william van graan
91 years old
retired educator
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Advancement & achievement through perseverance.
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
To be remembered as one who, despite very humble beginnings, followed the Boy Scout precept of doing your best at all times and when he had
reached his goals, endeavoured to inspire others to work hard to claim their 'place in the sun.'
reached his goals, endeavoured to inspire others to work hard to claim their 'place in the sun.'
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
I see an SA coloured as one born in this country who carries the blood of more than one ethnic/racial group coursing through his/her veins.
I very proudly carry the blood of West Indian, white South African and Dutch forefathers, and am extremely proud of my heritage.
I very proudly carry the blood of West Indian, white South African and Dutch forefathers, and am extremely proud of my heritage.
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
As a young boy I grew up in Claremont, regarded then as one of the most cosmopolitan suburbs of Cape Town (with English colonials, Afrikaners, Jews, Indians, Blacks, Coloureds, Chinese, and a smattering of European, American and other Asiatic Nationals) Many of the whites especially English, adopted an arrogant, patronising attitude to many of our people (many of our people were their maids/ gardeners/ nannies/drivers).
I remember being called 'Sambo' by a well-known English shopkeeper. Whilst many of them were quite comfortable living in such a mixed community,
the majority of white people were happy to see us eke out a living whilst they lived in luxury.
These days there seems to be attempts to grow closer to each other, but the day we accept and treat each other.
I remember being called 'Sambo' by a well-known English shopkeeper. Whilst many of them were quite comfortable living in such a mixed community,
the majority of white people were happy to see us eke out a living whilst they lived in luxury.
These days there seems to be attempts to grow closer to each other, but the day we accept and treat each other.
Saaid Orrie
32 years old
Entrepreneur (SBE)
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Streetwise
Hustle / Hustler
Opportunist / Daring
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
As a coloured I’m identified as a sneaker supplier especially to the coloured community. I supply our cape coloured sneaker culture with the
“rarest airs or sneakers” or what us coloured people call them as “khangets or bubbles.”
“rarest airs or sneakers” or what us coloured people call them as “khangets or bubbles.”
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
I’d like to aspire my community to never give up & strive till you become successful especially our young youth of today.
Riyadh Roberts
30 years old
hip Hop Artist / Y?general / kaapstad naaier / cape crusader
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Taliep Peterson. Ashley Kriel & Mr. Devious.
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
Mostly I would like people to remember my art and what I created through music and visual. I left a mark in clothing and local street wear so hopefully that carries on, and if nothing else about me is remembered then I’d hope the Y?GEN name lives on and more youth develop skills and ability to covert their dreams to reality in my memory. Or they could just give me a statue, name a street after me and have a public holiday.
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
Being that I’m Muslim it was easy to identify as a non white because I grew up in a different religion and culture. So we celebrated Eid, fasted in Ramadaan, stood in Taraweh salaah, would go to Bo-Kaap for 2de nuwe jaar and everyone around me at those places were the same skin colour as me so it was something I didn’t struggle to notice. The words we used like Kanallah, Koesiste & koefiyah were all synonymous with coloured culture so I think through my faith and language aswell it gave me more context on cape Malays and cape coloureds.
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
Well I grew up as a coloured male at the end of Apartheid South Africa so naturally I’ve been every negative stereotype known to the land. It’s sad to see
but I know it’s due to the racial conditioning, segregation, PTSD and group areas act etc. that all influenced the way we were seen in society so for that I can’t really be upset, it’s just something you have to learn to live with & overcome.
but I know it’s due to the racial conditioning, segregation, PTSD and group areas act etc. that all influenced the way we were seen in society so for that I can’t really be upset, it’s just something you have to learn to live with & overcome.
Raffy Roberts
53 years old
Owner of raffy style secondhand boutique
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Artistic / Gifted / Innovative
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
As a coloured woman I always knew that I had to work harder to achieve my goals because we as a culture were so displaced and “socialised” so differently, we had to learn to rise above our situation/ the system and forgive our past. Use your life experiences to better your future!
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
Be original, confident and own your shit. Stop looking for validation. Embrace your differences.
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
On one hand I learnt to be tough/independent and this sometimes is wrongly perceived amongst some of my peers and then celebrated and admired.
I’m confident and outspoken so I found that representing my ‘coloured-ness’ is a blessing and a curse.
Some people openly accepted where others would insult my personality. But the times have taught me perseverance and so
I decided to create space for myself and invite all in. Those that don’t like me...Well, go fly a kite :)
I’m confident and outspoken so I found that representing my ‘coloured-ness’ is a blessing and a curse.
Some people openly accepted where others would insult my personality. But the times have taught me perseverance and so
I decided to create space for myself and invite all in. Those that don’t like me...Well, go fly a kite :)
Jaime Vallar
12 years old
Student
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
To be kind and look after our planet.
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
I identify as being part of a beautifully diverse country. Being identified as coloured means my heritage as a South African is uniquely interesting.
Byron Coe
35 years old
Multipotentialite (A multipotentialite is a person who has many different interests and creative pursuits in life. Multipotentialites have no “one true calling” the way specialists do.)
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
One of upliftment. I would so much like to aid by creating opportunities for those in need.
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
Being Coloured is like BEING the middle child. APARTHEID!
