Fw: OST in Africa

[Richard Charles Holloway]

Hello, all...

I shared a message from this thread with a correspondent who lives in South
Africa...and who has been intrigued by OST.  I thought you might enjoy what
he shared with me:

----- Original Message -----
From: AM de Lange <amdelange at gold.up.ac.za>
To: Richard Charles Holloway <learnshops at thresholds.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 5:59 AM
Subject: Re: OST in Africa


> Dear Doc,
>
> If the word "baraza" is Swahili, it literally means "verandah" or
> "porch". It is structure which provides a shade to the sun.
>
> It is rather difficult to sit in full sun in Kenia to have an "Open
> Space".
>
> Swahili is one of more than a thousand Banthu languages. It is
> spoken in the northern part of Southern Africa. The various Banthu
> peoples migrated southwards over centuries, displacing the much
> older San (Bushmen) people. There are many correspondences
> between all these Banthu languages, pointing to a proto Banthu
> language.
>
> Interesting enough, the word "baraza" does not occur anymore
> in the more than ten Banthu languages of South Africa. The word
> or variants which they use for "Open Space", is "indaba" -- to
> discuss an important topic. But it has other meanings also, many
> of them directly related to what we now know of "open spaces".
>
> The root "daba" is even more interesting -- to stir opinions. It seems
> that somewhere along the migration route "baraza" became "indaba"
> because of someone stirring opinions too much.
>
> Best wishes
>
> At
>
>
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Michael M Pannwitz <mmpanne at snafu.de>
> >To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> >Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 1:16 AM
> >Subject: OST in Africa
> >
> >
> >> Dear Andrew,
> >> in 1998 I did a leadership training for Anglican Bishops in Nairobi
> >> in open space.
> >> While I was into my introduction one of the older bishops
> exclaimed,
> >> hey, I know this, its baraza.
> >> An immediate discussion ensued in which several remembered that it
> >> had been a key element in their village culture.
> >> All noted that it is no longer used except perhaps in some very
> >> remote places.
> >> So open space is deeply imbedded in African Culture, at least in
> >> Kenya.
> >> I heard of a number of open space events in South Africa, maybe
> >> Harrison knows more on that.
> >> I will forward this mail also to my colleague Hans Walker in
> >> Zimbabwe, I would think he would know about open space facilitators
> >> there.
> >> What part of Africa are you talking about?
> >> greetings
> >> michael
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Michael M Pannwitz
> >> Draisweg 1
> >> 12209 Berlin, Germany
> >> FON: +49 - 30-772 8000   FAX: +49 - 30-773 92 464
> >> www.michaelMpannwitz.de
> >> www.we-open-spaces.de
> >>
> >
>
>