Tonia Charlene Harrison

Tonia Harrison talks about her reasons for moving to Milton Keynes and the benefits of living here. She recalls her life in South Africa where she was born and raised and her family history in South Africa when her father was in the navy. She celebrates Christmas and Easter as do other English speaking South Africans. She describes the tradition practised by black South Africans of bartering for a bride, Lobola, between families and the importance of extended families in their culture. She talks about the tradition of Twee Nuwe Jaar or Second New Year practised by the Afikaans speaking Cape Coloureds. Her special objects are a St Christopher given to her by a friend who was killed in a plane crash and some craft items made by rural blacks in South Africa and sold at street markets. She also talks about the need to make money to support the family and Rondavals, traditional South African rural houses. She recalls the places she has travelled to.