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Quick comment on the letter to the white liberalist ..

Barns forwarded me this link today. It is an open letter written to the white liberalist person by a gentleman called Sipho. He sent it because I think he knew I will say: I too get it! Indeed I get it.

Our white liberal friends are genuinely interested in making an effort to demonstrate that we are all human beings irrespective of colour. However, they sometimes do get a tad arrogant by thinking that their wish is a command…..(this is worth unpacking because these liberals are my friends. However, I won’t go into much details partly because I think I don’t have the right words to explain. In my mind, I think their arrogance stems from their inability to properly listen whilst they play the role of self-appointed advocates of what is right and wrong in this planet of ours, called Earth. Thus, inadvertently misrepresent my true feelings and/or views as a black person. I know often they mean well but it doesn’t change the fact that I feel like screaming: walk in my shoes then talk!)

Life is not rarely as we wish it. We all wish the world can be a better place but it simply can’t be if we are going to hide behind silence or refuse to engage with thorny issues. It is not okay that whites are being blamed for the past (when clearly they were a few good liberal ones) but it is also not okay that generations before us were blamed for being born as black. Actually, once in a while we of the new generation still have the pleasure of receiving the ‘if you were not black I would have treated you with a dose of humanity but blame the colour of your skin‘ treatment. Believe me, it is not a kosher experience but we embrace such treatment with a healthy sense of humour and sometimes with a bit of anger; but it is all part of the journey we are currently on! You will be blamed and we will once in a while be treated with unwarranted contempt – even from you, our dear white liberalist friends. This will continue to happen precisely because we are still all in the healing stage and learning about each others sensitivities and so on.

In the meantime lets engage and laugh at ourselves…it will pay off. Thank you Sipho for the letter to the white liberalist – it is truthful and yet fun to read due to those tiny embellishments that confirm that with enough sense of humour, we shall all make it irrespective of colour!

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I am a Pan Africanist

In my previous blog posting I unabashedly declared myself to be a black feminist. I thought it proper to finish off my declarations by stating that indeed I am a Pan Africanist! (In case my obsession with the great leaders of Africa like Moshoeshoe I hasn’t given me away.)

I make my declaration well aware of the fact that today the meaning of Pan Africanism has been oversimplified to levels where one can easily feel ashamed of being associated with this great ideal. To me, it is truly unfortunate that it seems we live in a society where it is easier to seek to oversimplify things. Hence, to some it is perfectly acceptable to view Pan Africanism as a movement for protecting black interests or expressing black anger! And yet Pan Africanism is about something bigger and greater!

Pan Africanism as an ideal is about us Africans uniting irrespective of our colour and gender to solve our own problems. Of course this is not an easy task given that we can’t exactly take out the uncomfortable issues in the equation such as corruption and colour of ones skins. But that said, I remain a believer! Yes I believe we Africans can beat poverty. I believe we have it in us to show one another compassion. Most importantly, I believe we have it in us to show the world that the whole collectivism ideal is not a myth but a reality that can be realised by remembering that true service is about serving others . Perhaps this makes me naive or even slightly myopic but I do believe in the true essence of Pan Africanism.

Yes sometimes I get frustrated but who ever said the journey to prosperity would be easy! “Ha esita Maisiraele leetong la ho ea Kanana a ile a rapela melimo ea bosaoana! ” (Translated this roughly states, even the God’s people, the Israelites, in their journey to the promised land failed to acknowledge their own God; they strayed and worshipped false gods! )

So, I am truly not expecting the journey to be easy nor am I expecting it to be short. My point is: I am a Pan Africanist and I certainly do believe in the African dream! I hope therefore that I will live long enough to see it come true. In the meantime, it is my prayer that we as individuals, brothers and sisters of this fine continent will do our bit to end corruption and promote prosperity and peace for all! As Basotho would say: Khotso! Pula! Nala! (Peace! Rain! Properity!)

