It has been a stretch of moons since I last reached out, and in that time, the tapestry of my life has grown richer, woven with threads of ancestral memory and discovery!
Recently, I embarked on a six-week Ancestral Pilgrimage to Botswana, a journey deep into the heart of my maternal lineage. My great-great-grandmother, a woman of the Basarwa people, calls to me through the bloodlines. This pilgrimage was more than a physical journey; it was a descent into myth and memory, part of my autoethnographic doctoral research—a sacred act of self-knowing and soul-searching. What could be more profound than seeking to understand the essence of one’s being?
Amongst those who share my sun-kissed, coily hair—us, children of the Sun, the first people of Southern Africa—I felt a recognition as ancient as the soil beneath us. In their presence, I was reminded that to know yourself is to immerse in the mythic story of your life. Through this journey, my name revealed itself to me once more—Mmabatho, “Mother of the Peoples.” Not merely a name, it is a guide and an inheritance, tethering me to a vast community and a sacred lineage. As Alice Walker muses in In These Dissenting Times, it links me to “a line that stretches all the way back, perhaps, to God; or to Gods.” My name, like the primordial waters, speaks of connection, depth, and the unbroken chain of the first peoples.
Botswana was transformative and intense. Its landscapes, stories, and rhythms reminded me of the nomadic life of discovery my hunter-gatherer ancestors once lived—a life of wonder, of moving toward meaning. This is the life I yearn for: a journey of creation, as though painting a masterpiece for my descendants to inherit.
I will share more of this pilgrimage in time—perhaps in the pages of my memoir. For now, let me say it affirmed my desire to live a life that transcends linearity, a life that honours cyclical time, a life that expands and endures. Upon my return, the ancestors whispered that rest was needed, a gentle pause for renewal. I found that rest with Rori, joining Lerato Malatjie at her serene retreat in the Midlands Meander. It was a sanctuary of softness—a balm for the spirit.
And now, dear fam, I extend an invitation to you: Lerato is hosting another retreat this December, an opportunity to journey inward and reconnect with your essence.
The Alchemy of Self-Love and Retreat
Redefining African Wellness
To redefine wellness is to reclaim our rhythm. It is a return to the sacred elements that hold us: the soil, rivers, mountains, and lakes. It is to honour the pulse of life within us and around us. This retreat offers a conscious alternative to the frenzy of routine. It is a chance to choose healing over habit, connection over chaos, and growth over stagnation. Held during the sacred summer solstice, The Alchemy of Self-Love Retreat invites you to align with abundance and step into the radiant summer of your life.
When: 19–22 December 2024Who is it for? Women, men, children, and partners—all are welcome. Bring your tribe and discover the joy of collective healing in a nurturing, supportive space.
About Lerato MalatjieLerato Malatjie, a certified Hatha yoga teacher, spiritual guide, and founder of Olerato Yoga, creates transformative spaces inspired by African traditions and rhythms. Through retreats, workshops, and personalised sessions, she invites individuals to embrace self-love and reconnect with nature. For inquiries, contact her at Oleratoyogawellness@gmail.com or WhatsApp +27 0694657156. Thank you for walking this path with me.
May we continue to honour the sacred rhythms of life and weave our stories with intention and grace.
In love and light,
Mmabatho 🌻
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