Very pleased to have hosted our first Digital Storytelling workshop at the Women's LIbrary....with specialist Dialogue Duo: Asanda Ngoasheng (left) and Daniela Gachago.....

The theme was: Exploring your Identity,subtitled 'when did you first realise you were black, white, coloured, Indian or.....and those of us there were ready to roll....

Daniela gave us the words.....

....Asanda made sure we got the pictures....

And then came the stories....with Thoko leading the way....

....followed by Nadia....

.....then by Melanie....

.....by Gayle.....

.....by Zoli....

....by Lucia....

....and by Leonie....

One morning was no way long enough to get through all the digital detail and the stories.....

...so we agreed to meet up again next year to complete the picture.....Watch This Space! Thanks to everyone who came who taught, learned and shared. xx

Five years ago a small group of women got together at The Kitchen, a woman owned coffee shop in Woodstock, to discuss ways of sharing, understanding, growing and knowing each other. Last week a core group of the many hundreds of women who've been involved in WOMAN ZONE got together at Lelapa, a woman owned restaurant in Langa, to celebrate!

Our hosts were mother and daughter team Monica (left and Sheila Motsei Mahloane.

Sheila told us the amazing story of how Lelapa came to be from the tiny two-roomed house that it was. Frustrated by working as a domestic earning R40 a week, she set out on mission selling second hand clothes, then importing them from Bangkok and little by little raising the funds to buy a car, extend the house to what it is today and realise her goal of running a restaurant....in Langa, Cape Town's oldest township.

....a well recognised and respected one at that....

Her story was captivating....and a lesson in determination.

Someone else who not only always has stories to share, but songs - and Philippa opened proceedings with a specially written Thank You song.....

Nancy shared a bit too - of our history, our milestones and the contributions of all the women present or just with us in spirit....

And so we were ready to eat.....(ps: spot the lone brave male, Mjikisile from Artscape's Board!)

And what a spread there was!....These were just a few of the vegetarian specials....

....plates filled - not the moment to have waistline worries....

.....but to celebrate every dish, so deliciously put together....

.....by Monica and her kitchen team.....

There were some contented smiles.....

....meaningful conversations.....

....happy moments.....

....togetherness....

.....and a good time had by all!

And a moment of magic as Malika, mamma moon, shared her poem 'In the Company of Women'....

....and had us enrapt with her words and sounds....

....enrapt!

Beryl shared the way forward...our future plans and projects....

....and Daphne shared a lighter moment with our shweshwe rosette...!

Philippa tinkled the ebonies....

....while Monica tots up the tally.....

....and Annie gets the shot!

Some fond farewells....

....bit of chaos.....

....and time to say goodbye....

....but not without a special thank you to Janet....mama MLT Corp for getting us there....

.....in style and comfort!

...with a special thank you to Courtney for bringing us back to our Artscape home.

So thanks to all who came and shared our Ladies Lunch at Lelapa in Langa....lovely!

....Thank yooooooo. x

Who's Who: Top row left to right: Mara Fleischer, Daphne Cooper, Sarah Jacobson, Lorna Zilwa, Mjiko Vulindlu. Middle row from left: Angelina Mhlawuyo, Janet Pillai, Lorraine de Villiers, Ethel Hamman, Theresa Smith, Melanie Lippert, Malika Ndlovu, Ntiski Sigege, Jennipher Gubuza, Odette Halliford, Marlene le Roux, Philippa Kabali-Kagwa. Bottom row, from left: Beryl Eichenberger, Anine Pheiffer, Lindisiwe Mlotywa, Sindiwe Magona, Carol du Toit, Annie Bisset, Nancy Richards.