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 My question is, what history are you teaching our children if you keep changing it? - Mzwakhe Mbuli  

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This is particularly most pertinent when one considers the title and refrain of one of his poems, Change is Pain.

With the release of his new album, titled Amandla - isiZulu for power - Mbuli celebrates the legacies of the leaders who fought for the liberation of South Africa.

Track 5, titled Sharpeville Massacre, stands out and challenges the decision of changing Sharpeville Day - in which 69 people were brutally killed by the then a partheid police government - to Human Rights Day .

The "People's Poet" describes the Sharpeville massacre as "an act of cowardic e that tarnished the image of South Africa abroad" and says the ruling party is distorting the history of the country.

"Hundred and eighty people were hurt and of the 69 killed, most were shot in the back. These people were defenceless, they were running for cover," says Mbuli.

He says if the people of Sharpeville were to listen to this album, they would revolt against the name change of the event.

"I tell it like it is. This is the only massacre, its not a hairstyle that changes over time. Can you change the celebration of Esandlwana to another name, to another date or place? The Zulu people will kill you," he says.

He believes that since the history of Sharpeville is being distorted, his album will serve as a case study for the young generation.

"I received a call from a parent asking me where she can find the album because her child wants to use it for her history studies.

"My question is, what history are you teaching our children if you keep changing it?" he asks.

One would have expected Mbuli to shy away from the politics of this country after his imprisonment but perhaps Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa's comments were prophetic when he said his poetry "communicates, chastises, consoles, castigates, comforts and explodes into a tirade of condemnation against injustice and oppression where necessary".

Comments

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Wed May 22 21:48:17 SAST 2013 ::

Mar 27, 2012

MommaC

“History is written by the victors.”

We are now told that the ANC were the only force fighting in SA for liberation and that every protester who ever was was an ANC operative. The border war was only MK and the exiles were actually throwing stones at Nyala and not sipping whiskey in a foreign city. Sad indeed
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Mar 27, 2012

zaco

The title should be "Why ignore the truth" or" Why exploit History"
i need to luister to this one.....
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Mar 27, 2012

RobinH

For once I actually agree with Mr Mbuli. How many of the fat slugs now strutting Armani even knew anything about the bush war and the city riots?
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Mar 27, 2012

Shredder

@RobinH
For once I actually agree with Mr Mbuli.
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LOL, good. I know you have always been on his case

Anyway, Mzwakhe is telling the truth. Otherwise the Sharpville massacre will be null and void and that part of South African history is vanishing. many young people don't even know about the Sharpville massacre, yet they know about June 16. The people of Sharpville should stand up. Then Mantashe will smack them with his specs and say they will host the event wherever they see it fits.
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Mar 27, 2012

SedibengH2O

Bathong tlheng I do not like Mzwakhe Mbuli and my father just loves him and pumps his songs on high volume!!

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Mar 27, 2012

Livelifemolefe

@SedibengH2O
I guess you are a poop that does not have direction.
Google the Name Mzakhe Mbuli, then you might change your sterotype behaviour.
It is not only changing the vanue and name of activity such as in Sharpville.
Now the Constitution and Constitutional Court are next.
What a hack..
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Mar 27, 2012

LaVidaLoca

Ive always asked this question "Was everyone who was fighting for freedom an ANC member back then"?.....Hell NO, it was the ordinary citizens of this country, but the ANC assumed this position of power just becasue most of the leaders who were jailed were froom their party, that means sh!t.....

Now they want to rename everything that they can lay their hands on, take every thing......

Mzwakhe Mbuli is 100% right, And I repeat, "The ANC underestimates the power of the people, and they take us for fools, They will be taught a lesson soon"
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Mar 27, 2012

Mbeva

Mbuli is a poet of perfect verses
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Mar 27, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

"I tell it like it is. This is the only massacre, its not a hairstyle that changes over time. Can you change the celebration of Esandlwana to another name, to another date or place? The Z.ulu people will k.ill you," he says
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Phew! that would be like suicide

True Mr Mbuli, history is being distored everyday. 20 years from now, kids won't even know about the old NP and their leaders as every trace of them is being removed.

For you to have a future, you must have a past (history). How would kids learn about our "democracry" if they dont even know how started, who were the major players, sacrifices made et al. Yes the apartheid system was bad but they changed the course of SA's history.

PS: Haters, play the ball not the (wo)man (in simple terms, DO NOT INSULT ME but digest what I have written)
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Mar 27, 2012

mopres

just love him,he makes sense a lot of times
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