Thursday, June 11, 2015

Who's Ya Enemy?



There are people of European descent who fought against racism, apartheid and colonialism. There are people of European descent who WISH they fought against racism, apartheid and colonialism. And there are people of European descent who would love us to believe that they fought against racism, apartheid and colonialism. In future, I bet my two quarts of Castle Lager, there will be people of African descent who would have fought against tribalism and xenophobia. There will be others of African descent who will WISH they had fought against tribalism and xenophobia. And there will be some of African descent who would love us to believe that they fought against tribalism and xenophobia.

The poignant point is that some of us love blaming but hate to be blamed. We love criticising but hate to be criticised. We love bossing people around but hate to be bossed around.

For example, five people of African descent would publicly rage against racism, but only two would feel the same rage against tribalism and xenophobia. The challenge before us is an invitation therefore, for us to ask ourselves a deep question: Do we really hate injustice, or do we only hate it when it is meted against us? If racism is an injustice against people of African descent, why can't tribalism be viewed in the same light? "Sela saMswati sela." "LokweMashangani." "Mvecha lwehi." These are common insults aimed at denigrating Swati, Shangaan and Pulana people, respectively. The reason? In order for us to feel great about ourselves or our tribe, we have to belittle people from other tribes. We even laugh and take pride in how we want other tribes to be portrayed in a demeaning way. How can we not mention our brothers and sisters from across the border and yonder Africa's least respected regions? "Ora yela wa Lekwerekwere?" Yet, we have the nerve to rage against racism.

Think about it for a minute. If it's so difficult for us to change from entrenched attitudes that make us ignore, and to some extent tolerate, tribalism; why do we then expect others to stop being racist? Aren't we the same in that none of us sees any injustice in the way we treat our fellow human beings? Is the human kingdom any better than the predatory animal kingdom where stronger beasts prey on the weak among them?

Perhaps there is a cure for racism. Perhaps there is a cure for tribalism and xenophobia. Perhaps it all starts with us, whoever we are.

Isn't it about time we learned to love ourselves before expecting others to love us? Isn't it about time we thought twice before we think five times? Isn't this the right moment to think small before we think big? Let the same Supreme Judge (In Us) who presides over racism preside over the evil of tribalism and xenophobia.

Long live Africa, long live the Mother Land.

Wagago
Kgoshii