eKhaya: We are HOME

Our mission has always been to create strong communities for storytellers, conservationists, and scientists to help each other grow and take up space. At NEWF, we have watched this community grow from one group of fellows pitching their films in 2017, to more than 200 fellows from more than 25 African countries. 

In the weeks leading up to the opening on Monday , 13th November, the NEWF teams were hard at work adding finishing touches to this incredible space and preparing to welcome fellows to share meals, stories and laughter. If only these walls could talk!

A moment to remember. NEWF Founders Pragna Parsotom-Kok and Noel Kok with legendary Storyteller Ma’m Gcina Mhlophe and underwater cinematographer and educator Elke Bertolli.

We arrived bundled through the doors - crumbs and creases from the long drive to Sodwana Bay still on our faces. Instead of checking in or being met with paperwork and instructions, friendly embraces from people we genuinely adore awaited us. Given the time of the year, we can only really compare it to the nostalgic feeling of coming home for a family celebration. Because that’s precisely what it was - coming home to celebrate. 

A dream unfolds

In the past, many of our fellows dreamed of a space that could not only offer them comfort and a functional kitchen to stay fueled; but a space that had room for ideation, putting the hours into our crafts and laughter. We needed a space that could hold our depth, a space where our rich language and culture didn’t set us apart. 

“Gathering for a few days reminded me of how we first see and accept the person and everything else afterwards. It's a space where people's individuality and differences in language and culture are celebrated instead of used to pull people apart. Everyone was encouraged to mingle and learn a little about where others are from and what they are used to.” - Yolanda Mogatusi

eKhaya is exactly that. A locally-led and managed centre that welcomes African storytellers into a space that feels like their own. On the fresh white walls of the common areas and above the beds in the twin bedrooms hang canvases and photo series displaying the work of photographers in this community. If there is one thing Africa does effortlessly, it’s add style and finesse into what could be basic or mundane. In the bedrooms a locally made straw broom meets you at the door, ready to sweep the dust and sand away - a small detail that instantly conjures a picture of the beautiful faces of the local, female Sodwana Bay artisans.

The windows and doors were so squeaky clean that we had more than one rip-roar of laughter as a few of our foreheads got acquainted with the glass. A reminder that here, we are not too loud or unprofessional. We simply are. Here, in this home and creative space,  we have permission to be human and multifaceted in ways that are unique to our cultures. Whether catching up over breakfast, colour-grading or working on pitch decks in the light-filled, multifunctional dining and workspace areas - we are able to arrive as ourselves and slip effortlessly into the collective.

Marine Scientist Nancy Iraba, Emerging Presenter Nelisiwe Zikhali and Film Director Londiwe Shange.

Underwater Macro Photographer Juneid Petersen and Composer Muhamago.

NEWF’s dream of creating a space for travelling storytellers, and their advocacy for equitable partnerships, perfectly married Sli’s dream of serving her local community. This space has come to life in ways that leave us utterly inspired and enormously grateful for the support of every person who shares in the custodianship of this shared mission.

Embracing Ubuntu

One simply does not open up a space like this without the blessing from the elders and thanking the ancestors whose wisdom came long before this dream could be imagined. The opening ceremony reminded us of why this space holds so much pride and promise… eKhaya, is a love labour that encapsulates this community's spirit of ubuntu in every way imaginable. It’s a celebration of authentic, African-led storytelling, language, family, friendship and indigenous pride.

Ma’m Gcina Mhlophe blesses us with her wisdom and stories.

To honour our continent and ancestors, we opened with a prayer in Zulu and a song by Ma’m Gcina Mhlophe. The welcome, thank you and opening words were humbly spoken by Yolanda Mogatusi, a long time friend and industry mentor who moderated the first NEWF Congress in 2017 and participated in NEWF’s first dive lab in 2019. Offering her natural talent for spoken word, actress and writer Londiwe Shange rose to the occasion and translated as Sli shared the key moments in the journey that led to this centre.

Connecting Communities

Having a storytelling centre to invite fellows to, is not only a matter of the trust needed to share land and create a blueprint that homes such an expansive vision… It requires an enormous amount of resources. Powered by Africa Refocused, a collaboration with the National Geographic Society, eKhaya is a full circle shared and made bigger with partners who share in this vision for African storytelling and are willing to financially back it. 

