Delegations from Iziko Lamaqabane, in South Africa, and Bethlehem Bible College, in Palestine, went on pilgrimages through one another’s countries this year, building solidarity to disrupt violence and create environments for healing.
Iziko Lamaqabane (the Gathering Place of Comradeship) is “on a pilgrimage to heal colonial wounds, disrupt systemic violence and cultivate faith,” by “cultivating solidarity at the site of struggle,” according to the organization’s 2024 newsletter. Iziko, formerly Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA), has been a Mennonite Mission Network partner since its inception in 2009.
Iziko works to embody four Rs: research, resource, remember and retreat. Methods of implementation include on-the-ground “pilgrimages, as a bridging point for peace and justice practitioners engaged in diverse global struggles” and online networks to connect activists with one another.
In this context, Iziko hosted the Palestinian-South African Emerging Christian Leaders Solidarity Pilgrimage, March 19-April 3. Students from Bethlehem Bible College, in Palestine, also a Mission Network partner, traveled to South Africa for mutual learning.
The following are some of the reflections from that pilgrimage. The 2024 newsletter on the Iziko website gives more in-depth accounts of the experience.
Jessi Jabrich wrote, in “Bridging Wounds through Solidarity”:
“As Palestinians crossing walls of oppression, we connected with another culture bearing similar colonial wounds. In South Africa, we learned that transforming our pain together can forge a new history and bring peace to scarred lands. Sharing our grief in solidarity with the African people, we embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery, intertwining our wounds with theirs.
“This solidarity trip transformed my work as a writer and poet. My writings, once filled with anger, now reflect a deeper understanding of our political situation and solidarity with those enduring similar struggles. This new perspective turned my anger into power [and] faith …
“Expressing oneself through art is an act of rebellion, unlocking new realities and challenging the status quo …”
Buyisiwe Pokie Putu, Iziko‘s director of eco (Afro) feminist-womanist solidarity and operations manager, wrote in “uMuntu nguMuntu ngaBantu” (“I am because we are,” in the Xhosa and Zulu languages):
“In the intricate tapestry of human connection, there exists a thread that binds us beyond borders and cultural divides — a thread woven with empathy, shared struggle and a deep commitment to justice. [The story of the Palestinian-South African pilgrimage] begins with Mzi [Mzwandile Nkutha, Iziko‘s director] and Anthony [Khair], whose serendipitous meeting at [the third Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival, which Andrew Suderman, Mennonite Mission Network’s director of global partnerships, organized at Eastern Mennonite University, in Virginia] sparked a relationship that transcended mere friendship … Anthony and his companions from Palestine quickly became our comrades, amaqabane, in our shared battle against oppression and injustice …
“I recall vividly the day they arrived, their faces etched with a mixture of anxiety and hope. The noise of the arriving airplanes near our hosting center, momentarily heightened their apprehension, reminiscent of the military flights they had experienced back home, in Palestine. Gathering around them, we assured them of their safety and explained that these were routine flights to our ‘peaceful’ city, far removed from the conflicts they had left behind.
“Sharing meals and moments together, their initial unease gradually gave way to a sense of belonging. In our African tradition, deeply rooted in the philosophy of uMuntu nguMuntu ngaBantu, hospitality is not just a courtesy but a profound expression of shared humanity …
“Our journey of solidarity was enriched by a deep recognition of our intertwined histories of struggle. Just as Apartheid has marked our nation’s past and continues to influence our present, we empathized deeply with the ongoing genocide faced by Palestinians. Our pilgrimage starts from that standpoint that we are wounded. We cannot rush toward reconciliation without first attending to the ongoing wounds that afflict us …
“In May, accompanied by my daughter, I traveled to Palestine, not only to attend the Christ at the Checkpoint conference but to deepen the bonds with the Palestinian Bible school students we had hosted … [Our] journey was not without risk. Stories of checkpoints and everyday hardships underscored the courage required to stand in solidarity … I knew my presence there was more than symbolic; it was an expression of solidarity, love and deep care for my Palestinian comrades. Solidarity, I came to understand, is more than a sentiment — it is a ministry of presence …”
For Mariana Bannoura, the phrase, “the power is ours” summarizes her experience in South Africa. She was inspired by the spirit and resilience of the South African people.
“They sing and dance, even in their hardest times, using joy as a tool for justice and freedom,” she said.
Anthony Khair identified the main purpose of the pilgrimage as the opportunity to learn from South Africa’s struggle against Apartheid and how to bring what they learned to the struggle in Palestine.
“Normal tourist trips are meant for people to pass through places,” he said. “However, in pilgrimages, the places pass through us … We now know that there is power in our struggle, there is power in solidarity, and there is power in our mutual love.”
While continuing its current program of in-person and online learning, Iziko is also in the process of developing an accredited certificate program, in partnership with the Centre for Faith and Community at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
