As dawn broke on the fifth day of creation, after boundaries between the land and the sea were
established, deep in the Savanna existed a watering hole – a fragile oasis of peace in a vast,
unforgiving land. As the sun rose in the east, it exposed a fog floating above the water, moving
toward the tall grass with the gentle guidance of a breeze, an invisible force of nature, wind.
Like a well-rehearsed stage production, the first visitors to the watering hole emerged through
the foggy curtain to reveal the beginning of a timeless ritual, and ancient dance of thirst and
survival – a gathering at the watering hole.
From the entrance of the elephant herd who leads with quiet authority, the matriarch, to the
patience of a lioness watching from a cover of acacia thorns for a chance to feed her cubs,
every creature would come and gather in the heart of the wild, a place that is both promise and
peril.
In a different, yet not so different world, we find humans engaging in similar rituals.
Throughout history people gathered around in places that serve drinks from wells and markets
to alehouses and taverns to bars and cafés. Women turned a tedious chore of pulling water
from the well to a communal place to socialize. In Ancient Mesopotamia people gathered
around a table to share beer served in a communal pot with the use of a straw. Ancient Greece
and Rome held symposiums where their social time included the consumption of wine with
music, dancing, and discussion. The Middle Ages saw the rise of Alehouses that promoted
homemade beer, Taverns that catered to the wealthier members in society, and Inns for the
weary travellers. Modern times saw the rise in coffee shops where people gather to share time
with each other while sipping on a hot beverage.
From the Savanna to the city, the instinct is the same, whether animal or human, all life is
drawn to the places where we meet. Whether these places offer water, beer, wine, tea or
coffee, the drink serves as a hub for connection, a place of belonging. The watering hole was
never to be pigeon-holed as a means for survival.
It was yesterday and remains today the beginning of community
