Hello Fellow Travellers! This is for the listeners who are interested in origin stories. When I was still toying with the idea of starting a podcast, I decided to first do some test recordings before committing to producing one. This post is one of the first recordings I created. The first, ever, tested topic was actually the Lydenburg Heads. However, I struggled to produce a complete pseudo-episode on that topic. So, this is officially the first; complete with an intro, body and conclusion.

It’s amateurish and raw. As you will hear, at the time of recording it, I hadn’t yet figured out the complete title of the podcast. I also used my cellphone mic to record it. Despite all of that, I believe this recording is where the essence of the podcast was established, and where the skeleton of the final Iziko Slave Lodge episode was conceived.

Tell me, can you hear any progress between this original test recording and latest podcast episodes?

Disclaimer: Slavery in South Africa did not strictly in occur in the Cape. As the voortrekkers trekked into the interior of the country, they continued the practice of slavery. Between 1834 and the 1850s, they kidnapped African children to perform “cheap, captive labour” (Reader’s Digest, 1992:146) for them. Those enslaved children were referred to as “Inboekselings” (“captured African juveniles”). However, they didn’t consider it as slavery because “to them, a slave was someone who was sold into permanent bondage at a public auction for cash”. “Inboekselings were welcomed additions to the Boer household, performing a variety of activities. Some were used as herdsmen … and the builders of Boer houses”

Enjoy!

Exploring the History of Slavery in South Africa | Iziko Slave Lodge & Land Expropriation Act

Hello Fellow Travellers! In this episode, I’m making good on promises from the first season. One of those promises was to explore South African destinations that connect to key themes from The Woman King movie, including Portuguese merchants and the transatlantic slave trade.

Initially, I planned to discuss Cape Point and the Iziko Slave Lodge, two locations tied to these movie themes, in Season 1. However, due to personal reasons, I couldn’t follow through at the time. Now, in Season 3, I’m starting where I left off—because, as the saying goes, your word is your bond.

(1) What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

This episode dives into the history of slavery in the Cape (mid-17th to early 19th century) and the role of the Iziko Slave Lodge. Key topics include-

1. The historical significance of the Slave Lodge

2. The origins of slavery in the Cape

3. The brutal conditions enslaved people endured

4. Free commemorative days & museum exhibitions worth visiting

(2) Connecting the Past to the Present:

In a previous (now deleted) post, I mentioned making connections between South Africa’s history of slavery and today’s debates on the Land Expropriation Act. The second half of this episode explores how the legacy of slavery still influences South Africa’s current land reform challenges.

I wrap up this episode with an unexpected rant about national unity and resisting external political influence. Platforms like TikTok reveal a growing debate among white South Africans rejecting Trump’s offer to Afrikaners, while YouTube comment sections show that his influence resonates with many across racial lines. This rant isn’t for everyone—but some South Africans need to hear it.

This episode is nearly two hours long—so here’s a tip: listen while cleaning, cooking, or doing other daily tasks. It’ll make the time fly by!

Enjoy the episode!

Hello fellow travellers! I once read information which falsely claimed that the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet at Cape Point. They actually meet at Cape Agulhas. In this episode, I give an honest review of my experience of visiting the attraction. So that, unlike me, you do not travel to the destination with unrealistic expectations of what the meeting of the two oceans look like. Enjoy!

Hello fellow travellers! A promise has finally been fulfilled with the publishing of this episode. At the end of the first season I had made a promise that when I return with a new season, one of the first destinations I discuss would include Cape Point.

In this episode I discuss the historical significance of Cape Point. I also discuss the two visits I had made to the national park to help give an idea of what to expect if you decide to visit the destination. I believe this episode is unlike any I’ve ever published before, because I share some personal stories. I hope these stories put a smile on your face like they’ve done for me as I was listening back to my final edit of this episode. Enjoy!

Hello fellow travellers! I bet ya’ll didn’t expect to hear from me so early in the year. You’re welcome to listen to the episode to get a quick understanding of why I’ve decided to show up so soon.

However, that is not the priority of the podcast episode. The main information that I discuss in this episode concerns the changes that have occurred following the election of the new government of national unity (GNU) and how they can positively or negatively impact your travel experience. This episode is basically an extended traffic news segment that is typically included in radio news. I hope you find it helpful/valuable. Enjoy!

Podcast reloading?! More like podcast buffering. Be prepared, there are moments when the sound quality varies because of technical interferences. Please forgive me. I only noticed this towards the end of recording the episode.

Hello fellow travellers! It's been a decade. But, I'm finally back and in this episode I reflect on some of the significant things that happened during my hiatus after wrapping up last season. I also plan ahead and share some of the desires I have for this second season of the podcast.

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Enjoy!

Hello fellow travellers! In this episode, I wrap up the first season of this podcast. I also briefly discuss the Iziko Slave Lodge and Cape Point, which I had initially planned to separately discuss as the destinations that related to the themes of "The Woman King" movie, but could not do so because of reasons I also discuss in this episode. 

I thank you all for listening to this first season of the podcast. I look forward to talking to you in the second season, coming in 2023. I wish you all a happy festive season. Take care of yourselves. That's all folks!

Hello fellow travellers! In this episode, I discuss "The Woman King". A movie about the Agojie warrior women of the kingdom of Dahomey that used to exist in the region of modern day Benin, a country in west Africa. I discuss what you can expect from the movie and some of the elements of its production that personally stood out for me. In addition to the movie, I also discuss "Warrior Women with Lupita Nyong'o" which is a documentary about the Agojie warriors. I suggest that you watch it in addition to watching the movie, to help balance what is fictional about these women with what is factual. So that you may have a well rounded idea of who these women were. The documentary is available on Youtube. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I've rescheduled the podcast publishing day. New episodes will now be published on Saturdays for the remainder of season 1. Another disclaimer is that I make the mistake of calling the king of Dahomey Gohez. His correct name is Ghezo.

Hello fellow travellers! It's story hour with me, because in this episode I discuss South African literary icon, Sol Plaatje, and his pioneering novel titled "Mhudi". I discuss who he was, his literary and political careers, the significance of "Mhudi" and I also read some excerpts to give you a taste of his novel. So that you may also go grab yourselves copies of his book. I bought mine from Exclusive Books at Menlyn Mall, in Pretoria. We might not be focusing on a physical destination but we are still definitely learning something new about South African cultural heritage. Enjoy!

Hello fellow travellers! It's been a minute and in this episode I discuss why I was absent last week. I also discuss changes in my personal life that might affect the weekly schedule of the podcast. Then, in the wake of the news concerning a German tourist who was shot and killed during a failed hi-jacking in Mpumalanga earlier this week, I discuss practical safety tips that tourists could use through traveling South Africa. It's been a trying time. Yet, I'm not discouraged by it and I hope my optimism in this episode encourages you too. Enjoy!