Have You Really Seen South Africa? A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT slide/music presentation

with Catrina Ganey

Michigan Coalition for Human Rights 4800 Woodward Avenue , MI 48202 (313) 832-4400 The Story Behind Have You Really Seen South Africa While traveling throughout South Africa, graduation. She returned from Germany and at- .. " Catrina's visit took her to Durban. There she was tended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. . christened with a South African name, Thandaka. After a semester, she transferred to Howard Univer- Pronounced "tawn-day-ka" it means, "most lovely" sity. During her junior year, she became the first or "most beloved one." She felt quite honored. Upon drama student ever to receive a Lucy Moten Fellow- returning to Detroit, Catrina found people were ship for Summer Studies at the Webber Douglas astonished to discover she traveled alone in South Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. In Africa. Some called her a "heroine." 1980 she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in "1 am not a heroine. And I don't think of myself Drama, graduating Magna Cum Laude. as a courageous person. My traveling alone in South She then had to choose between accepting an ap- Africa was nothing in comparison to the everyday prenticeship at City's Circle in the Square suffering of millions of people in the townships, in or starting a masters degree program in the arts at detention. They are dealing with the daily oppres- the University ofMichigan. She chose the latter. sionofapartheid.Iamjustanart~twith~r~mendous "This is a powerful personal concern for my brothers and SIsters lIvmg under •• J apartheid. Going to South Africa and bringing back presentation unlike any other I my impressions, pr~senting the~ to people through have seen. To get a Black per- the use of poetry, slides and mUSIc, was the very least spective of South Africa from I could do." Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Catrina is someone who has a~tually the youngest of three girls. At an early age, she de- traveled there alone IS very cided she wanted to become a surgeon. Also inter- unique." ested in music, she attended McKinley High School -Akua Budu-Watkins Executive and divided hertime between music and science. En- Committee TransAfrica Detroit couraged to devote all her energies to the drama de- Chapter' , partment, she later wrote and co-directed several of her own plays for the stage, summer workshop pro­ There she worked with Broadway playwright grams and local television. Milan Stitt, who asked her to participate in his play­ wright's workshop on campus. During that period "It is good to see South Africa she also worked with The Repertory through Catrina's eyes. For so Theatre. She has subsequently worked with The long. we have seen South Africa Attic Theatre, The Detroit Repertory Theatre and through sympathetic white eyes. become a permanent company member ofHarmony Park Playhouse. She has also appeared on a locally­ This is an excellent presentation." produced show on Channel 20. -Bill Day, Detroit Free Press political While working as a professional actress in cartoonist Detroit, Catrina became active with The Church of the Messiah on the East Side. During her senior year, Catrina applied to Earl­ "I have always based my life on Christian values, ham College in Richmond, Indiana for a degree in but was never truly challenged enough to execute Drama and an American Field Service (AFS) Ex­ them until I attended Messiah. It's a small commu­ ~ change Student Scholarship. She was accepted for nity of believers. Since my involvement there, I've Delivering keys to the South Nrican embassy, , both. However she decided to go to Germany on a been challenged very deeply. The community is also October 1987. This was the culmination of the "Unlock the Jail" full-year scholarship with AFS after high school involved with local as well as global issues. That's campaign. very important to me now." Bringing her impressions back to Detroit through While many members ofthe community divided the medium of slides, music and re-enactments of their interests between the plight of the neighbor­ situations she encountered, Catrina's presentationis hood and Central America, Catrina became en­ a personalone. Itis provocativelyentitled,Have You grossedinlearningabout apartheidSouthAfrica. At Really Seen South Africa? the same time, her friend and favorite actress, Jane "There were time when I was there, when I felt Alexander, presented her with an opportunity to like a 19thcenturyabolitionist. Itwas so hardtoleave audition for a part as a SouthAfrican girl in the off­ when I knew I couldn't take everyone with me. I off Broadway production of Beloved Friend. She couldn'tbeSojournerTruthorHarrietTubman, but didn't get the role, but it spurred her on to probe I couldbe a spokeswomanfor thosewho are silenced more deeply into problem ofSouth Africa. due to oppression. And that's what I am trying to do now." "Have You Really Seen South "This is more than just a slide Africa? is a powerful presenta­ presentation. It is almost a tion! It's put together in such a theatrical experience. I was dramatic way that you actually deeply moved." feel as though you have been -Marietta Jaeger, Board Member, there." MCHR -Mary Eldridge, member, Peace Fellowship, Central United Methodist Church Since her return, Catrina has traveled throughout the state ofMichigan, lecturing and per­ forming at churches, school festivals, conferences, In 1985, Bishop Desmund Tutu visited Detroit retreats and peace-and-justice groups. The re­ and conducteda specialbirthdaycelebration honor­ sponses have been quite favorable to the 45-minute ing Martin Luther King at St. Paul's Cathedral show. Church. An invitation to attend the service led to Ifyou are interested in schedulingHave You Re­ Catrina's becoming an active member of the Michi­ ally Seen South Africa? please contact MCHR at gan Coalition for Human Rights (MCHR) South 4800 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202, or calI Africa Committee. Out of this work, she developed (313) 832-4400. a plan to travel to South Africa and see the situation firsthand. Just five weeks before Catrina's departure, Catrina Ganey is currently working on her MCHR sponsored a special luncheon for a Catholic book, Have You Really Seen South Africa? and priest who had spent several years in South Africa, several tapes for radio and VHS. She is active with Zambia and the Transkei. He had been recently re­ the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, Witness leased from prison, where he had been tortured. He for Peace and Justice and The Church of the Mess­ counseled her on her schedule and itinerary and in­ iah. Ms. Ganey is enrolled at the Whitaker School troduced her to friends. This enabled her to have a ofTheology and is working towards a lay associate better perspective of the entire country and the sit­ degree in worship. In her free time Catrina works uation of the "homelands." as a volunteer in the emergency room at Detroit FromJuly throughAugust 1987 Catrina traveled Receiving Hospital. Ms. Ganey is pursuing a pro­ from the white suburban area of Pinetown to Dur­ fessional career in the theatre and hopes one day to ban, to the township of Clermont, the homeland of work on stage with her favorite actress, Jane Alex­ Transkei, to Capetown, Johannesburg and Soweto. ander.