...Spirit dreams within

On 8th of May 1996, Thabo Mbeki gave a statement on behalf of the African National Congress on the occasion of the adoption by the Constitutional Assembly.

In his speech, Thabo Mbeki emphasized the fact that he is a true African, with Africanness flowing from his very roots and core, of which he is proud of (Mbeki.T 1996).More importantly, Mbeki seeks to unequivocally define the face of the new Constitution- based on freedom, justice and equality. Thus, modifying the adoption of the old Constitution and defining a new African Constitution.

As one of the major political leaders of the time, Thabo Mbeki speaks on behalf of his political party, the ANC. He presents the ideas of his party and also of what the party’s supporters believed in. Therefore, Mbeki expresses himself to the nation through a political manner instead of an individualistic approach.

Aside from the political statements of the occasion, Mbeki from time to time, mentioned the phrase ‘I am an African’ (Mbeki.T 1996). Mbeki is not pointing at himself as an individual, but to anyone who resides in Africa and had chosen the continent to be their homes. Emphasizing the same phrase from time to time, subconsciously sprouted a sense of belonging and pride within those who had lost some form of dignity or suffered during the Apartheid regime. The phrase may also be hinting and placing certain emphasis towards the fact that the country now belongs to Africans, not some foreign oppressors.

During his statement, Mbeki mentioned a few foreign countries, namely China, India, Europe, Malayan countries, St Helena and the Bahamas (Mbeki.T 1996). Africa was never a continent with only the natives or the European colonists. People(as ancestral slaves) from the mentioned countries have brought in different cultures and formed a racial diversity in the continent, and have contributed consistently in shaping and evolving Africa into what Africa is today and tomorrow.

Thabo Mbeki referred himself to equal citizenship as African animals. He states that sometimes he wondered if he should concede equal citizenship of his country to the African animals (Mbeki.T 1996) because the animals are native, so is him. Mbeki came to a decisive conclusion that he would take pride as a native, making a stand as an African and that this land is his Homeland.

Personally, I see this speech as a statement made by a politician, and from a historical point of view, I would not believe any proclaims or take any declaration of political victories seriously- just as a preventive measure against any forms of propaganda or “brain-washing” schemes to make you place the ticket into the right(if there is one) box.

I particularly feel for Thabo Mbeki’s passion as a native African when he ventures into the descriptive scenario of his native land and his ancestral roots. Just as the vivid picture reaches the state of utopia, he began to tear away the illusion and reveals the ugliness of reality when he placed the suffering and humiliation of his fellow countryman in front of me. A prick of anger ignited inside, and I sincerely feel how my own ancestors felt.

On the negative side- At times, I would uncannily feel that Mbeki is trying to emphasize that to be an African is to be ancestrally related or to place it bluntly- to be a native black person. Since then, I kept questioning the aim of such course material. I simply couldn’t understand the logic behind the need to bring the past back into the present and constantly reminding us of the differences between everyone. Bearing in mind, we were born in a totally different generation and era. Why? Why do we need to be infused with such negative thoughts and emotions of politics and history?

Such actions draw parallel to that of ‘the snake of Eden ’. Maybe reality in society is like so, and we need to prepare our innocent selves for it. But in actual fact, racial harmony and cultural acceptance are slowly becoming a norm! I DO NOT believe that the history of the past will help us achieve an idealistic racial, culture harmony. I would almost certainly believe that it is only there to protect ourselves, closing our minds, restricting us to our own racial origins instead of evolving along with the changes in reality.

We must learn to see the person within a person, not the color, not the nationality, not the culture. Certainly, we do not need an Apocalyptic or End of World situation to enlighten everyone, realizing that we are all human beings.

That’s what I believed.

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