THE JOHANNESBURG DIARIES - THE VOORTREKKER MONUMENT - #BLOGCHATTERA2Z2023

The Voortrekker Monument

The Voortrekker Monument stands tall and can be seen from any direction in Pretoria, the home of Afrikaner culture, housing a pictorial and representative depiction of the Great Afrikaner Trek right up to the Anglo-Boer War. It reveals the immense trials and tribulations suffered by the Afrikaners as they made this well documented trek. It is also a beacon of hope as it is a saga of perseverance, bravery and foresight.

 Once again, the four grandparents made their own trek to this amazing monument which loomed at a height that made it appear even more imposing. Rustic stone steps led up to it, with various stops from which we could see the whole of Pretoria. There was a café on one of the stops which had salespersons dressed in traditional garb, Dutch caps et al, serving customers local cuisine. We shared a dish called Roosterkoek (grilled cake) which consisted of fresh South African bread baked over coal, piping hot, and served with butter, cheese and jam. Absolutely delicious! 

There was also a gift shop selling traditional items and postcards, a wall of fame where numerous photographs of past visitors smiled out at the present lot, and a photographic corner where one could dress up traditionally and take a pic. Unfortunately, the last was unmanned, much to our disappointment.

 

We climbed to the top, stealing glances at the view of the city along the way. At one level, there was a plaque on which was written the vow made by the Voortrekker men before the Battle of Blood River in 1838.

At the very top, just before the Voortrekker Monument, was a sculpture that warmed the cockles of our heart. It was a green sculpture of the Voortrekker Woman with her two children, without whose perseverance, contribution and sacrifices, The Great trek would not have resulted in its success and the permanent settlement of the Afrikaners. This masterpiece was the handiwork of Anton Van Wouw, one of South Africa’s most renowned sculptors.

Up close, the monument took our breaths away, with its wonderful granite façade, the magnificent Italian marble within, the symbolism of the Grand Trek set around in 27 bas relief panels constituting the largest frieze in the world, and the huge glass windows made of yellow Belgian glass, all designed by the amazing architect, Gerard Moerdijk.  

                                                         The Belgian Glass Windows

A Section of the 27 Panels in Bas Relief

The Cenotaph in the centre of the Cenotaph Hall was set on the level below and we went down a winding stone staircase to a treasure house of Afrikaner artefacts – tapestries, paintings, flags of the various Voortrekker republics, ox wagons, various relics from the Trek like giant Bibles, implements and Assegai weapons (spears), apparel and ornaments, the sight of which brought with them a whiff of nostalgia for the days gone by. 

The Cenotaph

Folk Art of the Voortrekkers

Realistic Depictions from the Past

Wagons, Weapons and Bibles

When we moved out into the sunshine again, we were all overwhelmed at the wondrous sights we had seen. It was as if a huge slice of history had been presented before us in all its glory. Once again, this was a moment that was unique, a visit that we would remember all our lives. The wagons followed us outside on the walls, as the experience continued to overwhelm.

We turned to take one last look at the Voortrekkers Monument, embedding the sight in our mind’s eye, for we wanted to carry its majesty along with us as we left it behind.

Photo Credits: Deepti Menon

References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voortrekker_Monument

PS: Once again, I would like to thank Shobha and Rajeev Rao, for having gifted us with this absolutely breathtaking experience.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z2023.

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