Isabella Fischer's Blog: The Mdantsane Way, page 16

For Hire

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It Is Called Imifino (Umfino)

And the day I learned to cook it









It is called Imifino (Imifino or Umfino, other spellings and writings are possible as well) and last year on Mandela Day I had the pleasure to be invited to an Imifino-cooking-session in NU 1. The team from the NDA - the National Development Agency arrived in mighty numbers and in full armour.









Now meet the cook sisters!








Awela, the Head-Chef








was able to give me a full lecture on Imifino cooking right away!




Traditional South African recipes
mostly originate from early English, French, German and Malay settlers.
However, the indigenous ethnic tribes were here long before the settlers
and they have their own traditional culinary African culture.



IMIFINO IS:

a dish made from fresh vegetables

like carrots, spinach, cabbage, mielies  and mieliemeel

cut in pieces and cooked in a very big pot

simmered for 45 minutes at least

you can add onion and beef and oil

the mieliemeel makes it nice and thick








WE LOVE IMIFINO BECAUSE:

it is healthy 

we have eaten it in the rural villages with the old people

it is easy to make and cheap

you can grow the vegetables in your yard 




BUT you must know in the olden days they did not mix the vegetables like we do it today. Back then Imifino was made from traditional indigenous spices and herbs only. Just salt was added.




We are bringing in the Yellow now with the carrots! 




 



Thandi, the Assistant Chef and Advisor had already started with the more practicable stuff while we were still talking recipes.












And I can guarantee you one thing, while cooking Imifino the traditional African way there is no Mr. Cain deep frozen. It is really CHOP, CHOP, CHOP and CHOP!














Therefore let me introduce to you Mbulelo, the Chief Chopper and Development Manager. It was whispered in my ear by the two ladies Awela and Thandi. that Mbulelo could be in serious trouble at home, if his wife ever saw these images. Seeing him cutting carrots with so much talent, I was told, would probably lead to further assignments in the kitchen at the family residence. I think I have to take the risk and publish this image. Sorry Mbulelo!











The taste is worth the effort!








Without Any Doubt!









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Another Xhosa Love Song

Heard it this morning and loved it!




Another Xhosa Love Song




Ndizok"thatha produced by Lungelo aka Dj Luungz, Mxizo on Vocals





 Don't you like the record player too!
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The Mdantsane Way Hardcover - A Long Way

The South African Hardcover Edition of The Mdantsane Way has finally been born.

The Mdantsane Way

Hardcover cloth bound

Extral large print 30 cm x 25 cm

241 pages all color photography

120 mg matte high quality paper 

with ISBN number


Two copies of " The Mdantsane Way", one bound in ShweShwe fabric and the second one in African Wax fabric




If i would say now to you, that it has been easy, I would tell one of the biggest lies of my existence. The photographic documentary or coffee table book (whatever you would like to call it)  "The Mdantsane Way" has been one of the most challenging and demanding projects that I have ever undertaken. If not the most difficult one. It was the project, that I have throroughly underestimated.










But it is live and alive. I believed entirely that it was worth it, when a friend said to me looking at it for the first time: this book is so beautiful! 

 







Each and every book is handbound by a professional bookbinder and covered in a beautiful " African dress". We have chosen the South Africa shweshwe range and a selection of traditional fabrics called "African Wax" that originate from West Africa. Each book is cloth-bound in a different fabric. Each book is individual and unique. 








We wanted this book to portray the beauty, the diversity and the colors of Africa. When I first pronounced my wish, to have a costume made cloth cover, using for each book a different fabric and pattern, the book binder said this has really not been done. But today, even this extravagant idea of mine has been realized.




At this point it is time for me to express my gratitude and to thank the ones who have walked the way with me and never stopped, and who made it possible for me to achieve what I wanted to achieve. 













With all my heart I thank my very good and dear friend Innocent Ugue for designing the layout of this book exactly as I imagined it and dreamed of it. I thank him for his never ending patience, for re-working and correcting the manuscript over and over again for months.

I thank him for being this great guy who endured all my caprices and artistic inspirations with a smile on his face and who never lost his passion for this book.  

It is a huge and complicated job to do a layout of such a complex book. I wanted colors and Innocent, you have given me my colors - although you are a guy who likes shades of blue and brown. You are an awesome graphic designer and the greatest person on earth to work with. You have done the job of a whole team of professionals. Without you, the book would have never seen the light of the day. Innocent, you rock my world!







