Launch at Spier Hotel in
Cape Town featuring Griqua Roepers (singers) on 19th October

The launch was supposed to start at 8.30am and at 8am I got a call from Freda asking where I was... lost!

Image right: Griqua Paramount Chief Alan le Fleur at the launch

After getting directions took the Cape Town road and went straight past the Spier turnoff as there was no sign! To cut a long story short I arrived at Spier just before 8.30am and was trawling the car park looking for my own launch when I came across Belinda with mobile to her ear. Belinda was also going to be at m launch, was also lost, and was the interviewer from SABC's 50/50!

We had a good laugh and found the venue after taking some obscure unsigned backroads of Spier... beautiful as it might be!

We were not the only ones who were lost - there was Cecil le Fleur on the mobile directing the bus bringing the Griqua choir and dancers to the spot!

I met with Alan le Fleur and several other members of the Griqua National Conference - the breakfast was superb... and waiting.

Dr Janette Deacon, an acknowledged expert in Bushman rockpaintings, who was an author of the book "Voices from the Past" and assisted Pippa Skotness in the research on her excellent book "Claim to the Country" (2007) attended the launch. (image below)

It was 9.15am before Freda started proceedings and after a lovely performance by the Griqua Roepers from Ratelgat and a lengthy speech by Louis Nel, who plays a major role in government supporting the preservation of indigenous languages like the Khoi Nama, we started breakfast at close to 10am.

We were then entertained by the fascinating Griqua dancers who performed traditional Khoi dances - SATV's 50/50 recording the dances. (SATV 2 runs 50/50 nationally on Monday nights after the 7pm news).

Then it was the turn of Cecil le Fleur to talk about the way ahead for the Griqua - he talked about the problems the indigenous peoples of the world ad had in getting recognition - and the recent treaty adopted by the United Nations giving them just this.

Image right Scott reciting the "Griqua, Children of the Mist" poem

It was after 10.30am before I had the opportunity to briefly address the guests. I was then interviewed by Belinda of 50/50 before leaving and setting off for Franschhoek.

Return to Scott Balson's 2007 book launch tour