Blacks are cowards in the hot 'I am an African' debate
THERE is a big noisy debate in the newspapers about who among the inhabitants of our country is an African.
This whole issue was started by Thabo Mbeki with his lyrical "I am an African" speech. The so-called debate itself is tired and boring, to say the least. I am, however, fascinated by the silence that permeates such noisy claims.
Why would anyone proclaim that they are African? Who cares? A friend, after Mbeki's poetic delivery, said imagine a frog declaring, "I'm a frog!" to other frogs. He said fellow frogs were likely to burst out laughing and conclude that Mr "I am a frog" is a little not-right upstairs.
Of course, Mbeki's piece gave away the right of blacks to claim exclusive rights to "African". Is it not ironic that this black continent was not even named by blacks?
Let me try making obvious what the unsaid prize, which is at stake in this debate, is. Generally it's the blacks who proclaim they are African, but they don't say why this is important or what problem would be solved by their declarations.
When whites enter the debate and claim that they too are African, blacks get angry and shout that whites are not African! It's not always clear on what grounds they want to exclude whites and the argument can get as ridiculous as "Africa is for darker skinned people".
Increasingly, so-called coloureds and Indians have also entered the debate, only to criticise black Africans for being exclusionary and nationalist. Again, the underlying interests are not put on the table. I think blacks are cowards in this debate.
They are afraid to say what the real issue is because they don't want to be accused of being racist. What they don't know is that "blacks can't be racist!" as I have argued in my publication, New Frank Talk.
Blacks insist that they are Africans because they feel their white counterparts are continuing to enjoy the benefits of colonialism and apartheid.
But the issue of being identified as African is mostly a concern for the black middle-class person, who hopes to get a BEE deal, wants a promotion or to win tenders.
But they are incapable of saying to whites: "Because of slavery, colonialism and apartheid, you have defined yourself as enemies of black people and we want reparations and justice".
Whites, on the other hand, insist on being African precisely because that absolves their historical role on enslaving and colonising blacks.
It also helps in naturalising the wealth and privileges they derived from the oppression of blacks.
The likes of AfriForum, who are against Affirmative Action and Employment Equity, want an inclusive African definition to subvert these programmes and avoid accounting for historical injustices.
After all, if we are all Africans, then we can't really raise issues of reparations and even demand the land back.
On the other hand, the Indians and coloureds feel such a debate is also going to leave them outside from the benefits of the post-1994 get-rich-quick schemes.
The question of who is an African must become a debate about historical injustices and reparations for all and less about post-1994 elite interests.
lMngxitama will give a talk titled "Egypt: was the revolution lost? Lessons for post-1994 South Africa" on March 5 at 2pm, Roots Restaurant in Central Western Jabavu.
Sinudeity
Eh, the debate is merely there to further drive a wedge between black and white. And in this case black and indian and coloured people.And of course, you get people so brazen that they will tell anyone they dont belong in South Africa.
PS, when the "BEE" forms come around, I always tick the "African" block.
Report Abuse
Asta
An african is someone from the african continent. Every one whatever the color of your skin or what you forefathers did to the other forefathers.Report Abuse
makgorometsa
Dont fool yrselfs, Africa is for Africans (Black skinned ONLY). whites are invaders all over the continents. In SA the grandchildren of Rhodes, Van Reebeck and all those mogos are setlers. They dont own any land here, is just paper work. They came here with boats, how can they be Africans. Their boats left them here and their uncles in Dutch and Germany dont want them bcs their heads are mulfunctioning, just like now they are dreaming of being Africans.Report Abuse
Sinudeity
makgorometsa - I am a white African, I was born here.So, go F*** yourself.
Report Abuse
njamgodoyi
Interesting topic to pass the time. Does not add to intellectual discourse. Much like sudoku, only less interesting.Report Abuse
Eric
makgorometsaIf it were not for the white "invaders", you would still be swinging from the trees, my boy.
So, please repeat after me: "Thank you to the whites for giving me a better life!" In fact, a much better life than the ANC is giving us!
Report Abuse
Trebble
Ohh another hot one! The question still begs, Are you an African because you popped out on African Soil or because you are originally (From origin - your ancestor lineage) from this continent? Ha ha maybe names such as European African, American African, Asian African etc should start coming up!On a serious note I really dont give a hoot who calls themselves what, the matter at hand is that there should not be apologies for yearning to be equal economically. Redistribution of wealth people, and its a fact wealth was accumulated along colour lines and this is not retribution!
We are cowards to a certain extent I agree, to most of us this was inculcated through the f..#ed up below par education we got! What a mission it is to unlearn the crap..
Report Abuse
kaizer_jhb
An african is someone whos forefathers hail from africa/ or someone who can trace his roots to a place in africa, if your forefathers came on a ship from God knows where than your not afican...Report Abuse
Protect1
The earliest representatives of South Africa's diversity - at least the earliest we can name - were the San and Khoekhoe peoples (otherwise known individually as the Bushmen and Hottentots or Khoikhoi; collectively called the Khoisan). Both were resident in the southern tip of the continent for thousands of years before its written history began with the arrival of European seafarers.And before that, modern human beings had lived here for more than 100 000 years - indeed, the country is an archaeological treasure chest.
Report Abuse
Protect1
The descendants of some of the Khoisan, slaves from elsewhere in Africa and the East, and white colonists formed the basis of the mixed-race group now known as "coloured". It is noteworthy that the slaves from the East brought a potent new ingredient to South Africa's racial and cultural mix, especially with their religion of IslamAS I SEE IT MOST OF US DOES NOT EVEN BELONG HERE SO NONE OF US CAN TRULY SAY WE AFRICAN
Report Abuse