Mangled Shoes

Grandmama was sited underneath the veranda patting one foot on the stoep, she had been waiting for Deborah's arrival not so far from her burns a fire. That's where all the day's cooking is done in a three-legged metallic black pot. It has been this way for years. Grandmama was dressed in a Victorian-styled Herero dress. The material was called three buttons.

She smiled; it had been nearly two years since she had last seen her granddaughter. Deborah on the other hand had forgotten what hard work felt like. Here she had to wake up before sunrise, rake the yard, put up the fire and be sure that by the time the neighbours awoke her entire household had already had their morning coffee.

Grandmama often told tales about life during German Colonial times and the Apartheid regime. This mostly stories surfaced when it was time to make a fire. During those times they had no stoves, ovens or irons. Such luxuries weren't afforded to them. They used these same three-legged pots, metal coal irons and benzine as a supplementary for "dry-cleaning" suits. After all the blacks had no business going to white owned establishments like dry cleaners, bakeries. They had to be confined to their settlements. Unless of course they were headed to work on harbourers and mines. "No Blacks Allowed" So the signs read.

Even basic commodities such as bread, white bread was considered to be strictly only for the whites.

"First they brought in missionaries, then traders, then charted companies and concessions, before we could open our eyes they had taken over our livestock and our land."

"But we had long learnt to say No to our white masters Deborah we stuck to these three-legged pots and metal coal irons. The Herero house served only as a place to sleep in."

"Is this why we still cook outside today Grandmama? I mean everyone has stoves now." What was kept in the house?

"Inside the house we kept milk receptacles, bowls, milk buckets, tubs, spoons." This was omathu- Their traditional norms.

"We've cooked at the fire since I was a child, this is how we will continue to do it." Her grandmother paused then continued this earthen ware pots with narrow necks, wide middles, and painted bottoms we would bake these in hot coals, the food tastes remarkable it could not get any better, then that. Besides we will not be succumbed to a Morden way of living. Only God shall be ruler of this household."

"Tell me more Granmama I met a white man at Rita's in Klein Windhoek, German I suppose. Very impolite I must say I great him, but he failed to respond what's with that?"

"The white man has got a God complex. Long before you were born they'd regarded themselves as being a pure and superior race. Well you should start peeling those potatoes now Debbie and put up the pot for lunch."

"Okay Granmama." Deborah begun peeling the potatoes wondering when he Grandmother would bring up the abortion which was primarily the reason she'd travelled here. However in this moment and time she had to live within the confines of a child at home just like all three others.

Deborah peeled the potatoes and made comments about what she'd learnt in history class.

"The period of the war of National Resistance 1904-1908. The Herero's and Nama's revolted and General Von Throtha ordered the extermination of Ovaherero and Nama women, men and children."

"Shuck that corn sweetheart, it will need to go in with those potatoes. Yes dear indeed it true what you've studied. When the Germans first arrived here there was a prophetic leader named General Witbooi who warned Mahereo that he was selling himself and his people out by agreeing to accepting the German Protection and military support."