Port Nolloth has it’s own Great Wall, a wonder in the making.  When you think of historically significant  walls the Great Wall of China and the Berlin wall comes to mind, both symbols of borders, of divide. This one is not nearly as significant – yet, but what it symbolizes, in direct contrast to those great walls mentioned is community, involvement, pride, beauty.

This wall I’m talking about is the Wall of Expression, an enormous artwork that will eventually surround, but not enclose, the development by Jimmy and Annelize du Toit called the Kaikai Richtersveld Residential Estate.

The difference between this estate and the usual ones that are springing up insensitive to site, surround and community, is that ” it’s about offering a concept that is unique in South Africa, namely the placing of properties within an area dedicated to the promotion and execution of outdoor South African art – art produced over time by a close collaboration between established South African artists and community-based artists with the voluntary participation of owners.”

And what an artwork it is.  I became aware of this project through coverage in different decor magazines and because of various architectural awards, and it really got my imagination going.

Three pieces of the wall is completed and it is here that you can see the beauty expressed by the local people who were given the opportunity to do so.  The different mosaic murals clearly demonstrates the individuality of each artists and, as a whole, giving the expanse of wall a very Gaudi  inspired look and feel. These are interspersed with parts where the names of Port Nolloth residents are spelled out on the walls, 1 500 of the 12 000 planned names are already immortalized, without a doubt a source of great pride for each and every local resident.

Most of the 60 people employed here have learned all the necessary skills needed in the construction on site and it is hoped that they will be able to still use these skills to further their careers in 5-10 years time when the project is finished.

There is no better way to describe what is happening here than to tell you the meaning of the word KaiKai, which is “to raise or pamper with pride.”

To get a better overview of this whole project you really have to visit the website, and it is on my wish list  to visit this magical place myself and then tell you first hand all about it.

In the meantime, I hope the images gives you a glimpse of the real magic that is KaiKai.

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