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AFL1501 - Sem 1 - Ass 5 - 2019
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Sem 1 - Ass 5 - 2019 - I'm an African
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Student Number:Unique Number: 885728
Assignment 5 - I'm an African
It is said that when you are born in Africa, Africa is also born in you and so the love affair with your
homeland begins. Being African seems to be more than simply a coincidence of birth, it is a choice
too.
The attacks against foreigners living in South Africa is sickening. We always blame others for our
problems instead of taking accountability for electing a corrupt and incompetent ruling party who've
destroyed our country.
But what does it mean to be African? We who claim this great continent as our home are vast in
numbers like stars in the Milky Way, sundry like the colours of a rainbow. Our cultures, religions,
races and languages often differ, they all hold the commonality in their unique splendour, we are all
bound not only by the geographical borders of this continent, but more importantly, by the
imperceptible conviction that this is home. South Africa is often referred to as the 'Rainbow Nation'.
This term was coined by Desmond Tutu during the advent of democracy in the country. Tutu stated:
'they tried to make us one colour: purple. We say we are the rainbow people! We are the new
people of the new south Africa!'
The Rainbow Nation is a true reflection of Ubuntu in South Africa or is it just idealism?
Given this understanding of Ubuntu, it is an African-embedded philosophical approach to human
life. It would be misleading to speak of Ubuntu and then to mistreat others on the basis of their race,
culture, creed, gender or status. Ubuntu demands respect for human dignity regardless of any
outward appearances. Africa has infinite verve and distinctive soul, which offers a foundation to an
unprecedented amount of knowledge and wisdoms only limited to the confines of how far the mind
is willing to stretch.
However this beautiful description of what Africa has to offer simply does not answer the question
of what it means to be African. There is no simple answer, this is so because we mistakenly let the
idea of ‘identity’ define us. We use man-made constructs to give sense of self and provide continuity
and sameness to ourselves and our personalities over time. We fall into the trap of hiding away in
sameness instead of using our diversity to enhance and add dynamism to our ‘identify’.
The critique of Ubuntu by Biko challenges the serenity of the Rainbow Nation. Xenophobia, racism,
gang activities, corruption, inequality, nepotism and poverty are not part of Ubuntu and are not
presenting the ideal of the Rainbow Nation of Madiba. Biko (2013; Johnson 2009:3) quotes
Mandela's words regarding this ideal:
“We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both
black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their
inalienable right to human dignity - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world. Our
single most important challenge is therefore to help establish a social order in which the
freedom of the individual will truly mean the freedom of the individual. We must construct
that people-centred society of freedom in such a manner that it guarantees the political
liberties and the human rights of all our citizens.”
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