This is the introductory episode to my RU-vid series called Transkei Stories. I explain what the Transkei is, why I'm here, what I'm doing here, why I'm doing it and what I hope we're going to achieve.
This episode gives you a taste of what is coming up. Some of the content is filmed on my cell phone, some of it comes from hours of drone work and some of it is more photographic and cinematic. The Transkei is very photogenic. I shoot with a Sony A7, a DJI Air 2s and an Iphone 14. I edit and finish everything on DaVinci Resolve and can produce, edit and release entirely on location. I travel with tents and a trusty old 2x4 Toyota Condor, so I'm able to stay pretty much anywhere. Unless I really need 4x4. I get stuck often.
I guess that what I do is more documentary than vlogging, but I see the two genre's are slowly coming together. I'll be releasing one video a week for at least the next 12 weeks. The type of content is quite diverse but is all somehow connected to the sustainable development and conservation of the Transkei region.
Mpondoland in the Transkei is a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot. The conservation of global biodiversity and Mzansi biodiversity is reliant on the conservation of the Mpondoland hotspot. In general, the Transkei is a good mirror to all the challenges that South Africa (Mzansi) faces. There are hot debates happening about the development of the Transkei, especially between mega project developers backed by the South African government and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and small scale farmers and eco tourism operators who want to focus more on the conservation of the Transkei's natural resources. Like Davids against Goliaths, Mpondo villagers have managed to temporarily put a stop to Oil and Gas exploration in their ocean and the mining of Titanium on their precious coastline. But these projects have not gone away, and there are strong forces still trying to revive them.
The content of the channel includes stories that reflect on tourism, tourism development, sustainable development, community challenges, rural life, land issues, development issues, politics, the clash between capitalism and socialism, South African sociology, South African history, African history, IsiXhosa, Abathembu, AmaMpondomise and AmaMpondo, adventure, fishing, camping, 4x4, exploration, culture, spirituality, fun, humour and road trips.
15 окт 2024
