Don’t know any German, but I used to sing with my br compatriots “Und sollten man uns fragen, was br hält euch denn hier fest, Wir könnten nur sagen br wir lieben Süd-West”, it is hot, it is dry, old wrecks br adorning the sand on the beach, a ghost town br or two with walls caving in, dunes where the wind br sometimes sighs, sometimes sings, this is the thing: br br I love my own country, I love my own place, br I love the Damara, I love their version of life, br their view of things, I love Riemvasmaak and br old trackers with dried-leather smiles on br weather-beaten faces, with tyres for shoes, br making music on home-made instruments, br playing the marimba, a mouth-organ, an br accordion br br While the sun’s beating down on a happy throng br in colourful clothing, blooming like exotic flowers, br creating a country unique on this earth, making br a special place where time’s standing still…br br Louise Tredouxbr br