REVOLT!!
I write what I like and I like what I write.
Let me start by paying homage to a great son of the soil, Bantubonke Steven Biko; the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement. It is his brilliant works that has left a spark in my heart. It is his fantastic title "I Write What I Like" that has inspired so many an Afrikan people.
The greatest revolutions were not sparked by military coups, but by the power of words. The written word is the most powerful weapon in the hands of the colonised.
Freedom of expression is a basic human right, excersise yours.
I am a writer, poet and historian. I see myself as a custodian of my peoples' culture and way of life. My mind continually questions the way things are and wonders about the alternatives. Similarly, there should be alternatives to reading material. If you don't like what you are reading, there should be many other choices of what you can read.
Freedom of the press did not guarantee us freedom of ideas, unfortunately. The South Afrikan press is full of no ideas. They all report about the same thing the same way, that is not choice. There is no variety. The South Afrikan media is shockingly biased and sectorian. Media houses take sides in the politics of today, at the expense of objective reporting.
The same way that I worry about higher education. Something must be fundamentally wrong in studying an Afrikan language in English, taught by an English Professor, advancing English thought and world view! This is what I see at the University of South Africa(Unisa). Yet Unisa has had many black vice chancellors since the dawn of democracy. Is it not a misnomer? That Afrikan languages prospered during apartheid, but are marginalised during a democracy?
On basic education. How does one expect best results from school children when the basis of child growth are seriously compromised? Home language, read Afrikan language, has been neglected for school children in public schools in favour of English. The result is the inability of school children to read and write properly. Why? Because, whatever your reasoning, you cannot take away the importance of mother tongue in personal development and advancement. Bring back good quality education for our children, teach them their language appropriately and the right standard. The standard of teaching Afrikan languages has dropped significantly, most Afrikan language teachers are not competent in the languages they are supposed to teach.
Arts, culture and sports have been dropped in public schools; for no apparent good reason. The result are school children with unbalanced lifestyles. Is it any wonder that schools are riddled with so many problems? From drugs, alcohol to ill discipline. What have they been replaced with? Nothing.
Let's be ware of the kind of society we are creating in the name of democracy and human rights.
I am inspired by the likes of Bantu Biko, Ngugi wa Thiongo, Franz Fanon, Amilcar Cabral, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, Thabo Mbeki, Julius Nyerere, Joshua Nkomo, Jomo Kenyatta, Nnamndi Azikiwe.
Marena a rona: Wetsi Moloi, Moshoeshoe, Hintsa ka Phalo, Shaka ka Senzangakhona, Mofumahadi Manthatisi, Sobuza.
Literary greats: Ngugi wa Thiongo, Chinua Achebe, KPD Maphalla, LS Booysen, SM Guma, KE Ntsane, Eskia Mphahlele, Credo Mutwa, Pudumo Mohapelwa, JM Lenake, JJ Moiloa, SK Mqhayi, TJ Selepe, CLJ Mophethe, NS Litabe, PT Maboea, S Sefatsa, M Mahanke.
Young writers of my time: Siphiwo Mahala, Angela Makholwa, Zukiswa Wanner, Kgoebetli Moele, Thando Mqolozana, Sello Duiker, Phaswane Mpe, Dr Kopano Matlwa, Diale Tlholwe, Nape 'a Motana, Sihle Khumalo.
Self publishing pioneers: Vusi Moloi, Madiela Chitja, Gaoretelelwe Molebalwa, Tsepo Gumbi, Duduzile Mabaso, Vuyokazi Yonke, Luzuko Gongxeka, Zwelibanzi Tshabalala, Andile Mngxitama and many others I forget to mention. You are fantastic, you have taken the challenge head-on. You have chatted a new course for young writers of today. Main stream publishers now have a course to worry.
Black academics whose work shines the light on the ways of my people: 'Mabokang Baatshwana Pheto-Moeti, Moruti William Tsiu, Ntaoleng Belina Sekere and others whose work I have not been fortunate enough to read. Education should be a means to understanding our own and a tool to advancing our society.
The economic plight of Afrikans and Afrika remains largely untouched. The economic landscape has remained largely the same during and after colonialism. Afrikans are consumers and the subject of donor funds. We need a revolution to change the face of commerce in this country. The balance of power is extremely one sided and dangerous.
I Write What I Like because I Like What I Write. Perhaps you too should Write What You Like, that would be a revolution.
Revolt!
Revolt,Against the National Democratic Revolution.
For nobody seems to know what it means,
Or what they mean when they say:
This the time for the democratic revolution.
Revolt I say.
When comraderee is the order of the day
Over competence and service delivery
When intellectual excellence is shunned
And relegated to the dustbins of history
For the comrades are the rulers
And intellect has no place in their midst
Revolt we must.
Comrades are wasting our children
Education takes a back seat
An injury to one is an injury to all
Slogans and mind sets
Manufactured to keep the black child in the doldrums
By agents of doom and gloom
Revolt black child.
When today "umshini wam"
has become a national treasure
Shouldn't we be teaching our children better slogans?
Slogans that will enhance our race
Take us several paces ahead
Building a future for our young
Them on whose behalf we are ruining a future
With stupid slogans and rhetoric
All in the name of comradeship
Phansi, with the National Democratic Revolution!
Phambili with education phambili!
Phambili with the intellectual emancipation
of the youth
Umzabalo is about our success as a race
About the education of the youth
To uplift and develop our society
That is a revolution
Revolt black child revolt
This is a revolution.
Camagu.