Chief Storytelling Officer, Kaitlin Yarnall, a longtime supporter and co-visionary representing National Geographic Society joined the celebration and shared a few words. 

“I’m not going to say much, because this isn’t about me and it’s not about National Geographic. This is about an incredible community. At National Geographic our mission is to use the power of science, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world and I can think of no better physical embodiment of that, than this place. The science, the education and the storytelling is all through here, you can feel it - and it is all being used to illuminate and protect. For this reason, this collaboration is so important to us.” - Kaitlin Yarnall, Chief Storytelling Officer, National Geographic Society

The brevity of Kaitlin’s words of support spoke directly to the sincere understanding that this project is not about any particular organisation, but weaving visions that are bigger than creating one instance of positive impact. This centre is part of Sli’s story and her community - and her dream has created space for many others to come to life - the dream now, becomes the seed for tomorrow.

Across the room, curiously observing and taking it all in was Thomas Peschak, a National Geopgraphic explorer specialising in conservation and marine wildife photography. While he listened with us to the heartfelt opening words, an aspiring photographer familiar with his work quietly watched from across the room wondering when they’d have an opportunity to connect. And they did. Partnerships like the one NEWF has with NGS truly bridges gaps. It’s an opportunity for global talent to meet emerging talent - this meeting of minds bursts open a world of opportunity and a wave of active mentorship and collaborative energy that ripples far and wide.

As if our eyes could be any less dry, and our hearts any more full, a group of students from Othungwini, the primary school Sli attended as a child, flooded the atmosphere with joy as they christened the space with dance. The foundation they danced on, still empty and flat, will soon become a dedicated post-production studio and act as home for all the gear NEWF’s storytellers and their collaborators have access to.

Kaitlin Yarnall feeling the joy as everyone applauds the group of dancers.

Noel then embarked on a guided walk through the centre. Amongst the curious were the Chiefs attendees from the Mbila traditional council of Zikhali, representatives from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, collaborators from the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and National Film and Video Foundation, Disney Africa, local community members, NEWF fellows and National Geographic Explorers. All of us needed a moment to appreciate the work that went into this project, and to bask in the possibility it holds.

A princess and her feather

As we settled back into the screening lounge the spokesperson of Chief Inkosi NDabezinhle Zikhali finally felt ready to address Sli and all those in attendance. Mam’Gcina offered animated translations as we hung on every word, impatient to find out why the address had been delayed and set apart earlier in the evening.

A powerful moment as the room celebrates Princess Sli.

None of us were prepared for the pride and emotion that filled the room as the Chief honoured Sli’s hard work, determination and love for her community by granting her an honorary blue feather. This African tradition is synonymous with African royalty - the coronation of a princess - one who is for and of the people - and does so with style, humour and a healthy dose of sass. Another reminder that a graduation in Africa need not be inspired by western culture - it exists without a cap or paper, for before the cap, came the feather and the family tree. 

At the centre of it all

This centre is not just symbolic, or something to celebrate and move on from weeks from now. The first of its kind in this region, it’s a functional storytelling centre that does what a home, coworking space, classroom and self-catering accommodation does - all rolled into one very sleek, modern centre. Breezy modernity aside, its beauty is in honouring the land by incorporating the mature trees, beautifully finishing each area with intentional decorative touches, slick fans for Sodwana’s intense heat and solar power. An interesting contraption warms water, a local team of cooks prepare hearty meals when large groups are spending time at the centre and the training-ready pool glistens across from the open deck table where fellows eat together, work as they move around the space and log their most recent dives.

The space is built around the needs of a community - local and in Africa at large - it’s a space with the collective at the centre of it all. Every floor plan and furniture choice has people in mind. And every storyteller and local who passes through with a new word to share or dive to log, fuels the dream that this will be one of many spaces of its kind sprinkled around Africa.

It turns out that the village does what it always has: it welcomes all of us home and makes sure we are collectively nurtured. 

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Photographs by Qiniso Dladla for NEWF.

To read the Africa Refocused press release, please click here.
For more information on eKhaya, please contact us at info@newf.co.za