Zandile Ndhlovu, or the “Black Mermaid” as she is widely known, brought her enduring story to Gqeberha of how a Soweto-raised woman who had never seen the ocean until she was 12 came to be a renowned free diver advocating for ocean conservation and climate change.
Ndhlovu, SA’s first black free-diving instructor and a global icon for ocean protection and swimming education, was the first keynote speaker in a new series of First Thursday Talks hosted by the SA Cultural Observatory (Saco) in Gqeberha recently.
The “Women Who Move Like Water” event was hosted in line with Women’s Month, and celebrated what has become possible in sport, culture and the blue economy, at the 30 years of democracy mark.
Saco executive director Unathi Lutshaba said: “Now you, like me, may be wondering how something like the orange economy [arts, culture and the creative industries] intersects with the blue or maritime economy.
“The linkage may not be instantly obvious, but if we turn to nature, ubuntu and Zandi, we get the answer.”
Ndhlovu is the founder of The Black Mermaid Foundation, through which she shows marginalised communities how they can — and do — belong in the ocean, and how to be safe in it.
Her work centres on enabling access to ocean spaces in the hope of diversifying these recreationally, professionally and in sports, all the while creating a new generation of what she calls “Ocean Guardians”.
Ndhlovu told how a snorkelling trip to Bali had opened the wonder of the ocean to her, and helped dispel long-held traditional myths that the ocean was unsafe, prompting her to trade in her cycling cleats for fins.
Cast against a projected screen showing large images of her free diving with sharks, Ndhlovu explained how she had come to explore the depths of the sea, her own cultural fears and those of her family about her newfound “office in the ocean”.
She also spoke of how this led to change among the communities she now works with across SA and the world.
“You can do and be whatever you want, you can swim, and the ocean belongs to everyone,” she said.
However, with great access comes great responsibility, she told the audience of creatives, ocean activists, swimmers and co-panellists at the Nelson Mandela University Bird Street Art Gallery.
She said the ocean was hurting, and that people needed to balance ocean production with preservation efforts, and to make saving the seas everyone’s business.
Ndhlovu’s own activism for access and ocean protection has seen her write a children’s book, be the subject of a documentary and produce her own film — all in the name of empowering people with the skills and knowledge to enjoy the ocean safely and ensure it is preserved.
Her work intersects the sports, arts and culture and maritime economies, showing how it is possible to enjoy the wonder of these productive sectors, work in them, but also ensure they are protected and there is equitable access.
Ndhlovu then joined a panel discussion with Rebecca Gatang’i and Oyama Vanto, who shared how their work intersects blue and orange economies.
Gatang’i, an urban development professional, innovator and resilience scholar-turned-Ironwoman, also learnt to swim later in life.
Now, when not running programmes at the SA Cities Network, she is in the water teaching other black women to swim, and promoting for infrastructure to support learning the skill in marginalised communities.
Vanto is a cultural development management professional who has worked extensively with the creative and cultural sector, civil society, academia and government, actively advocating for arts access and using culture as a tool for mindset change.
The panel discussion marked the rebirth of First Thursday Talks in Gqeberha post-Covid-19.
“This is exactly what we need in the metro; a platform to engage the creative and cultural industry, and inspire new connections and collaborations,” Lutshaba said.
“These talks are crucial for the industry, as they make research and innovation accessible and appealing to a wider audience.
“By sharing stories and experiences, we can break down barriers and create new opportunities for growth and development.”
As part of empowering women and contributing to the creative sector, Saco collaborated with a nonprofit called Women Enriching Platform, which made gift bags for attendees from upcycled Saco banners and branding.
“I was so excited to host Zandi to show how culture can be a tool for telling a story about sport, black excellence, mindset change around the ocean and black women’s potential.
“The goal is to keep doing so,” Lutshaba said.
Saco plans to host cultural talks until the end of 2024 to reignite a cultural dialogue in the city.
On September 5, it will host renowned author Khaya Dlanga at the South End Museum. Register via www.southafricanculturalobservatory.org.za to attend.
HeraldLIVE
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