South Africa
Festivities:
Festivities:
New
Year’s is celebrated around the world. In many countries the festivities extend
into January 2nd. One such country is South Africa. A little less then a month
ago, Nelson Mandela, a leader in the anti-apartheid movement, died at age 95.
For these reasons, it only seems fitting to reflect on the culture of this
nation.
The New Year’s
festival of Cape Town is known as Kaapse Klopse. It is a day when street
venders and the working class fill the streets of Cape Town. The festival
features parades, singing and dancing. Formally known as “Coon Carnival”, the
festival can serve as a reminder of the turmoil and racial predacious that have
plagued the country since its colonial rule by the British. (http://www.happywink.org/kaapse-klopse.html)
Nelson Mandela:
South
Africa is one place where inequality between black and white exceeds are own.
Nelson Mandela worked tirelessly to bring an end to the injustices set fourth
to his people. He had been imprisoned for 27 years doing so, and when he got
out he was elected president of South Africa. January 5 marks the one month
anniversary of his death. I will be taking a moment of silence to remember this
man and think about all his life can teach us. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/nelson-mandela-dead-dies-south-africa_n_1699777.html)
Movies:
One
movie that where Mandela is the main character is “Goodbye Bafana” (also called
“the Color of Freedom”). The movie chronicles a prison guard at the prison
where Mandela was kept. Mandala is played by Dennis Haysbert, best known to me
as the guy from the All State commercials.
It was
hard for me to pick just one film to watch to commemorate South Africa. Indeed
there are many films that take place here. Almost all of them center on a main
theme: the theme of oppression and prejudice we hold against people due to our
differences. Some of these movies include “Invictous”, “Endgame”, and “District
9”.
Another
film I would like to bring to your attention is “Searching for Sugarman”. This
biography is not about Mandela or the anti-apartheid movement. It is a
biography of a man named “Rodrigez”, an American musician who failed to sell
records in the U.S. only to find out years later that he was famous in South
Africa. I have the sound track to this movie and it is pretty good. I was
listening to it in the car today. If you haven’t watched this film, I highly
recommend you do, or at least listen to some of songs.
On today’s Menu:
Breakfast: Black Tea and Rusk
Dinner: Ostrich Sasaste
Drink: Obikwa, Sauvignon Blanc: South African White Wine.
Rusk: South Africa is heavily influenced by Great Britain
having been occupied by them until 1931, when they gained there independence.
Rusk is one of the snack foods that was brought over by them. Rusk is basically
stale shortbread which is traditionally eaten with tea. You can get it at most
Indian Grocery stores. I would like to note here, South Africa adopted many
Indian dishes including samosas, and biryani.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_cuisine
Ostrich Sosatie- Sosatie is basically a kabob that has been
marinated with in a tamarind sauce. It is traditionally made of mutton or lamb.
Being that I do not eat either of these, I have chosen instead to make it from
ostrich, another common meat used in South Africa.
Ingredients:
Cubed Ostrich or mutton
1 tbsp. tamarind sauce
1 tsp. minced garlic
½ white onion, minced
1 red onion, chopped
Dried Apricots and or prunes
1 finger chili
Curry leaves
½ cup water
Directions:
1)
The night before, mince the half white onion,
finger chili and garlic. Sauté with curry leaves in a pan for roughly 3-5
minutes.
2)
In a bowl mix together tamarind, water and the
ingredients that were just sautéed. Add cubed meat and let marinade overnight.
3)
Soak kabob skewers in water roughly an hour
before you start to cook.
4)
Place cubed meat, red onion, and dried fruit on
skewer.
5)
Grill the kabob.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sosatie
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