In the book the reader can find some of the stories and pictures that I have published on this blog but there are also a lot of new and never published images. 







I thank my parents, who never said once that this was not going to bring me any money, and that I should rather get a job again. I thank them for supporting me all the way, especially my beloved father, one of the greatest poets and most fascinating men on earth, who does not know and does not want ot know how to send an email or start a computer

He said : " I'd rather have a couple of bottles of red wine less, if that book can be published one day and I can hold it in my hand ".This is huge because every great poet needs his read wine. Dad, you can now hold this book in your hands!   










I thank my brother Ccideron, the Rockstar, the one and only, the extraordinary. I thank him for all the 66's, 33's and 99's and 111.11. He knows what I am talking about. Simply the best brother!








I thank especially my aunt Renate, the ever young one, who has been the rock of Gibraltar in my life. All my problems just shatter and burst in front of the unconditional love that she has been sending my way her whole life, wherever I was and am in this world.







I thank my mother, the strong one, who is the scale, the balance of all our lives, the guardian of our souls. There can be no greater compliment! I have said years ago that my mother should receive knighthood and I have already given it to her. 







Pelisa, David and each and every man and woman from Mdantsane. I can say no more. I have said everything about you in the book. Because of you the book exists !







I thank all my animals for bringing me such my joy and cheering me up.  







A combined effort has created something beautiful!









That is all that mattes and thats all I wanted! 







Bless you all !
















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Athuxolo Athie Madela The Youngest Referee In The National First Division And Premier Soccer League

We are featuring today on our blog an article written by the 2nd year WSU ( Walter Sisulu University) journalism student Mali Andiswe.This article profiles
Mdantsane born Athie Madela, who is the youngest referee officiating games in the
National First Division (NFD) and Premier Soccer League (PSL).

 




At 21 years old, Mdantsane born
Athuxolo Athie Madela is the youngest referee officiating games in the National
First Division (NFD) and Premier Soccer League (PSL) after he was appointed in February.

The day he was appointed Madela made
his first appearance in a PSL clash between Chiefs and Cosmos.




Madela is over the moon with his
appointment in elite football. “I was appointed as fourth official for the
second leg PSL game between Kaizer Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos in Port Elizabeth after the African Cup of
Nations. It was a real humdinger of a game which ended one-all. The Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan stadium was packed to its capacity and the atmosphere was
electrifying”. 





Athie
Madela, the youngest referee officiating games in the National First Division
(NFD) and Premier Soccer League (PSL)




South African Football
Association (SAFA), Eastern Cape provincial referee’s appointment officer,
Mason McKay said Madela is one of the few referees taking every opportunity
coming his way.

“Madela is young, energetic and
passionate about his job and has recently been given the whistle to officiate
games at this level. We are very impressed with the way he is handling games,”
said MacKay.




Madela who makes his living from
refereeing, started officiating in local leagues like the Mdantsane Football
League, SAB Castle League and the Vodacom League.

He said the road to success was
not an easy one. “You deal with a lot of different kinds of people and you have
to stay positive and focus on your vision and mission. My dream is to conquer
the world”.




His inspiration and mentor,
Lwandile Chris Mfiki, who is in the Fifa referee panel said: “Athi and I were identified
in workshops conducted by SAFA in the East London region as we come from the
same township. The first time I saw him officiate I was impressed about the way
he handled the game and the good quality he possessed in the field of play. Now
he is under my wing and I can assure you he is going places if he stays humble
and strong”.




Madela gives back to the
community by volunteering at social events and by giving advice and guidance to
young people. He said youth in sport must keep discipline, follow their dreams
and work hard, not forgetting to balance sport and school work.

His proud neighbour, Mr Alfred
Zongezile Noti said: “I noticed he liked soccer. The kids would play in my yard
with my son who is a little bit older than him. He progressed and we supported
him all the way, praying with him, encouraging him to stay close to God. I
heard the news of his promotion, I feel joyous and I will have to congratulate
him specially.”

Madela attributed his success to his
family for giving him the necessary support and also to referee Mfiki who
played a vital role in getting him where he is today.




