in983-Blooming-on-the-bond-the-South-African-spirit-in-the-King-Protea-medal

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In April, South Africa welcomed the spring breeze of Freedom Day. When the six colors of red, blue, green, gold, black and white on the national flag spread in the wind, people always think of the history woven with different skin colors – the Y-shaped intersection of colors is like the hands of different ethnic groups holding each other on the road to reconciliation. On the podium of this rainbow country, the King Protea lanyard medal is becoming a spiritual totem of the new era. The lanyard made with the oldest weaving craft in Africa hides the unique survival wisdom of South Africans. The knot formed by three strands of colored threads not only symbolizes the eternal connection between land, people and faith, but also implies that any great achievement comes from the support of the group. When athletes put the heavy King Protea medal on their necks, the social warp and weft that were torn apart during the apartheid period are being rewoven in the unity of the new generation. The King Protea, known as the “king of flowers that never fades”, blooms flame-like petals on the surface of the medal. This life that breaks out of the barren rock cracks is just like the South African spirit that has always been high despite oppression. When the winners bowed their heads and kissed their medals, they touched not only their personal glory, but also the flower of hope that the entire nation has blossomed in adversity. At this moment, looking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the colors of the national flag and the medals are resonating in the sun. Each lanyard is telling us that only by weaving individual struggles into the warp and weft of the collective can the king lily bloom forever in South Africa. This may be the most profound revelation of Freedom Day – true freedom always grows on the soil of connection.

April in Suid-Afrika verwelkom die lentebriesie van Vryheidsdag-herdenkings. Wanneer die ses kleure rooi, blou, groen, goud, swart en wit op die nasionale vlag in die wind span, dink mense altyd aan die geskiedenis wat met verskillende velkleure geweef is – die Y-vormige kruisende kleurblokke is soos die hande van verskillende etniese groepe wat mekaar vashou op die pad na versoening. En op die podium van hierdie reënboogland word die Protea-koordmedalje die spirituele totem van die nuwe era. Die lanyard, gemaak met Afrika se oudste weeftegniek, bevat die unieke oorlewingswysheid van Suid-Afrikaners. Die knoop wat deur drie stringe gekleurde drade gevorm word, simboliseer die ewige verbintenis tussen die land, die mense en geloof, en impliseer ook dat enige groot prestasie uit die ondersteuning van die groep kom. Terwyl atlete die swaar Protea-medaljes om hul nekke sit, word die sosiale skeure wat tydens die apartheidsera uitmekaar geskeur is, weer in die eenheid van ‘n nuwe generasie geweef. Die Protea, bekend as die “koning van blomme wat nooit verwelk nie”, blom met vlamagtige blomblare op die oppervlak van die medalje. Hierdie soort lewe wat uit die dorre krake in die rotse uitbreek, is net soos die Suid-Afrikaanse gees wat onderdrukking ervaar het, maar nog altyd hoog was. Wanneer die wenners hul hoofde buig om hul medaljes te soen, raak hulle nie net hul persoonlike glorie aan nie, maar ook die blom van hoop wat vir die hele nasie geblom het te midde van teëspoed. As mens op hierdie oomblik na die Uniegebou in Pretoria kyk, resoneer die kleure van die nasionale vlag en die medaljes in die sonlig. Elke lanyard vertel die storie: Slegs deur individuele stryd in die kollektiewe skering en inslag te weef, kan die koningprotea vir ewig in Suid-Afrika blom. Dit mag dalk die diepste openbaring van Vryheidsdag wees – ware vryheid groei altyd op die grond van verbintenis.