Two coworkers and close friends shared the trip of a lifetime after Lakiwe invited Monique to her home village, Qokolweni, for the December holidays. Their adventure in the traditional Xhosa community has gone viral!
Qokolweni, South Africa (10 January 2024) — Over the December holidays, two coworkers decided to take their friendship to the next level by sharing a holiday together.
Monique Weich (crowdfunding institution BackaBuddy’s Donor Retention Coordinator) and Lakiwe Blekiwe (the Head of Charities) headed to the Eastern Cape’s rural village of Qokolweni, where an unforgettable holiday would unfold.
Qokolweni is Lakiwe’s village. A place of family, tradition and Xhosa culture; inviting Monique was not just an invitation to a unique getaway in a picturesque village, but an extension of one the most significant parts of Xhosa culture—the Mgidi celebration (a young man’s transition into adulthood, which Lakiwe’s nephew was celebrating).
@qokolweni_mlungu Theres an Mlungu on my stoep! #easterncape #Qokolweni #village #culture #heritage #khosa #friendship #love #tradition #blackgirlmagic #fyp #cultureshock #afrikaans #southafrican @Lakiwe Blekiwe ♬ original sound – Qokolweni_Mlungu
The duo, who have been friends for five years, believe their friendship works as well as it does because of the mutual respect they have for each other and each other’s cultural underpinnings.
On this holiday, Monique, the ‘Mlungu’ of the trip and the village got to fully immerse herself in a cultural experience outside of her own. In the same breath, Lakiwe got to share some of the most personal and special parts of her life with a friend. The act of experiencing Monique’s wonder and curiosity incited even more cultural pride in Lakiwe, as well as a lot of laughs for the both of them as Monique discovered the ropes of village life.
The adventure was documented on TikTok and has, unsurprisingly gone viral.
From spotlighting South Africa’s cultural riches to sharing a tapestry of unity through differences with the most important ingredient (friendship) at the centre, Monique and Lakiwe’s adventure has tugged at the hearts of the world.
Coming home and off the high of the trip wasn’t easy for either of them, with Monique sharing that the experience had a profound impact on her. In fact, she was even given her own tradition Xhosa name ‘Nomathamsanqa’.
On her perspective of the experience, Lakiwe shared:
“From pit toilets to ‘Vaskom’ baths, fermented porridge mornings, and even accepting unreliable transport as normal. What bonded us even more was her love for Mama’s steamed bread and soup – that, [Monique] truly cherished,” Lakiwe commented.
The coworkers have reminded us that sometimes walking a mile in someone else’s shoes can be one of the most enriching parts of the journey, while letting someone into yours is as empowering as it is exciting.
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