“All credit must go to Chris [Mfiki]
for being patient and giving me the chance to explore the talent in me,” said
Madela. He added that his short term goal is to climb the ladder of success onto
the continental stage. –




Article and Photo by Mali Andisiwe

WSU-SNA 
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A Lion Or Baboon - Interview with Ernest Mtandeki, the man who became the first black Mr. South Africa in 1975 - Part Two

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Scenes From Shai Road In NU 1

For a long time I wanted to take pictures of this building in Shai road in NU 1 where many small business owners operate from. I have never been to Zimi's internet cafe, so I don't know if it is up and going but there are a lot of other sevices and and products on offer. I have a passion for small and informal businesses. I like informal.








Gates, exhausts and of course ..











tires







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Interview with Ernest Mtandeki - the man who became the first Black Mr. South Africa in 1975

This is the first part of a long conversation that I had with Ernest Mtandeki, the man I met in a store in Buffalo Street, where he works as a security guard. He is the man who became the first Black Mr. South Africa in history in 1975. But his story has never been told.

In this interview he shares his memories and thoughts about his childhood without a father, training in a shack next to the post office where he worked to achieve his goal to become a World Class body builder, drugs in sport, women and fame and on being a black athlete under the Apartheid Government.



His career was ended dramatically through an accident that left him with serious injuries and both legs broken in several places.

.

But Ernest say; " I am happy now, I am a happy man, cause all the things that I could wish for, I got them, So I can wait for the time until they dig me down"
 


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Qumza Highway - The Power of Light

Qumza Highway is the main road that leads through Mdantsane from
East London city centre to an industrial area at the end, Fort Jackson.








If you take the right turn - off you will find it !







Turn again and you are on it.







Entering the suburb of Mdantsane.








In 2011, just before Buffalo City became a Metro more than 200 new modern streetlights were installed along Qumza Highway in Mdantsane." The face of Mdantsane" was about to change.

The initiative was part of
the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Project (MURP) and a budget of over 6,9 million Rand was available for the project at the time. At the time there was great concern how to safeguard and protect the new installations with the light-fittings consisting of two 150 watt metal
halide, or white light, lamps, allowing for minimal "upward light pollution". The main challenge that the suburb of Mdantsane faced was vandalism with numerous attempts to steal cables that supply the poles and the lights. But the project did create jobs and two years later.......









And here they are. So Urban Renewal does take place in Mdantsane!

Or what do you think/
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Show Me your Muscles - Ernest Mtandeki - The First Black Mr. South Africa

Today I am taking you back in time. I am taking you back in time 37 years, when a young man with a perfectly sculptured and incredibly beautiful body - the calendar wrote the year 1975 - was posing for a photo at the beautiful and lonely beach of Bonza Bay in East London, South Africa

The young man's name was Ernest. 

Ernest Mtandeki was the first ever black Mr. SOUTH AFRICA in history. The history books were open at Chapter Apartheid in 1975. And here was Ernest.




Not only was he the first black Mr. South Africa, but he was crowned by the god of all bodybuilders in Johannesburg, the then Mr Universe, now governor of California Mr.Arrnold Schwarzenegger. 

Ernest came from the township of Mdantsane.

And he still lives there today in NU 10.







"This was me at my prime", he says, while handing me a black and white photograph in a frame under glass,that he carefully had unwrapped first from several layers of newspaper

 "When I look at it now, I want to cry, he says.  I will never be were I was then. I am here now." 




"The pose is in the picture is for the upper arms only, he explains, but I had wanted my whole body shown, so I can memorize this moment."









I have met Ernest today on his 64th.birthday. He works in a store in Buffalo Street and takes care of the security of the shop. He has brought cake for all the employees and his boss.




It was my intention originally to take the picture out of the frame and to scan it. But when holding the photo I felt it should not be removed. So I just took some pictures of it. 




I suddenly realize that all the ladies from the shop, with olive colored, white colored, caramel colored, and black colored skin (the colors are not cited in any particular order), ranging from age 15 to 69 years and older are bending over the counter, where Ernest has placed the picture.

Most of us are studying intensely the part of his body above his waistline.

There is also the occasional sigh!




" Oh my" says then the mother of the Ernest's boss," if I had seen you that day on the beach, my dear Ernest.....




The story of Ernest Mtandeki will be our first short movie on The Mdantsane Tales on YouTube. If you interested what he has to tell us, stay tuned. 
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