I remember Mello Yello, the 'ancient' soft drink. Coincidentally, the South African Police's 'Mello Yello,' the vehicle, was at its most notorious peak ferrying many African protestors to prisons to be
detained without a trial. Mello Yello, the soft drink; quenched thirsts induced by the heat of
the 80's – I believe it was introduced to the consumer market much earlier, in the 70’s. This is during the height of teargas, petrol bomb, rubber bullets, live ammunition and smoke of burning tyres and houses belonging to Impimpi's that were in flames.
My recollection is that the taste was akin to orange or pine and that the can was yellow like the Police’s infamous 'Mello Yello.' This is when Mama Miriam Makeba's duet album with Harry Belafonte was still banned; An evening with Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba, they called it.
When this record was played at home on an LP, before the term 'vinyl' could be popularly used, our one cousin would be told to stand at the gate so as to announce when he spotted the police vehicles in our street – it was his job which he performed with zeal.
'Khauleza mama, khauleza mama,
Khauleza mama, iyo mama Khauleza...
Nanga Amaphoyisa azongena endlini,
iyo mama khauleza...'
Mama Miriam Makeba would sing while cousin would be on the look out for the very Police that the song would be cautioning about their imminent arrival.
Inside the house, a dance would be enjoyed among family members and family friends over some Lager; I think it was Lion Larger, some spirits and a few bottles of soft drinks for the teetotal one or two members of the family. As kids, we'd benefit from the soft drink bottles set aside for those at odds with alcohol. Mello Yello gave the brutal identity of the Police in their large yellow lorry a sweet and light nickname; 'Mello Yello?' - How did all that come about?
As with the reality of the times, the merriment would abruptly be ended by cousin’s screams from the gate:
'Bayeza; bayeza!’ he would say.
To which alcohol would swiftly be hidden away and Mama Miriam and Uncle Harry's performance through the record player thus be ended, and their performance stored on the banned LP also hidden away.
Cousin, who would coincidentally assumed the name 'Khauleza' as a nickname years later would come into the house after a long period of silence to announce after his cautioning of the arrival of the Police, that 'Mello Yello' had come to fetch a mischief maker down the road, who was known for his precision in throwing petrol bomb and devising ways of defeating the might of teargas – that man was always got arrested only to come back to throw more petrol bombs.
Cousin would add that the Police were gone with their large vehicle which was tailed by 'Hippos' and 'Koyokos'.
As if to give an order for the revelry to start by his announcement of the disappearance of the Police, music would resume as if it were put on pause even though playing a different song. Lion, I think, and the spirits would be pulled out from the hidden compartments to defy the terror of the time by creating a jovial homely ambience.
'Samthata, samthata,
sambeka ekhaya
wasuka wakhala wathi bayibayi...'
Uncle Harry would sing on providing the family with the much needed and cherished revelry.
These incidents I remember just like I remembered the-once-in-a-long-while existence of Mello Yello, the beverage. It would take a couple of years for me to understand what that music and all those circumstances meant. I'm so pleased that the madness that once infected this land is over and that we are building a better tomorrow for our children.
Ideologies could be some form of dogmas which may manifest into hatred if not handled well. As noble as other ideologies are, they may possess ammunition that may paralyze the mind and distort meanings and perspectives. Ideologies are configured according to circumstances; but they should not generate bad vibes, they may be too catastrophic if dealt with that way.
Any man and woman should be able to be an independent thinker who applies the mind to situations and not allow emotions to fly away with them into dark and destructive skies.
I remembered Mello Yello the soft drink and wrote this note.
Happy Tomorrow South Africa! My love for you is beyond articulation.
© Deon Simphiwe Skade 2010
