Did the rainbow nation concept swallow black self-worth?

By

Thapelo Masilela

We are just on the verge of another Heritage month, which it is claimed celebrates the cultural diversity of the people of South Africa. The world late famous Archbishop Desmond Tutu described it as the rainbow nation. No more two nations which is black and white, but it includes other colours found in the rainbow. Is this not the anti-thesis of non-racialism?

What is heritage? The Concise Oxford Dictionary describes it as; “Valued things such as historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations or something of special value and worthy of preservation or special or individual possession.” But now does the destruction of historical statues, burning of libraries or schools forge ahead the facilitation of reconciliation and nation- building?

Or is Heritage confined to different tribes dressed in their traditional regalia, singing and dancing to the tune of what is called their music? Or should Heritage not reflect life about the here and now, as it is claimed that culture is dynamic, not static?

We have abysmally failed to forge ahead a non-racial society. One even wonders if in reality such a concept really exists. Having the finest constitution on paper does not reflect the reality of the society living that life. You can take a horse to the river but you cannot force it to drink. Culture is not what you dream to live; it is life about the here and now. Practically we are not living our constitution.

Our liberation dream failed to take us to Canaan. The rainbow nation or cultural diversity is just one big mirage, especially for the blackman. It has made him a copycat of other cultures. Even if we as black claim to be celebrating heritage, which heritage that we managed to preserve and live by its principles each day of our lives.

Even if the statute books have been augmented for a new order the minds of the populace has been left behind. One still hears some blacks attest their inferiority complex in a number of ways. Like; “You know when you want to buy a good car, get it from a white man.” One would find blacks in a queue at a government institution, saying; “If we would have been served by whites, this queue would have long disappeared.”

The so-called educated blacks feel comfortable when their children are being taught by white teachers, This has given room for the creation of private schools which mushroomed like manna from heaven in recent times.

These businesses were created after the realisation that there is need existing among the educated blacks, that they wanted their children to talk English like whites and desired to be taught by white teachers.

These blacks did not mind to pay exorbitant fees for this purpose. The proponents of these businesses were exploiting the blackman like hell. In Sepedi they say;“Dithoto ke mašemo a ba bohlale”. Roughly translated into English, it means; “The ignorant are the goldmine of the wise.”

The white teachers were brainwashing the black children to have a negative attitudes towards African Culture and tradition. Black children were adopting behavioural patterns that were culturally lacking and confused. When they reached their homes, there was always a cultural clash with their parents.

They were assuming a sense of a decreasing self-esteem. It was not good for their African Identity. Yet their matric school results are surpassed by the children in ordinary township school. These Model C products cannot even read an obituary written in an indigenous African language at community funerals. They become a laughing stock.

I recently picked up a page at home. It had about five questions and answers. I thought it was brought to my home by my son, as part of his school-work. But when I approached him, he flatly denied ownership of the page. We even compared hand writings, and then I became convinced that my son was not the culprit. But I became lost and confused as to who was the owner of the writings

The questions were not difficult. They were health questions which took the following character;

1. Question ׃ If you developed headache? Answer׃ I would go to a Pharmacist.

2. Question ׃ If you contracted flu? Answer: I would go to a special doctor

3. Question ׃ If I developed a painful back-ache? Answer: I would go to the hospital

4. Question ׃ If you suffer from continual diarrhoea? Answer: I would go to the clinic

5. Question ׃ If I were told that I am “possessed “ by evil spirits? Answer ׃ I would go to the                        Sangoma or traditional healer.

I was surprised by the last question about evil spirits. I suspected that the type of text book, the pupil was using to do the exercise or activity was surely authored by a white person for blacks. To my understanding, the spirit is always pure. It is the mind that is polluted by evil thoughts. Like it is said that,” As a man thinketh, so he is.”

The question and answer sheet about evil spirits was giving the impression that all other sicknesses could be cured through Western medicine. African Traditional doctors, can only heal evil spirits. Yet the South African government has recently recognized “Traditional Healers “. The official recognition of about 200.000 traditional healers by parliament has been welcomed as a positive step

Here is yet another contradiction. A black pupil at a white school had learning difficulties, in accordance to her white teacher. The parents were informed about this problem. They had to take corrective action. They did it the African way. They consulted their African Traditional Healer, who enlightened them that their ancestors required a big cow and a goat to be slaughtered in a Zulu cultural ceremony. That was done in accordance to the traditional requirements. Excellent.

But when the pupil returned to school after the ceremony, she wore a goat skin bangle. In isi-Zulu, they call it isiphanda.. She wore it for four months. One day, all of a sudden the white teacher cut it off with a pair of scissors. The parents got furious about this.

They approached the Principal, who was rude with them. She told them to take their daughter to another school that accommodated African culture and beliefs. What a contradiction. The government has legislated in favour of Traditional healers. Here is a school that does not accommodate such practices, even though in South Africa we have white Sangomas. This is Africa, our Africa, black and white.

One may sometimes, think that the Traditional healers have themselves to blame, for their negative image. Taking into consideration, all the disturbing, shocking and irritating stories about the killing of human beings for muti purposes

There are stories about witchcraft, where persons hold key positions at work, not because of qualifications and skills but because of witchcraft. We do find some roguery in every field in life. Perhaps, it is a question of one rotten potato, spoiling the whole bag. In Sepedi, they say; “Pudi ya ja leotša, e fetetša tše dingwe”

.But the fact of the matter is that reputable inyangas or sangomas know quite well that human flesh would defile or pollute any muti in their possession. That is why when there is a funeral or a corpse has passed through the house, the Traditional Healer will abstain from the practice for a number of days, until some cleansing rituals are performed.

So it is quite obvious, that those who mix human flesh with their muti, are witches. Witchcraft is found in all communities, all over the world. It is not exclusive to Africa or Africans. It is associated with Satan.

Western medical doctors, have their black spots too. There are stories, even if I am not very sure of their authenticity, that they would forget a pair of scissors in the patient’s stomach after an oper ation. It is said that when they treat black patients, they become less careful. The indemnity pledge the patients sign becomes their protector. With blacks, every death from a hospital is declared as a will of God.

Whites do not take anything lying down. They investigate the truth to the marrow and sue the hospital or doctor where necessary. They do not accept any death, as a will of God. Hospitals and doctors do commit suicidal mistakes.

When we have to touch up the question and reality of African Religion, the situation is so gravely confusing or pitiful, to the extent that it is hurting. Indeed things have fallen apart. I usually say Thabo Mbeki’s African Renaissance should be used as a gateway towards recouping our African Religion.

I am approaching the seventies and during my whole life I have never seen a funeral process at a graveyards being conducted in an African way where there was a communication with ancestors except once in Venda recently. No Bible was read. No hymn was sung. I was impressed.

We need to do a deep introspection about who we are and recoup the African Heritage as a Black nation.