African culture is chronically ill

Several topics have been (some, not without justification) 'done to death' in the media over the last few months. Notably: Polokwane (now a household name if not exactly a sought-after tourist hot-spot), Zimbabwe, Zumagate, Xenophobic attacks, the ANC 'Youth League' (ANCYL) Conference of bare-bum notoriety and more recently, the broedertwis in the judiciary. (Can someone explain the bizarre ANCYL web URL?)

I'm not going to suggest Eurocentric perspectives or solutions to these various scenarios. Rather, I observe with mounting dread, that they're symptomatic of the final death-throes of the once much-vaunted African Humanism, or Ubuntu. Many of the born frees (born post 1994) don't even know what Ubuntu means. Recent surveys indicate they don’t tolerate well, people outside of their own social or other ‘groups’. They're thoroughly entrenched in the conspicuous consumption trap of I, Me and Mine (IMM as I call it). It's all about their latest bling and baubles. They can perhaps be excused, or forgiven for their cultural disenfranchisement.

But for older black South African people, I'm beginning to think that what really prevailed was the dictum of 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'. People were superficially united in their resistance to the common foe of Apartheid. With that tenuous thread gone, what we're seeing is actuality. A complete abandonment of any pretense at being our brother's keeper. Instead we persecute the brother (and sister) and cast him or her out.

Just yesterday I read the ultimate absurdity. An African 'thinker' is blaming the likes of Bob Geldof, Bono and former US President Bill Clinton for the failure of (at least part of) the trillions in aid that's gone down the plug in Africa in the last 50 years. Rather than accept that corrupt African politicians, intermediaries and individuals have plundered and pillaged such aid packages, so little of it has reached the people (to use the de rigueur phrase in Afri-English) 'on the ground'.

'This, I believe, is the nub of Africa's problems. There's always someone else to blame. The Colonial powers, Apartheid, the donors, the United Nations (UN), Chinese enterprise, there will always be a new villain. So long as people don't accept responsibility for their destiny and do something about it, the pantomime will continue and the wicked witch of the west will perpetuate her evil.

Stop protecting, endorsing and collaborating with evil, simply because the perpetrator of the evil is black. It's OK to stand up and vociferously condemn wrong, regardless of who is involved in it. That will be the first sign that the ANC, as a collective, has grown up and matured emotionally.

A simple thought, for Africa in general and the ANC and its allies, in particular: Divorce in your heads, any connection between criticism and disloyalty. Those who criticise you may have your interests closer to heart than those who act as your Imbongis (praise singers). Think about it.

Comments

[Ms Bobby Hackland-Morris]

What an excellent and insightful article. Brilliant. If only we could re-introduce that wonderful spirit of ubuntu back into our culture, and come to understand and know that we are all affected and infected by each others thoughts and feelings and actions. Why not send your article to the media, especially the press. Kind regards, Bobby (Founder, uBuntu Peace Project)