“We therefore make bold to say that South Africa is a country of two nations.”[i] ~ President Thabo Mbeki On the eve of the seventh anniversary of his ousting as president of the republic, Bloemfontein reminded me of this in/famous (depending on which of the two nations you fall in) speech of Thabo Mbeki….
Category: Non-Fiction
Why I [Kinda Like] Boycotted The VryFees
I practically boycotted this year’s VryFees. No; not because of my affinity with Thando Mngqolozana’s many-times muted but seemingly unattainable art decolonisation movement. It also, I’m glad to report, had nothing to do with any misguided Herrenvolkism – apparently the VryFees is a white thing (it is) and we blacks should leave it alone (hell no!)…
From Zandisile To Zion: Letters To Our Children
Myself I have a morbid fear of procreating. For a myriad of reasons that are perfectly understandable even to me. For one I hardly have enough material resources for my own upkeep; so why would I bring another being onto the world knowing that I’m not able to provide for materially. That’s just cruel. Another…
This Way I Salute You, Jerusalema E Ncha!
When it comes to clap & tap gospel I’m a full throttle snob. After all I grew up in the church that created the genre. I was surrounded by the music my whole life – if not at church (where I spent a considerable part of my childhood), then at home. My family has an abundance of great…
O S’ka Phapha! The Ex As Blackness.
There is no possibility for a relationship between ex-lovers post the love affair. The popular retort “we can be friends” is primarily a false invitation. The events leading up to the break-up are essentially traumatic. On the off-chance that this is not the case; the break-up itself is a traumatic experience. Once this is done….
What Do Your Church Bells Toll For?
All church bells are the same, generally. They work on the same logic, for the same reason, and all involve metal on metal clanking. So for a ‘satanist’ (thinking is satanic in some Christian corners) such as myself why is it that I find that some church bells are more equal than others? Contrary to…
I Fear My Peers
Actually this intolerance is mostly found amongst the young educated ‘middle class’. Contrary to popular belief, it would seem as if education narrows one’s thinking. In our black communities, we have all sorts of beliefs and faiths. Even within the large faith, Christianity, there are stark differences. For instance you have (what I think is…