The language of the people

 

Apartheid had a place because there was a need to oppose a system of discrimination and oppression. If we look back further to when our ancestors came here as slaves and political prisoners, there was the mentality of opposition. Having been brought here by the Dutch, Afrikaans became a language as our forefathers defied the colonialist oppressive Dutch.

As time passed and we reached the mid twentieth century, there was this inclination to adopt the English language, the language of the other coloniser. This happened for a few reasons, one of which is that the ruling class adopted Afrikaans as their language. Secondly, English was seen as the universal language and the queen's language. Forgotten was the fact that Afrikaans was the language of defiance. In fact, those who now are known as Afrikaners understood that having your own language was an important cultural element. Few speak Afrikaans today, especially the younger generation. With that we gave up part of our identity of which part was that of resistance to oppression and injustice. While you can cite many other reasons for our decline and virtual disintegration as a cultural group, language certainly had its role to play. Today, we have integrated into a society to the extent that many of our principles have fallen by the wayside as we adopted concepts foreign even to our beliefs.

Shall I call upon my people to return to their roots and rather be slaves physically chained, than chained to ideologies and cultures that mean us only harm.

 

Ons sal mos lankal opgestaan it tien die goewerment met alles wat aangaan soes crime en die hoë cost of living. Ja, ons mieks somma oek die tale want os is vannie kaap.

 

 

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Koesiestes or koeksusters - That is the Question

 

Koesiestes are not koeksusters. You have to say it like it was meant to be said and how we have come to know it. Cuisine is part of culture. Language is part of culture. Mentality is part of culture?

Strong communities have a strong culture that permeates throughout. That we come from various backgrounds and integrated into our “newfound” environment and land would have impacted culture to some degree. The abolition of apartheid resulted in further integration.  Television, movies and other forms of entertainment certainly have its fair share of eroding culture. Then we have an education system that, while may be taught by members of our community, the system, with its contents, is not ours. You will argue that we have a fair bit of culture left and you will point to titbits  by which few, if any, will define us. We are no longer distinct except, as you say, those titbits. Others will argue that we are South African and that it is right that we are integrated. No major qualms about that except that South Africans do not have a unique culture (more about that another time). And if you believe that diversity is our culture then why use the term “cultural diversity”. And before you get all like “what is your point?”, let me clarify. As Muslims we ought to be at the forefront of all things good. We ought to be standouts and be “the best evolved for mankind”. Yet, here we are, hardly noticeable except if someone needs to add the tag “terrorist” to someone or if there is a Palestinian march. Now the Palestinian, Al-Aqsa, matter is massive, but we cannot be defined by that. We ought to be more than that.

Our language is not unique, and the question is “can it be” with some at least trying to keep in touch with how our forefathers spoke Afrikaans way before anybody else. Our cuisine has integrated and lost its taste as the multinational food franchise products are seemingly more desirable. Our weddings are held at wine farms. If we then go down the list, then there are a few religious rituals “defining” the culture albeit that is holding on by a thread. Dress code does not make the list for culture. Oh, you will be frowning that I don’t mention the klopse and Malay choir as part of culture. I will come back to you on that.

The bottom line is that to make a meaningful impact, there must be a clearly visible culture. A visible culture is part of the fabric of every member of that community. Are we then not just a random group of people and not a community?

 

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Authentic us

Captivity is a lonely place. The lonely place is worse if there is no willingness to turn back unless you believe that you deserve to be captured or you are unaware that you are captured. Bear with me and I will explain.

History tells us that there were two colonisers in the cape since the seventeenth century. Both these colonisers brought slaves and labourers to the shores of Africa and subjugated the indigenous people. The early “Cape Malays” rejected their oppression and refused to speak the language of the oppressor, viz Dutch.  Afrikaans was a language that was in defiance of the colonisers. As much as our Afrikaans, which some now call afrikaaps, is still spoken, there was a readiness and eagerness to adopt the language of the second coloniser, specifically in the twentieth century. The ruling class during the apartheid years also successfully took Afrikaans as their language. Language forms a big part of culture and identity. Without our own language, our people readily became captives of the oppressor. With their language, they also introduced us to their schools and their system of education. You will ask “what is wrong with that?” and the answer is simple. We think and talk like them. The solutions we seek is from what they have taught us. Nothing comes from us, from our background and there is a straying from our roots and even faith. Our faith is the cornerstone of our culture, yet our thinking is eroding that too. Were it to be said that the Muslims from Cape Town can make a difference en masse, then clearly it will be hard to draw them in one single direction. Now people will think differently, but the core will be the same. We have bathed in the system of the oppressor and since when is benevolence used to describe an oppressor. But it seems that you are grateful. We cannot turn the clock back but, most importantly, we must come to the realisation that we have been captured and seek to regain something of our identity.

The little we have we must cling onto it. Our faith must be strengthened by giving greater attention to the study and implementation of religion. The smaller things must not easily fall by the wayside, things like the cuisine that is synonymous with us culturally, and the little bit of our Afrikaans. Those who speak other languages, other than the oppressor’s language, must reclaim that and make it common amongst the people. When there is a common cause, purpose, goal then progress is easier. The right culture is strong and protects every member of that group.

 

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A skop and a klap - Turning the page

Life has changed since the days of a "skop en 'n klap" (a kick and a smack) - it just sounds better in Afrikaans. It may be fair to say we have gone 180 degrees - totally opposite.

In a society where "slamse skool" (madressa /madrassah) was the order of the day, children now go perhaps weekly, if at all. At the same time there are people who remain steadfast on the religion while many others have some connection with it, while yet others are hanging in by a thread (Allah protect us all). But what has happened over the years is the development of a culture of "tolerance". The understanding of this "tolerance" is to allow sin to come into our homes. We have adopted a culture inside our homes - our homes where we uphold the five pillars - but where we forsake our religion. We have taken on views foreign to Islam because, quite frankly, we are more exposed to non-Muslim thinking than Islam, the guidance with which our illustrious leader Muhammad peace be upon him, came.

It is always good to have people ask questions, but then there are people who only question the religion but not with an enquiring mind, but with an accusatory tongue. You are deemed an extremist if you refer matters to Quran and Sunnah, while others freely adopt views foreign to Islam. The tongues wag mockingly and scornfully at the action of another while the action is in conformity with Islam. Yet, we now only joke at some sins in a way that we accept these sins and encourage it.

Hardly anyone of us are excluded in our acceptance of this newfound culture. But a culture which is opposition to Islam is a disaster for us.

We pray Allah guides and protects us all.

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I have omitted specifics in order to not have comments which will cause us harm. I am open to discussion through direct messaging