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The Gabisile Nkosi BEYOND Fund

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a Living Monument to her Life and Vision - The first step On Friday morning 6 June, we came together at Jabula Combined School with Sandile and the Nkosi family and 300 others whose lives Gabi had touched.  What a memorable day, an inspiring spiritual occasion with messages, voices, songs, poems, tears and laughter. It was a truly fitting celebration of Gabisile Nkosi’s life.  As each of us knows, Gabi was a woman of action – doing things, making a tangible difference to lives was her passion, not sitting in meetings with endless rounds of talking. This passion extended not only to the lives of her beloved son and family, but to those fortunate enough to become part of her extended family: the women and children of communities that stretch beyond human sight; and those who take human insight and communicate it through word, image, sound and song – her fellow artists. The intense activity of the past two weeks has helped us step beyond the pain and deep sense of loss, and to give dignity to the immensity of the human and divine spirit. As friends arrived at Jabula, they were given pieces of brightly coloured paper on which to write a message or word. These were then pinned to banners that had been hung in the school hall. The banners carried photographs of Gabi and her prints, making joyful reminders of her presence. The Gogos and youngsters from Ulwazi were on hand, each taking guests to visit the garden that Gabi and the Gogos had established in the weeks preceding the tragedy, and of course to Ulwazi (place of knowledge) CreACTive Centre.  

Everyone then met in the hall where Jabu Mtheku led us in combining religion, choirs, poetry and reflection of the many roles that Gabi had played. After Dr Ndlovu had planted a buffalo thorn tree in the centre of the Gogos’ garden, we all walked through Lidgetton to celebrate in breaking bread at Gabi’s house. This final act of celebration transformed the house from a place of horror and hurt where Gabi’s life had ended, into one of healing and hope. The Ulwazi children had created images of their personal angels and these had been hung throughout Gabi’s house – veritably a place of angels restoring its rightful and positive role in this small community. 

 From around the world, there has been a constant request for guidance in how to help contribute towards Sandile’s upbringing and towards Gabi’s Vision. So even during this time of sorrow we, the Nkosi and Caversham families, have been forced to consider and deal with these practical issues.  In discussions over the past two weeks, decisions have been formulated regarding the best way forward in responding to these two main priorities: looking after Sandile whose guardian is Gabi’s younger sister Tutu; and continuing Gabi’s contribution to the young and elderly of Lidgetton and beyond.  It was unanimously agreed that an ideal solution with mutual benefit would be to raise funds in order to enable Caversham to purchase Gabi’s house and property so that her vision can continue and expand. The full proceeds from this sale would go to Sandile and thereafter to help continue programmes that Gabi had initiated.  Last year when Malcolm asked Gabi what her vision was and she answered very simply Beyond. We must learn from this profundity and move beyond this event, beyond the attitudes of apathy and acceptance of the shadow, beyond the limitations that we perceive and ultimately beyond ourselves in order to become more human and in so doing increase our ability to reflect the divine.               In undertaking and sharing this responsibility we will do this under the banner of: Gabisile Nkosi - BeyondThe conduit for this undertaking will be the Caversham Press Educational Trust current account which will be solely dedicated for this purpose.  The Trust is a non-profit structure that was founded in 1993 and will provide an established, audited accounting system for the Gabisile Nkosi – Beyond contributions. When donating please put your name and the word Beyond, as reference and email/fax us your contact details.    Account details: Bank                           :            NedbankBranch                        :            ScottsvilleAccount Name :            Caversham Press Educational TrustAccount No                :            1341 009122 Swift No                      :            NEDSZAJJ Please forward this to anyone else whom you feel will be interested.  Together we can keep alive the vision of this exceptional young woman, Gabisile Nkosi. Gabi, we salute you. Thank you. The Nkosi and Caversham Families 

3 Comments

3 responses so far ↓

  • 1 April Hilson-Greener. // Jun 13, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    Gabisile Nkosi, will be sadly missed by everyone who met her in the UK. she was an inspiration to all women. her smile would warm ones heart and her art work is wonderful. Gabby will be sadly missed by Philippa Rebecca & April

  • 2 Chike Obeagu // Aug 9, 2008 at 3:28 am

    I was greatly shocked when my friend and colleague, Ugochukwu-Smooth Nzewi, called to break the news that Gabi is no more. Why Gabisilie? I met this wonderful lady during the 2006 Thupelo workshop at Rorkes Drift, Kwazulu-Natal. I lack words to describe how nice and wonderfully gifted you were Gabi. Gabisilie Nkosi! It breaks my heart to reference you in the past. I weep for the death that killed you Gabi. It has failed for I know that you live on. Sleep tight sister, it is morning yet.

  • 3 admin // Sep 4, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Dear Malcolm, Sharlene and Caversham colleagues,
    It is with deep sorrow and indeed shock that I learned of Gabi’s death in the recent TAG newsletter. I was traveling in Central America at the time and when I returned home to the USA I moved from my home in Maine to Delaware for a new job. My uprooted life has kept me from staying up to date on all things that matter to me in South Africa - and Gabi’s loss too much of a sorrow for my friends from there to even think to tell me.

    Gabi and I were roommates for two weeks at Thupelo Rorke’s Drift — and in most every way we were inseparable. When I was ill and she needed medical attention as well we both spent an entire day at the local clinic waiting in line to be seen and attended. It was Gabi’s who came to everyone’s rescue at the workshop — William Zulu who often needed transport, and then Gabi’s car was damaged on one of her missions of care for us. During those two weeks I was blessed to be in the presence of one of the most amazingly gifted, talented, and spiritually rich persons I have ever met. When anyone came to visit Rorke’s Drift, total strangers and especially elder women, they gravitated toward Gabi — they knew there was something in her that was special, and everyone wanted to be part of it, to be near it. Gabi gave endlessly of herself yet managed to produce some of the best art of the workshop and enable the young children who sought her out to do so as well. She and her sister regularly prayed together in the early morning and Gabi had a cell phone alarm that sounded like a rooster - and ever since then I have wanted a rooster alarm. It is not so much the rooster sound as the reminder of that time together. After that workshop I told several people about Gabi and her gifts — it would have been impossible not too just as it would be impossible not to sound hyperbolic in describing her immensity in all things, though it is true. I did learn quite a bit about Gabi’s own sorrows and her new love, about Sandile and more. We stayed in touch the best we could via email after the workshop. Her death is a tragic loss for all those who knew her and those who had yet to meet her. I consider myself doubly blessed to have been able to share in her life in such an intimate and profound way, albeit short term. I wish to extend my sincerest sympathies to all of you at Caversham as you work towards the beyond Malcolm reminds us of in his tribute to Gabi. With love and understanding from the USA, Julie McGee

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