Being Coloured is being AWARE when hearing AWEH!
Being Coloured is GROWING up with meals that ended up in the CAPE MALAY Cookbook!
Being Coloured is KNOWING why sneakers hang from power lines!
Marchay aka marge Linderoth
30 years old
hairstylist & make up artist
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
Growing up as a coloured woman, I didn’t think that there would be such a thing as an impact or something that I could leave my mark on. It is the stigma around working in the hood, in the main road, with no international status that narrows all of our options down. So I would like everyone especially in my community to know that I hope the impact of me stepping out of those boxes allows and inspires others to think out of the box and break all of the norms. You can do anything as long as you know your worth.
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
The assumption that I was only going to be a hairstylist in Retreat main road, as that is where I grew up. The quality of my work must be really low/cheap and I only know how to do a good blow out, not being able to charge my worth, doing the bare minimum, and that I wouldn’t amount to much.
Also when I decided to study hair, my peers thought it was easy. They also assume that when you’re a coloured woman doing hair you’ve taken
the easy route out. Those things got me down but didn’t stop me.
Also when I decided to study hair, my peers thought it was easy. They also assume that when you’re a coloured woman doing hair you’ve taken
the easy route out. Those things got me down but didn’t stop me.
Laverne Floris
28 years old
Full time shopper
Part time music selector
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Fearless, Focused and Fun.
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
People are very surprised to know that I can surf and that I’ve lived in New York and that I am actually from South Africa lol.
The biggest assumption has to be that People think that I’m Asian or from Hawaii (as they would say).
The biggest assumption has to be that People think that I’m Asian or from Hawaii (as they would say).
Simeeta Nair
27 years old
Digital Content Co ordinator
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
Well seeing as I am mixed race, my parents being Indian and Coloured. Being Coloured or Indian has always been tricky, I have never been enough
(for other people) of either race. But as I’ve gotten older I have learnt that it has helped me to form bonds with different types of people because I have so much culture from both sides of my family. I can’t really say what being Coloured means to me because I’ll never just be Coloured or Indian, and I’m okay with that now. But I can say though that there is no better sense of community than with in brown cultures, you will always feel part of something bigger.
(for other people) of either race. But as I’ve gotten older I have learnt that it has helped me to form bonds with different types of people because I have so much culture from both sides of my family. I can’t really say what being Coloured means to me because I’ll never just be Coloured or Indian, and I’m okay with that now. But I can say though that there is no better sense of community than with in brown cultures, you will always feel part of something bigger.
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
Everything I’ve even encountered has been very stereotypical. I got a lot of surprised reactions whenever people would meet my dad
(he’s Indian and he looks Indian where as I don’t). I got a lot of assumptions on where I live, especially from white people
the “omg your house is so nice” or “oh you live here I didn’t expect that.”
(he’s Indian and he looks Indian where as I don’t). I got a lot of assumptions on where I live, especially from white people
the “omg your house is so nice” or “oh you live here I didn’t expect that.”
Hunter Rose
26 years old
Singer-Songwriter / Recording Artist / Performer
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Authentic, multifaceted, inspiring.
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
By embracing my roots, cultural quirks and seeing our diversity as a gift. Being coloured means everything to me.
It means overcoming generational trauma and being able to change and rewrite the script for a new and brighter future.
It means overcoming generational trauma and being able to change and rewrite the script for a new and brighter future.
Ashwin Joseph Daniels
34 years old
buyer
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
That you get to be whoever you are, identity doesn’t define the type of person you are, it’s how you treat people.
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
That I can only be one way. The way I talk, the things I should like, the places I need to know; but assumptions make people curious
and if we don’t stereotype each other, we won’t learn to embrace the culture ourselves.
and if we don’t stereotype each other, we won’t learn to embrace the culture ourselves.
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
I’m not sure if I identify as a coloured but I do embrace the culture that I’ve been fortunate enough to grow in.
I see it more as a coloured experience; I’ve always loved that I have a Namaqualand background and an upbringing in Cape Town.
I think that’s were I see the humour in how we can make the worst situation seem like it’s temporary.
I see it more as a coloured experience; I’ve always loved that I have a Namaqualand background and an upbringing in Cape Town.
I think that’s were I see the humour in how we can make the worst situation seem like it’s temporary.
Jonathan Peterson & lisa anthony
23 years old & 22 years old
Post grad students
jonathan:
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Abundant but undervalued.
What impact would you like to leave on your community?
Just to be a good example for younger generations by being a good person.
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
Being coloured, our heritage is very hard to track, so coloured culture is important to preserve and cultivate,
to the point where we can be proud of the culture.
to the point where we can be proud of the culture.
Lisa:
What assumptions have you encountered being coloured?
I have been asked often if I am white or what race I am. People often say that I am very well spoken for a coloured person.
I have experienced people assuming that I have to act in a certain way or be affiliated with certain things because I am coloured.
I have experienced people assuming that I have to act in a certain way or be affiliated with certain things because I am coloured.
How do you identify as a coloured South African and what does being coloured mean to you?
So I identify as being coloured because of the community I grew up in. The cultural influences that have surrounded me
also play a role in the way I identify as coloured, whether its music, fashion or food.
Using 3 words, how would you describe coloured excellence?
Diverse. Unique. Exclusive.
