The host country of the olympic games summon a torch bearer to carry the torch around the world. I can imagine the bearer traveling over vast countries and encountering rich and poor nations. The bearer will meet powerful kings and rulers. He will share hands with the most famous as well as the poorest of the poor.  The bearer’s torch will bring hope to all. Along the  way the torch bearer will encounter strife and prosperity.  He will travel through some of the most beautiful land scapes and also be a witness to the harshest of storms and deserts.  But every time he encounters people, there will be a joyous celebration. Everyone will be glad that the torch has finally come to their land. How sad that the bearer of hope succumb and falls. Not by fatigue, but by an odd senseless reasoning of man. Who may not even be aware that the fallen was a torch bearer bringing hope to nations.  That is how I see Gabi’s life.  Let it not only be about the fallen heroine, but for us to retrieve her torch and carry on to the final destination where Gabi’s torch will ignite the beacon of hope that will shine the world over. REST IN PEACE. 

- Colbert Mashile   

An Elegy – Gabisile’s Life Brutal End

Gabi – Sistaz Lived for You & Us

I ran short of words to articulate “unmeasurable grief” of your loss, nevertheless, I’ll try penning how I fell. Your facial disposition bubbled with innocence, through your eyes. Your African beauty, sultrily underlined, laced with the energy of the sun. It loudly said “Ngiyintombi yom Afrika mina, egcwele uThando.”

Born and bred from those meandering hills of Umlazi you had to shine as a star. Proving to us – “Stars do not struggle to shine.” There came Liz and Malcolm’s dreams, were to make yours to come true.

Unfolding your mind to us, unmistakingly you have taken our hand, leading us, saying “Walk with me in my journey to discover Who am I.” In your pursuits of representational symbols you less followed trends, instead you SET THEM. You continued to be only you, GABISILE.

Your inspirational, thought provoking themes – i.e. “My child, My son, Myself.” We are candidly taken on a journey of your life experiences intertwined with your symbols. It has that warmth of Caversham idyllic, exotic, accommodative landscape. Cushioning, amazing, prolific creative impulses “Celebrating Gabi’s Spirits.” Umama wani – Imvelaphi – Obusisekile – Wandile – Gida nami – it goes on endlessly.  This gave birth to internationalizing “Warm Wind from South Africa” solo. 

No one knew, even yourself that a Shadow of Death was to overshadow our Caversham-Nest of Creativity. This phenomenon “Death” disregarded all the Caversham Legacy of tenacious nurturing artistic innovations to the endless limits.  It is beyond our imagination to think how Malcolm’s innermost feeling have been affected. Our eyes cannot attain dryness but are glistening with tears at this moment in time.

We unashamedly mourn your loss. The strong black woman has died.  She died tolerating Mr. Pitiful.  She died hiding her real feelings until they misfire. If you were lonesome you should have let it go. Yours was a life cut off for no reason. You were too smart just for anybody.

When the air you breathe was divorced from your body, it adversely curtails your prolific creative impulse “Celebrating the Spirits.” You are not alone wherever you are. You’ve joined the heavenly – artistic cream of the crop – Julian Motan, Cyprian Shilakoe, Sithembiso Sibisi, to count the least, whose lives were hewn at their early ages.

We almost imagine what you’ll say when you reach “Heaven.” “It surprises me to be here!!! How did it happen??” Probably God will provide an answer.

Lala ngokuthula Lusibalukhulu —-

Uyibekile induku ebandla Nkosazane —-

- Michael Paul Sibisi – Visual Artists/Art teacher

29/05/2008

Gabisile Nkosi’s Message

After hearing from Malcolm Christian of Caversham Centre that Gabisile Museum should be started; I was so proud about you my late- special friend.  I thought deeply about our friendship- relationship at Lidgetton actually, it meant a lot, Gabisile Nkosi; because now I have a sudden decision; as compare you sudden death.  My decision is to take out my significant object, which is the Ntlangwini clay doll; wearing ubendle and bedswork attire of early 19^th century as well as her explanation from my researched collection of the Ntlangwini Tribe material culture, as the start item of GABISILE MUSEUM- THE CONTAINER, which needs to take off to share with people.  By God almight, I have already been received your significant object, which was a doll, which would represent a clay doll in my collection of the Ntlangwini tribe.  Our {swoop} is to certify that you, late Gabisile Nkosi was my real friend and sisters of same family in Lidgetton. 

In conclusion, I have your special song in my mind, called:

“Gabi ngene-e Ndumisweni  Gabi ngene-e Ndumisweni    

Gabi ngene-e Ndumisweni

I-hi-i, I-hi-I Gabi ngena     I-hi-i, I-hi-I Gabi ngena    

I-hi-i, I-hi-I Gabi ngena    

- Nomandla Nodola 3 June 2008

Gabi  

 Rippling the globe her heart saw no border, no boundary, no ocean

To meet Gabi… was to be affected by a smile

Moved by kindness, strangers knew her before an introduction

A load of good intentions delivered effortlessly 

A constant teacher and forever a student of life

 A force of talent searching for outlets

A list of things undone by Gabi’s heart is longer than one can write 

 My heart is heavy with the weight of her loss

 Our load is now bigger with her passing

Our shoulders must all now broaden

Sean Stroelhe