Challenges of a Rasta

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Rochida Elias, better known as Sister Levi is a Rastafarian mother of twelve, has her seven biological children, an environmental and cultural activist, dress designer, musician and partner to husband Priest Moses Elias aka King Levi.

She shared her struggles living as a Rastafarian in a conservative community like Graaff-Reinet.

She was born in Boog Street in Santa, a Graaff-Reinet township. "I come from a Christian background, my father was a pastor, my leadership comes from my home. I grew up in the church, I was a choir leader," she says.

Exploring her creativity and showcasing local talent, the young Rociada organised backyard modelling shows in Santa. On meeting her future husband - a musician and herbalist born in Aberdeen, she invited him to a modelling show. "It was a meeting of minds!"

After living in Cape Town for several years the couple returned to Graaff-Reinet in 2012. The family faced challenges when their children entered the schooling system.

The Challenges

"The first challenge was when my oldest daughter had to go to high school. She was not accepted at Spandau because of her dreads – we were discriminated against for being Rasta."

While her daughter was accepted at another school, it did not offer maths and science. So after Grade 9, the family had to send their oldest daughter to a neighbouring town to pursue her studies.

"This did not work for me as I like to be close to my children." So the parents raised the issue with the district Education Department and her daughter was finally enrolled at Spandau Senior Secondary.

Later, when the two younger daughters entered Nqweba Senior Secondary the 'no dreads' policy came up again. After their parents challenged the issue in a parents meeting the policy was dropped. The girls now attend school with their hair covered. Although this has been met with some teasing. "We just want to feel comfortable."

Entering the 2022 school year, the girls are particularly proud of the new uniforms their mother designed for her daughters. In line with Rastafarian culture their new school dress fall way below their knees.

Sister Levi, who is the chairperson of the Nqweba Senior Secondary School Governing Body notes: "This is who we are. It must be recognised that our children have a right to feel free to practice their culture – in private and in public."

Vegetarian school meals are yet another challenge this family is tackling. "Food must be taken from Mother Earth to the kitchen. A healthy diet, for a healthy body for a healthy mind. To us, as Rastafarians, God created everything to live together – it is inappropriate to kill to feed yourself."

The community garden

This led us to yet another of Sister Levi's passions - her vegetable garden.

The couple created two vegetable gardens, the family garden close to the home and next door, a community garden. Thanks to the recent rains the gardens burst with spinach, pumpkins, beetroots and potatoes. This despite the exceptionally rocky soil and drought - which only recently broke.

"As Rastafarians, we believe we must share what we have. Since our return to Graaff-Reinet, we host an annual event on Afrika Day. Wherever I go I make big pots of food. On 16 June 2020, during Covid-19 I made a large pot of food to share with the community. The response was huge. We realised people were hungry. The community garden was created to support the soup kitchen."

This initiative has been assisted by a local NGO, The Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC), and by local business Montego, who dug a borehole on the site and provided fencing. The municipality also supplies water for the large JoJo tanks on the site.

Sister Levi explains that the couple's vision for the site is to expand the soup kitchen, creating a holistic community centre with a herbal chemist offering massages and natural remedies, and providing a safe place for local children to play, learn and create.

Since moving to Vrygronde the family has faced challenges, including negative perceptions, even from family members, of living in 'shacks'. But says Sister Levi: "Here I feel free, I live happily."

The Rastafarian family will be hosting the annual Adwa Festival in Graaff-Reinet on 1 March.

Sister Levi covers schools books surrounded by her children. Photos : Gaby Cheminais