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On Being a Black Liberal Feminist

I am one of those people who has an appreciation for music. Not just any music! I am talking good old music which embodies so much depth in it that a song you have listened to before can in one moment become so profound that you wonder to yourself if you really ever got the meaning before.

Today, as I listened to Guilty by Gladys Knight. I thought to myself: I can relate, Amen to that! Then I proceeded to Google for the lyrics but was unlucky with my search 🙁 . My motivation for Googling for the lyrics was that I finally found the words that describe me being a black liberal feminist. That is, I duly accept that I shall remain black and female. Therefore, all that I can ever do is to challenge myself to lead a life that is liberated in thought. A life where if I can think it then I can do it with God’s help and those that believe in me. And a life where I need not feel apologetic for declaring myself as a feminist because indeed I am!

Below are the stanzas that talked to my heart:

Yes, I am guilty of so many things. I have been desperate for the love and joy that I know life should bring.

I am guilty, yes I am guilty! Guilty of doing without social acceptance, proper respect and the essence of what life is all about.
I am guilty of being at war in a world where riches determine your worth not the measure of ones character, as it should be down here on earth.

So go on and sentence me and set me free because I know you cannot see that I am guilty for just being me. I am guilty of love and hating, just the same as anyone else. …

Its two strikes against me when I come out to bat; one strike for being female and one strike for being black. So I stand tall through it all! My Helper [this] because I know I will be female and black till the day I die! ….

As you can see from the last quoted stanza, being a black liberal feminist means I literally have a single shot otherwise its game over for me – or as they say: “strike three and I am out” !

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Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill …

It took 3 months for the The Anglican Church of Southern Africa to issue a statement about Uganda’s anti-homosexual bill. I was almost getting worried because we Anglicans are very progressive. Phew! I am truly relieved that eventually we have made our own pronouncement on the matter. The statement can be read from here and I back it up all the way! It is time that we rooted out bigotry of any form in our society. Viva!

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On two wheels …

Whoever thought they would see me on two wheels? There was a time, a long time ago in the BMX era when I wanted a bike but I was told I would get one if I passed class 7. That wasn’t difficult except when I did pass …. I got introduced to the world of disappointment and years later I was declaring how I can’t see myself on two wheels … blah blah blah!

In December, I decided to get myself a scooter for my birthday. It was rather an impulsive buy, which I wouldn’t have otherwise made had I never met Charles. He shared with me his story and also introduced me to the world of water-walking. In this world, one easily gets inspired to try something new – especially if that something enables one to leave the boat.

In my case, leaving the boat was to leave my past where it belongs and a scooter was symbolic of that move. After getting the scooter, I fell really reeeeeeeealy hard …. and doubt and fear reigned in my life. Like a believer I am, after my fall and many others that followed, I got back on the saddle!

Now, I am loving being on two wheels although I still feel a lit bit vulnerable…. In the future, I actually see myself getting one of those seriously powerful motorcycles and enjoying the thundering between my thighs with each ride. And of course, the gentle caress of the wind 😉 !

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Dynamism of Culture

I am one person that values culture and its dynamism. To me, culture is a tool of survival therefore it can’t be stagnant. Today, I read with enjoyment the words of Christi in articulating what I believe but could never say (words sometime don’t come easily with me). These are the words by Christi Van Der Westhuizein as quoted from this blog posting about polygamy:

Even without the earth-shattering effects of colonialism on [black African] “culture”, it would be absurd to suggest that such a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon such as “culture” can be a fixed set of rules that is transferred from generation to generation without alteration.

While I believe in every word quoted above, I did qualify culture by amending ‘black African’. I did that to provide context but also to emphasise the importance of which culture we are talking about. Every community has a culture that binds it together irrespective of race. Lately, however, I realise that the word is used to refer to ‘black culture’ but without explicitly saying so. I think that is truly sad for it shows how as a society we are far from having a united culture. A culture that will put to the fore our believe system as a society – black, white, yellow or brown. For a rainbow nation, that would be a culture of love, hope and all ideals embodies in the constitution!

