Comments on: The Ties That Bind The Black Experience

By: fende

fende — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:52:37 +0000

I think one of the most efficient methods or channels would be the media and entertainment. If we take a look at the western world, most of their mythology and history is passed down to the younger generation through film and other forms of entertainment. today every western child knows about hercules and shakespeare. you look at the Afrikan child who knows nothing about Sundjata or Mweene Mutapa, but would tell you everything about Perseus and Theseus. I think if we exploit entertainment to tell our history we mightjust spark enough minds to start an inferno of knowledge. this once worked – every kid in south africa now knows about Shaka Zulu because we once had a series and films about him. i anticipate the same results if we use the same channels to tell Afrikan history. but it’s just one of the ways to skin the cat.

By: Khaya Sibeko

Khaya Sibeko — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:13:59 +0000

@Fende,I agree with you.If you ask the ‘average’ person about Kemit,Nubia and the like,you are likely to be met with a blank stare.There was a breaking of the chain between Africa’s achievements pre and post Islamic and Christian slave trades.Prof Mzamane contextualized his address in that perspective.Simply because Nat Nakasa was misunderstood in Harlem doesnt invalid the positives that came from Diaspora.It is up to those who have books on Africa’s greatness to spread the word that how history didnt start in the 1400s when we were supposedly discovered.

By: Karabo Mkhabela

Karabo Mkhabela — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 10:14:42 +0000

@Fende, i guess the question is: is it possible to seperate the two? is it not possible to teach and learn both? The Diaspora and Afrika will forever be intertwined (even back when we were Kings/Queens the diaspora existd), so yes i agree that there is nothing ‘Afrikan’ about our education systems and that has to be addressed by us finding these books, duplicating and spreading them ourselves amongst the families, networks and hence communities…question is where do we get this treasure of history, this literature that has been hidden? and how do you spark the interest of the youth?

By: fende

fende — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:29:48 +0000

I think written Afrikan History goes way beyond the start of the Pan African movement at the beginning of the 20th century. We must remember that if we speak of Afrika as a whole, writing was invented in Africa (Egypt and North Sudan/Nubia). Maths, Science and Medicine were also invented in Egypt, before the Ptolemaic dynasty – when negroids still ruled Egypt.
Unless we are only talking about talking about Southern Afrika, I fail to agree that we Africans have been spectators in own ‘literary documentation of our experiences’. We have some great historical literature forms such as the Malian ‘Epic of Sundjata’ and the Abbysinian ‘Books of Kings’. the reason these document are languishing in oblivion is because we don’t teach them at school. we don’t even mention them at any point during literary discussions. instead our school chose to teach ‘Macbeth’ ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and such.
We may look up to the Diaspora as our influence in Africa, but I’m saying Afrika had its own political views, literature and history long before the first ship landed the Cape of Good Hope. Sol Plaatjie had long documented the effectiveness of political negotiations and co-operation between racial and territorial lines for social gain and freedom fighting in ‘Mhudi’ before any of the American Intellectuals mentioned in this article ever had a voice.
I’m not disregarding the works of Mr T Washington, Du Bois and such in the revival of black revolution but we cannot always look up to the mind outside Africa to ever shape our own future. They are fighting their own wars and we should fight ours. Nat Nakasa realized this when he was in Harlem – every black nation throughout the diaspora see us as wimps and duds because we are always crying for help or shifting our responsibilities to external ‘gods’. Nat Nakasa committed suicide in New York; according to his writing, he had been disillusioned by the hopelessness of the situation here at home, and the way his fellow blacks perceived him in Harlem – an embarrassment to the black nation. they never saw the world through his eyes; they could never understand because, even though they had gone through the same racial torture, they could never understand the effect of living under oppression in your own continent and country.
before we teach of any history about the Diaspora, we must look at our own world first. Africa is a buried treasure of history, and all of that has to be dug out to the sunlight.

By: Khaya Sibeko

Khaya Sibeko — Wed, 30 May 2012 08:21:12 +0000

Thank you,guys.There’s another part of the African Diaspora that hasnt been given significant attention and thats the Africans who were enslaved in what is called the Middle East.

By: Karabo Mkhabela

Karabo Mkhabela — Tue, 29 May 2012 06:29:25 +0000

I agree Sonasha, in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto it is mentioned right at the end of the movie that a nation/people will not be conquered externally unless it is in conflict/not united within…we are human beings first, than Afrikans…it is without a doubt though that we need to unite to take our rightful place in this world – i believe that in itself will lead to a more united human race…the diaspora and the continent need to unite and be of one heart…brilliant article Mr Sibeko, yet again

By: Sonasha

Sonasha — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:13:05 +0000

Incredible writing…. and incredible message. The Diaspora influences the continent as the Continent influences the Diaspora. We are the same people.. and it is only in our unity that progress can be made. Divide and conquer was foundational to keeping us separated and distracted. With a common goal of mental, psychological and spiritual emancipation and growth, we will be and have always been unstoppable. Thank you Khaya.