in982-The-flame-of-the-king-protea-the-eternal-spirit-of-South-Africa

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September is “Heritage Month” in South Africa. This rainbow country is using the six-color national flag as a bond to gather the cultural memories of different ethnic groups. When people look up at the harmonious coexistence of black, yellow, green, white, blue and red on the national flag, the Protea lighter is inheriting this spirit of unity in a unique way – it is not only a tool to ignite the flame, but also a spiritual totem of South Africans’ rebirth in adversity. Protea is called “fireweed” in South Africa. Its wooden bulbs can protect the fire of life in wildfires and sprout new buds after the flames. The Protea lighter is inspired by this. The body wrapped in 18K gold-plated petals is like the core of courage tempered by fire. Every time the thumb pushes the grinding wheel, the sparks that burst out are just like the light of faith that Mandela guarded in the cell on Robben Island, and the warmth that Archbishop Tutu conveyed when he advocated the “Ubuntu” spirit. This lighter, which symbolizes the national flower of South Africa, reminds us that true unity is not afraid of the test of flames. Just like the warmth of hands held together by people of different skin colors when the new national flag was raised in 1994, the flame of national reconciliation has never been extinguished. Today, in the face of energy crises and social challenges, every South African should become a king protea that protects the flame – when difficulties rage like wildfires, our roots buried deep underground are still connected, waiting for the dawn of rebirth. At this moment, turning the king protea lighter not only ignites the flame, but also ignites hope across race, gender and class. Let this cluster of flames inherited from Zulu warriors, Xhosa prophets and Boer pioneers continue to illuminate the road to unity in South Africa.

September is “Erfenismaand” in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie reënboogland gebruik die seskleurige nasionale vlag as ‘n band om die kulturele herinneringe van verskillende etniese groepe bymekaar te bring. Wanneer mense opkyk na die harmonieuse naasbestaan van swart, geel, groen, wit, blou en rooi op die nasionale vlag, erf die Protea-aansteker die gees van eenheid op ‘n unieke manier – dit is nie net ‘n instrument om die vlam aan te steek nie, maar ook ‘n geestelike totem van Suid-Afrikaners se wedergeboorte in teëspoed. Die koningprotea word in Suid-Afrika “fireweed” genoem. Sy houtagtige bolle kan die vuur van die lewe in veldbrande beskerm en nuwe knoppe na die vlamme uitspruit. Die Protea-aansteker is hierdeur geïnspireer. Die liggaam toegedraai in 18K-vergulde blomblare is soos ‘n kern van moed getemper deur vuur. Elke keer as die duim die slypwiel druk, is die vonke wat uitbars net soos die lig van geloof wat Mandela in die sel op Robbeneiland bewaak het, en die warmte wat Aartsbiskop Tutu oorgedra het toe hy die “Ubuntu”-gees bepleit het. Hierdie aansteker, wat Suid-Afrika se nasionale blom simboliseer, herinner ons daaraan dat ware eenheid nie bang is vir die toets van vuur nie. Net soos die warmte van die hande van mense van verskillende velkleure wat mekaar vasgeklem het toe die nuwe nasionale vlag in 1994 gehys is, is die vlam van nasionale versoening nooit geblus nie. Vandag, in die aangesig van die energiekrisis en sosiale uitdagings, behoort elke Suid-Afrikaner ‘n koningsblom te word wat die vuur bewaak – wanneer probleme soos ‘n veldbrand woed, bly ons wortels diep ondergronds verbind, wagtende vir die aanbreek van wedergeboorte. Om die Protea-aansteker op hierdie oomblik aan te skakel, steek nie net die vlam aan nie, maar ontvlam ook hoop wat ras, geslag en klas oortref. Laat hierdie vlam, geërf van Zoeloe-krygers, Xhosa-profete en Boere-pioniers, die pad van eenheid in Suid-Afrika bly verlig.