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Department of African Languages Language through an African lens
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MODULE: AFL1501 ASSIGNMENT 5NAME: WERNER BOSCH
STUDENT NUMBER: 57683492
In regards to the question of what is my understanding and my views of what it
means to be an African, who do you think are Africans, and what makes them
African.
We can say that this my personal opinion and views. So let me take you on a journey
through my eyes, come and have a look through my window.
My roots were planted in the southern tip of Africa before I or my parents was even a
thought. I did not choose to be routed so far away from the “norm” of the white
European people. In easier words, I did not choose Africa, Africa chose me.
So for a brief moment, I ask you to set aside your race, religion, and bravely enough
your culture and view yourself as just a normal human being without any of the
above.
I was privileged enough to experience different countries and continents and each on
its own. I’ve experienced parts of Europe (France), parts of America (Brazil), parts of
Australasia (NZ). Let me tell you this, no matter where you go in this world, there will
always be some part of your inner soul longing to your routes. I’ve seen this and
experienced this first hand.
People flee from their birth country to a different country in hopes of a better future
for their children and their children’s children. Nothing wrong with this but, I can
promise you this, people will always long back to their roots. I will go so far as to say,
once an African always an African.
I’ve seen how people from different countries and different cultures still long back to
their roots, by still keeping their cultures alive and going regardless of them in a
different country. Why? Because Africa has always been part of you. I’ve seen
African people's children born in different countries adapting to their country of birth
and these two countries are in constant conflict with each other (metaphorically
speaking).
I’ve seen and experienced this: African’s, no matter where they go, will always adapt
and make it work. People outside of Africa will never understand this. People outside
of Africa coming to Africa are more likely to give up and return to their origin.
So to answer your question about Africans: African does not see colour. You don’t
choose Africa, Africa chooses you. You have an unfair advantage when you are born
from the grounds of Africa, you understand the ground you walk on and the spirit of
Africa understands you. Africa has no filters, there’s no pretension. What you see is
what you get. Africa is rough, Africa is hard, Africa is raw but, Africa has so much
potential.
, If you can understand this, if you can relate to this then this makes you African.
When you understand this you then colour your Africa in with your race, your
religion, your culture. Africa is yours.
Everything Africa has thought me since my roots and existence, Africa made me who
I am and I could go, travel, and adapt wherever I went. The African spirit was always
with me, people around the world knew I was African, not by my race or culture but,
by my way of treating others, never giving up, adapting to my surroundings.
Wherever I went I left seeds of Africa. To me, being African has nothing to do with
your race but it’s something that is part of you when you were just a thought, when
you were an embryo, if you are an African, you will understand, if you are not, I can
guarantee you, it’s something you will strive to have or strive to understand. As I said
before, you don’t choose Africa, Africa chooses you.
Do you know understand the window you are looking through?
Task 1
Ubuntu – I am because we are. It’s rooted in kindness, compassion and
interconnectedness.
Ubuntu – to feel your shadow and not to throw your shadow into other people. To
feel your shadow is to feel your different emotions. Feel your prejudice, feel your
anger, feel your jealousy, feel your hatred and become like the lotus flower and
transform it through breathing in those shadow-muddy parts of yourself.
Transforming your heart and then blossoming like a flower – that is true ubuntu.
So what does this all mean? It means, if you’re feeling prejudice or look at someone
and don’t like the colour of their skin and it brings up memories or brings up hatred
and if you find yourself going to a cycle of stereotyping, be aware, watch carefully,
your next action could be reacting, you could be bringing forth some dark emotion
and throwing onto that person. And hence the cycle of hatred continues in the world.
Ubuntu means humanity, means acting a way that is kind, that is humanitarian, and
involves listening, deep listening. First we have to listen to ourselves and feel our
own prejudice or our own judgement or our own anger, whatever those shadow parts
are, and then to not judge yourself. Just feel it and then all you have to say is, wow.
Then you say welcome to the human race, welcome to the process of
transformation, what you do with these difficult emotions, do you act or react, do you
attack someone else? No! That’s not ubuntu – that’s not being humane. Feel these
dark emotions, breath in… and release all these dark emotions.
Because when we do this, we first look at ourselves. The good change starts with us.
Within ourselves. It starts with myself. When I am changed and transformed, I can
then help to bring change and see change in my culture, our communities as we
start acting in a way of ubuntu, acting in a way of that’s humane and kind that is
receptive to ourselves but to one another.
Have you ever seen or experienced the following: a white little boy and a black little
boy, born of the same year. Growing up together, forming a brotherly bond, would
die for each other. Making up their own little language, understanding each mothers
tongue. Doing things only they will understand, getting into trouble together, having
fun together and making unforgettable memories. Is this not ubuntu? Learning and
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