Ishtar: How did you first discover Africa?

Szavanna: Hi there - this was a surprise! Thanks for asking - let me think, hmmmm....it probably started through Arabic - since that is what I started to study while I was still in musical high-school. I did an intensive course - Classical Arabic for beginners.I thought this was a perfect thing to spend my holiday with. I loved the language, the letters, and I also met people from Yemen who introduced me to national dishes, music and I think this started it all. I was 19.


Ishtar: What did you think about it then? Did it live up to your expectations?

Szavanna: I thought all the things that people think when they haven't been to a place.

I thought of black people with colorful dresses, huts, sun, palm trees, elephants etc. I only arrived in Tunis in 1995 - before that I met a lot of people from many African countries - Mali, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana etc. - and I never stopped asking them questions - so by the time I arrived in Tunis - I had a much better picture than what had initially. Still the real experience is always different from what you have in your head. And I liked it. I really enjoyed my stay in Tunis, I felt home.


Ishtar: You've been in Africa for quite a while now. What stands out as the heights?

Szavanna: Heights - you mean positive things?

Well - I have been travelling around Europe, USA, and I didn't like the commercialisation, the big shopping malls, the material aspects of all of that. I always thought something is "wrong" with the "first world".

I thought I had to carry on and see places and people that live closer to each other, to nature, have a different outlook on things. I definitely think that I have so much to learn from this continent - I feel I haven't even started. So the heights - well music and rhythm and how art is present in daily life - I feel the cultures and music is so much source of knowledge about vital things.

Apart from that I am not sure if I can explain - but definitely there is something about Africa that draws me - I am really not sure why.


Ishtar: What has been the most frustrating about the vast continent?

Szavanna: Frustrating - life in South Africa is not easy - the crime is shocking here - not only frustrating but scary - this situation also frustrates me becuase it makes people feel afraid of the others on the street, it also stops social interactions on many levels - which is what I came for - to learn from the people.


Ishtar: How long do you think you'll be staying?

Szavanna: I don't think I am going anywhere :-) I haven't even started learning - so I will probably stay for a long long time :) Thanks so much for the interview - (I feel really important :-) looking forward to your thoughts on these answers.

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