Sights, sounds and tastes from South Africa

Deon Volschenk

Deon Volschenk, Istanbul, Turkey

In order to promote South Africa as a tourist destination, the Consulate-General in Istanbul, together with the generous assistance of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, South African Airways and Lufthansa, hosted a "South Africa Week", from 8 to 13 October 1996, in the Agora Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in this city.

During the "Week" the Consulate-General attempted to introduce to the Turkish public the sights, sounds and tastes of South Africa.

To produce a "taste" of South Africa, exotic South African foodstuffs were imported, including delicacies such as crocodile tail, venison, snoek, bJtong and ostrich meat (the putu unfortunately got lost en route to Istanbul). South African wines were also very much in evidence, with the Consulate-General donating 55 cases of wine for the occasion. To prepare the food in the typical South African way, two chefs were brought in from Pretoria to produce South African cuisine fit for a Pasha.

The "sounds" of South Africa were produced by a South African jazz band, ''T,rusini'', under the able leadership of Darius Brubeck (son of the famous American jazz pianist, Dave Brubeck) which was brought in from Durban especially for this occasion. The sounds that they produced were African jazz with distinct "township" flavour.

Regarding the "sights" of South Africa, we had to admit that here we had serious problems. It was pointed out that some wise man once observed that a picture is worth a thousand words. We put up many pictures and posters of South African scenery, as well as a stuffed lion, two buffalo, two kudus and some other stuffed animal trophies lent to us by a local hunter, which obviously was still not sufficient to give potential Turkish tourists a clear picture of South Africa. It was also pointed out that if one picture is worth a thousand words, it follows that reality must be worth at least a thousand pictures, but we didn't have thousands of pictures. It was then pointed out that the only way in which it would be possible for a Turk to experience the true "sights" of South Africa would be for him or her to visit the country personally. We said that we hoped that our Turkish friends would do so and that if they went to the Hyatt for a South African meal, they would be inspired to do so.

  

The salutation of the occasion was:Mdizakubona njengba isikathhi sigijima emZantsi

Africa!

(Zulu for "see you soon in South Africa")

 M.., ••••••• JIM             JJ