After unrest, South African pianist tackles despair through music

Record ID: 1627319

  • Title: After unrest, South African pianist tackles despair through music
  • Date: 18th July 2021
  • Summary: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 18, 2021) (REUTERS) BURNT STORAGE FACILITY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SALVAGING WHAT'S LEFT IN THEIR UNITS VARIOUS OF THE BURNT UNITS BURNT FURNITURE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PIANO TEACHER, JENNY BOWES, SAYING: "At one point I just knew that I wanted to sing Nkosi sikelela. I sang it in faith, I sang it not just for me and our personal situation but I sang it for the people in this facility, for the people of this province, for the people of this nation, because, I mean, it says God bless Africa."
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2021 15:04
  • Keywords: Jacob Zuma Jenny Bowes looting music piano unrest violence
  • Location: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Africa
  • Reuters ID: LVA002EMDAYX3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Feeling anguish and despair after days of the worst violence to hit South Africa in years, Durban pianist Jenny Bowes is using music to bring hope and love into the scenes of devastation as the country rebuilds following the unrest.
    Playing a piano left standing amid debris and damaged storage units, Bowes belts out songs including the South African national anthem.
    "I sang it in faith, I sang it not just for me and our personal situation but I sang it for the people in this facility, for the people of this province, for the people of this nation," said Bowes.
    Bowes told Reuters that the last few days felt like a war zone. While helping her brother clean debris at a looted storage facility, she said she had a feeling of profound sadness mixed with hope that prompted her to play the piano found there.
    The saddest part of the devastation, Bowes said, was that people lost not only material possessions but treasured family photos and heirlooms, too.
    Protests broke out in the past week in parts of the country after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry. The protests swiftly degenerated into looting and arson which have killed more than 200 people and destroyed hundreds of businesses.
    President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday (July 16) the unrest was stabilizing and calm has been restored to most of the affected areas, but the destruction will cost the country billions of rand.
    (Production: Siyabonga Sishi, Michael Fiorentino, Hazem Sika, Pola Grzanka, Natasa Bansagi)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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