Prometheus 6

Aren't We All Mostly 'Europeans'?
New Era (Windhoek)
COLUMN
March 19, 2004

THE debate on who is African and who is not, rages on unabated. How do you define and describe an African? Via colour, language, or culture? So how do you incorporate your culture in your daily activities? What do you do to affirm and validate yourself as an African, as a Namibian? How frequent?

A simple closer look at all of us in our daily routines reveals that we are mostly Europeans in our outlook on contemporary culture. We pride ourselves and feel educated when speaking European (English, German, French, Portuguese); we dress European (tuxedos, business suits, ties, mini skirts, are all European inventions).

Also take a look at the inner labels on our clothing: Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Reeboks, Puma, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Polo, etc. Where is the African clothing to affirm our pride? Where is an African store the size of Edgars brimming with African attire? We smell European (who makes your favourite perfume and make-up: Estee Lauder, Lancome, Loreal, Avon, Brut?)

We love German bread and beer, Italian pasta and pizza, American hamburgers, Chinese food. Ever seen a Chinese person at a kapana outlet? Walk around Windhoek or any other big town, and there are European restaurants galore, and no Namibian and/or African establishments. Should there be one or two, go ask the owner about how much support they get from us .

Are you one of those that specialise in western movies and books, and shy away from reading black magazines and watching African movies? When was the last time you went out of your way to see an African movie, in fact, when was the last time an African movie was featured at the movie theatre? Do you ever see any at the video rental shop? Are you one of those who proclaim that they can only be treated by a white doctor, or deal only with a white lawyer, or that only use a white mechanic for their car? Wow, how African!

Do you have children that can recite all the "Harry Potter" books backwards, yet know little or nothing about your own family tree or culture? How much is your mother tongue used at home? Is it even known by your children? Or are they members of the English-only Namibian generation on the rise?

How many Europeans do you know of, who have African names, here or in Europe and/or America? Still proud of your European (Christian) name? Does it help you be more African? Is there a country in Europe where they use any of our languages?

Also, in which native local language do we find the word "dollar" that embodies our pride in our currency? We really could not find a word in one of our Namibian languages to describe our money?

It is common and accepted that our constitution was imported from the West. Our judiciary is modelled after some Roman/Dutch law. Why? How do these foreign ideologies serve us really? Do they in any remote way reflect and embody our own genuine values, morals, beliefs and priorities?

Ask any rural area owner of cattle what his/her desired retribution for a stolen goat is, and they will surely tell you they want it replaced with five goats primarily, not a prison sentence for the offender. The system that punishes offenders without compensating the victims is not indigenous to our way of living. We do need to rewrite these rules and regulations in order to fit our own ideals and desires.

Even though Big Brother Africa had no real redeeming value, it was good that Africans got a chance to re-evaluate their values, beliefs and priorities. Watching the African Nations Cup soccer matches really gave one a sense of belonging to this continent. However some local brothers feel that Arabic-Africans in the northern countries of Africa are not really Africans! Who is?

Let's connect in other arenas of life in Africa. If being African, culturally and otherwise, is so important, please start acting it out. Actions speak louder than words. Show pride in your culture, your language, your history, and your future!

Yep, we Africans were once colonised and oppressed and enslaved. The last wave of this humiliation has lasted more than 500 years. In many spheres of life we are still affected and influenced by these experience: most things in life that are bad are deliberately termed black: a black day, if a horrendous tragedy should take place; dressing in black when mourning; pressuring someone to do something against their will is to blackmail; dark and sinister is how we describe anything not so good-natured; lose favour in the community, and you are blacklisted; lose favour in the family, and you are the black sheep; anything traded outside the white-controlled economic mechanism is supposed to be gotten on the black market. Need more examples?

On the other hand, tell a "small" lie, and it's a white lie. It is common to hear or read about white and some lighter-skinned children described as pretty as angels. What about the dark-skinned and pretty? Ever see black angels depicted in religious scriptures? All colours are clean, not just the white colour. Our children grow up despising black dolls, and idolising white skin, using bleaching chemicals. But Europeans spend endless hours in the sun and in tanning salons, trying to look like us. Who is confused, and who is confusing whom?

Yep, we are now free enough to assert and validate ourselves. Let's show the rest of the world what it means to be African. If we do not know how, let us learn! How long before we stop using Europe as a measuring standard? How long before we dress, eat, smell, talk African? How long before we drive an African-made car? How long before we have our constitution written to reflect our own values, beliefs, history, aspirations, goals, mores, ethics?

It is definitely wrong to shun our own roots in favour of foreign cultures. We are surely capable of excelling in the world having the best of both worlds. Take the best Europe has to offer and use it with our own best. If you have to integrate in any way, make sure you contribute and participate in deciding on the final outcome, instead of just being spoon-fed or force-fed any foreign theme. At least 50 percent of the outcome must reflect your own original output. We can take advantage of all the advances around us without losing our own foundation. Hopefully Africans will now take it to heart and start practicing what they preach! Unless it is all just talk! I pray not!