancing with school kids, getting stalked by lions, and learning about the historical stuff geeks like me love. I hope to come home full of new ideas, and I think I’ve got a new outlook on life from my adventures here. See you all soon!

Love,
Kyla

From Nathalie Dugo:

The end of the tour is fast approaching and it’s definitely a bittersweet feeling. Like Kyla, I also think that we’re absolutely not sick of each other enough and could keep doing this for another month or two! *hint hint to my parents: send more money so I can stay! Please!!!!*

The time we spent with Mascato and Siyacula was awesome. We had so much fun just sharing music and joking around. It was actually really great to reunite with the members we knew and meeting those we didn’t know. I especially loved hanging out with the members from Siyacula in South Africa! They even made me do a solo during our little circle-sharing session that Kyla mentioned already. Sheesh. Way to make you feel incorporated RIGHT AWAY! haha! Awesome. I think the bond with them is much stronger now that I’ve met them! We sang Fare Thee Well for them and it was pretty heartbreaking. I have already promised many of them that I have to return someday... soon hopefully!

Seeing Mascato was also a big highlight. I was originally really scared that the connection we had last year would have somehow changed, but I was very wrong. It’s been crazy-fun reconnecting, reliving memories from last year and, of course, partying. For future reference: Maskokos + clubbing in Africa = insanely fun.

Anyways, I should wrap this up. This tour has been amazing! Of all of the places I’ve been to, South Africa and Namibia have definitely taken a piece of my heart. Josh and I are considering moving here… yes, we are!

Love,
Naty

From Tessa:

I’ve been completely dreading this week because this tour has been so amazing! Every day has been a gift and all of our experiences have been wonderful. Siyacula (the choir I sing in) benefited so much from Kokopelli’s visit and they all had tons of fun! This tour introduced me to Mascato and now I understand even more what all of the fuss is about. They really are an inspiring group and their spirit was so contagious.

This tour has been one month full of fun and many crazy obstacles, but it’s meant so much to me and I can’t wait to come back to Edmonton!!! I love all of these Kokos and I’m going to miss them SO much! Thank you!

Tessa

From Lauren:

Oh man, I can’t believe the tour is almost over! I’ve had so many great moments that I couldn’t possibly write them all. I loved singing our last concert with Mascato. It definitely was a blast and then we shared music with each other yesterday. They gave a little performance just for us on the parliament grounds and then we returned the favour with some songs of our own. Some were really rusty and quite terrible. Oh well! Saying goodbye to Mascato was the hardest thing to do for me, because I’ll probably never see them again. Ah!

There were other amazing moments like waking up early to see the African sunrise at 6:30 in the morning. The animals in Etosha, the spiders in Mahangu Lodge (the biggest suckers we’d seen yet), the puking in Zambia, getting completely soaked in the mist of Victoria Falls, the rush of falling 53 metres at the gorge swing, (breathe) and learning tons of new songs from Siyacula as we sang together in a circle. I’ll have many many memories to keep for the rest of my life. Don’t worry, people at home! I’m tempted, but I won’t stay here for the rest of the summer. Miss you guys!