The Piper System Blog

I think we may have been too harsh in our approach at times in the past, making waves amidst calm waters, claiming a continent that is mother to more than just us. I think we have grown up a bit in our thinking, our eyes opening to more than just our reality. Africa is a spiritual home to many.

It’s a reality check on what it must be like to be orphaned by history and circumstance, having your lineage snatched from you and suffer the indignity of being reminded that you are not from here all the time, that you should go back to Africa, only to be tossed back by the Africans, claiming that you’re not African because you not from ‘here’.

Well, therein lies a dilemma. The name of this piece is taken from the title of a Johnny Clegg song, ‘The Scatterlings of Africa’. I felt it was time to start lighting the torches on our side because I have the feeling that Africa opens its arms to its scattered children, and we can help pave the way.

Now before I continue, for the purpose of this article I have to define my terms with regard to how I’m seeing things. First, there are two groups of Africans. “Orphaned” Africans and “Immigrant” Africans. Orphaned Africans are those who were forcibly taken from here to other continents, and Immigrant Africans are those who were forcibly brought here, or settled here through the years. Many of you might not be too comfortable with these terms, but then again I’m being direct and need to establish and reinforce my point here.

I was born and live at the southernmost tip of Africa, in a country named after its geographical position on this end of the continent. Aptly named South Africa (or Azania if you like). This country has been through great change in the last century alone, but so have most of the other African nations. Having said that, we South Africans have fought extreme racism and ethnic predjudice - and won! We saw an amazing triumph over an oppressive regime, replacing them with the black man this very regime imprisoned for 27 years, Mr Nelson Mandela, who as the 1st black president, led a peaceful transition into our democracy.

This story the world knows and to most it still comes across as a fairy tale, however as South Africans we must remember to extend a bit more of ourselves when we meet up with Africa’s scattered children, because we were the lucky ones when we dealt with oppression. We got our country back, but what about those brothers and sisters who were deprived of their countries and pride?

They research their roots, their traditions. And through this research they help to rebuild and restore another part of Africa stolen from them and their ancestors. Since we Africans already have this continent, what do the children of the African have? Memories of a lost and forgotten time? How about invaluable contributions and cooperation to a continent ravaged by 1st world exploitation? Or cultural treasures that were thought to be long lost to this great continent, since the slave ships took those as well. Africans are gearing themselves and Africa for survival in the 21st century, yet there are those Africans who practise older traditions that help remind us of what Africa was like before colonisation. For this we should be thankful, for as every ancient African art is researched, another part of this great continent comes to life again.

I cannot speak for all of Africa, but I can speak for all cultures in our beautiful country when I say *thank you* to all those that inspired us during our darkest hour. To the children of the Orphans of Africa, who spawned the Civil Rights movement, who helped the ’scatterlings of Africa’ find a home in their ancestral roots & who started ressurrecting the old traditions Africa in an attempt to piece together the wayward shards of their Mother’s heart.

I have recently aquired a copy of Nelson Mandela’s new book, ‘Madiba Speaks’, which features parliamentary speeches he gave during his tenure as State president. Here is an extract from his last state of the nation address: ‘Let us refrain from chauvinistic breast-beating; but let us also not underrate what we have achieved in establishing: a stable and progressive democracy where we take freedom seriously,in building national unity in spite of decades and centuries of apartheid and colonial rule, in creating a culture in which we increasingly respect the dignity of all. In a cynical world we have become an inspiration to many. We signal that good can be achieved amongst human beings who are prepared to trust, prepared to believe in the goodness of people. We accord a person’s dignity by assuming that they are good, that they share the human qualities we ascribe to ourselves.’

This may have been meant for us at the time, but in the spirit of Ubuntu, I think Madiba addressed the humanity in all of us, and as African martial artists researching our past, let us not wage war against each other but instead focus on learning, sharing and co-operation. Let’s not get into any ghetto battles anymore, since rough ‘hoods’ are nothing new and nothing to be proud of.

Let us also stop attacking each other’s beliefs, especially regarding Africa, its history, its cultures and pure splendour. I sound like I’m running for president, but I feel that for most of us it’s a lot more convenient to be selfish and harsh because of our fear of lthe truth by denying new knowledge and ideas. We South Africans should know better, so let’s continue to teach and learn. To end off, let me quote a line from another Johnny Clegg song: “I’m searching for the spirit of the great heart under African skies.”

Go well

Nigel February

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