The Soil Remembers Her Hands
The soil remembers her hands is a podcast celebrating South African women who are transforming agriculture and the wine industry from the ground up. Produced by the Graça Machel Trust, the podcast demonstrates how through their hands, we see dignity, employment, and generational change take root—reminding us that when women lead, communities flourish. We are a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance systemic change so that African women and girls thrive.
The Soil Remembers Her Hands
2. Lungisa Nonkwelo - A mother’s fight against a family curse
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“I refused to let my grandchildren inherit this curse. When science gave no answers, I turned to the soil.”
Lungisa Nonkwelo is a farmer, herbal remedy producer, and community leader from Libode in Nyandeni Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. After working for over 20 years in the financial sector, she transitioned into farming and agro-processing following a personal battle with breast cancer in 2001. Inspired by her family’s tragic history with cancer and determined to find a natural solution, Lungisa developed Defender, an Indigenous Herbal Supplement used for chronic illnesses, including cancer, arthritis, and general immune support.