Witchcraft is a recurrent theme throughout Welcome to our Hillbrow. Looking over previous posts in the course blog, I stumbled upon this video from a 2015 post. I found it interesting because it does a quick summary of what witchcraft is like in a few countries of South Africa today. Laws are being passed according to witchcraft! The video is quite visual so beware, it’s not Halloween witches, rather real people exposed to insane violence because they’re believed to be witches.
In addition, I found this song called Hillbrow by Johannes Kerkorrel (1989) and although it’s not in English, the sound of the song says everything. Especially the cover by Elvis Blue. Jus by listening to it you’ll capture its nostalgic feel. It’s a sad song that seems to remember what once was. Somewhat like an elegy.
Welcome to our Hillbrow is a nostalgic novel. It’s everything our main character Refentse could have felt, said, done, thought, had he not committed suicide. Most chapters start with: “If you were still alive now, Refentse, child of Tiragalong and Hillbrow, you might finally…” Thus, there is an impotence that comes with the narration; Refentse could have gone through so many things, but he’s dead so it’s not possible anymore. In a sense, this impotence is the same impotence of Hillbrow. Had it not been devastated in the aftermaths of South African Apartheid, perhaps it’d have all the open possibilities that Refeltse would have had had he not committed suicide. Kerkorrel’s song, and Blue’s subsequent cover depict part of that impotence through the music.
I couldn’t find the translated song so I went with Google Translate, which is NOT GREAT, but sheds light on some of the song lyrics. For anyone who’s interested, here’s the translation (up to your interpretation):
Old man sitting at cafes,
And see all the people walking back and forth
Tramps rage at the Wimpy Bar
And Fontana is open until late in the evening
Barefoot children in the street, pointing to parking
And then keep the hand and then hold the hand
And hang up the hand? yes
Chorus One:
And give, give, give. Give, give, give
Your money, your dreams, your clothes full of holes
Give your heart to Hillbrow
Yes, give your heart to Hillbrow
In Quartz Street I hear? A girl called me,
There’s a Hare Krishna asking what I was looking
And I know Jesus? Ask? a man on the porch,
Between Hillbrow records and Estoril Books
And it’s long after midnight,
And send the Hillbrow Tower
She signals at night, its signal at night
His signal for the junkies waiting, O
Chorus One:
And give, give, give. Give, give, give
Your money, your dreams, your future full of holes
Give your heart to Hillbrow
Yes, give your heart to HillbrowEn the lights go on in the Chelsea Hotel,
And voices and music sound in every apartment.
We sat in the sun, drinking wine,
We survive with? a hell lot of pain in this country, so
Let’s drink to the one who survived his dreams,
On the one who gets what he wants, jaKoortjie:
And give, give, give. Give, give, give
Your money, your dreams, your future full of holes
Give your heart to Hillbrow
Yes, give your heart to Hillbrow
Come on, give your heart to Hillbrow