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My thoughts on valentine

A simple visit to the stores to get milk around this time of the year can make one pause for a minute to consider the true significance of valentine. Perhaps it only happens to those of us who are not yet ready to get a cat as a companion or those of us who get overwhelmed by valentine’s day marketing. Whatever the case may be, I paused and I think while the idea of celebrating valentine is good, the capitalist spin to it de-values it completely.

Valentine’s day is about celebrating love. If it is true that money can’t buy love, then it should follow that celebration of love should not involve money. Ok that might be slightly flawed but my point is money shouldn’t play much role in valentine’s celebration. So the challenge for valentine should be to celebrate the day as cheaply as possible but with meaningful gestures that show affection.

The gestures differ with each individual. For me, a cup of coffee in bed with a chocolate croissant would do the trick 😉 . I wouldn’t also mind a hand written love letter but that can wait until I meet that frog which I can turn into a prince with just one passionate kiss … (that may cause the prince to turn my frock into tatters 😆).

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Male and Female Version of Paradise

As part of my ritual for Sunday, I try to go to church, have a good meal, talk to those who keep me grounded 😀 and listen to good old music. A newspaper used to be part of my ritual but I stopped buying a paper when David Bullard was fired. That was was moons ago, now I don’t know exactly why I am not buying a paper (but lets blame recession :P).

Anyway, today I listened to a classic: “I ‘ve never been to me” a song that has been sung by many gifted artists. I listened to the version sang by the Temptations. I thought it was rather interesting how the male and female version contrast with each other. For example, the man steals a woman but a woman doesn’t just steal another woman’s husband, she takes a priest!

The table below provides the comparison of the male and female lyrics for this beautiful song. Bottom line is: male and female version of paradise is certainly not the same!

Male LyricsFemale Lyrics
Hey mister, hey mister
I just want a dime
'Cause I need a cup of coffee and a moment of your time
I can tell your raising hell the way I used to do
But I wish someone woulda' talked to me
Like I wanna talk to you

I've been to Georgia and California
Anywhere I could run
I stole a woman in Tennessee
and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I've been to paradise but I've never been to me

Thanks mister, thanks mister
But please don't walk away
'Cause I have this need to tell you
Why I'm all alone today
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes
Won't you share a part of an old mans heart
On the day before he dies

I've been to China & Asia Minor
On any ship that would sail
I made some noise with some good old boys
We wrecked a southern jail

I've seen the best men crawl and some teardrops fall
There ain't nothing I ain't seen
I've been to paradise but I've never been to me

I've even been to marriage
Where children cry for someone they couldn't find
Never knowing that I was searching
For things I left behind

I thought my heart could wait
but I learned too late
Only love can make people free
I've been to paradise but I've never been to me 		Hey lady, you lady, cursing at your life
You're a discontented mother and a regimented wife
I've no doubt you dream about the things you'll never do
But, I wish someone had talked to me
Like I wanna talk to you.....

Oh, I've been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run
I took the hand of a preacher man and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces because I had to be free
I've been to paradise but I've never been to me

Please lady, please lady, don't just walk away
'Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes
Won't you share a part of a weary heart that has lived million lies....

Oh, I've been to Niece and the Isle of Greece while I've sipped champagne on a yacht
I've moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed 'em what I've got
I've been undressed by kings and I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see
I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me

[spoken]
Hey, you know what paradise is?
It's a lie, a fantasy we create about people and places as we'd like them to be
But you know what truth is?
It's that little baby you're holding, it's that man you fought with this morning
The same one you're going to make love with tonight
That's truth, that's love......

Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children that might have made me complete
But I took the sweet life, I never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet
I've spent my life exploring the subtle whoring that costs too much to be free
Hey lady......
I've been to paradise, (I've been to paradise)
But I've never been to me

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