African Tradition under attack
by by Zama Malote
2009-12-06 14:00
IN the last few months we have seen African traditions and cultures
diminishing into oblivion one after another.
This has been perpetuated by the arrival of civilisation and the
resultant shoving of western cultures down Africans’ throats.
With the ongoing court case between the Zulu monarchy and Animal
Rights Africa we see yet another disguised ploy to destroy African pride.
In our country non-indigenous Africans call talk radio stations
and label as barbaric the Zulu tradition of Umkhosi Wokweshwama. This they do
without an understanding of what the tradition is all about.
They also label as backward the custom of virginity testing of
young girls in KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland.
They have also contaminated the
Xhosa tradition of ukwaluka (circumcision) to suit their own standards and
norms.
We have also seen them ridiculing the reed dance ceremonies of both
KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland.
We indigenous Africans have never complained about western
traditions and practices, however barbaric and sick they may seem.
Their action
demonstrates a lack of respect for our traditions and an advancement of
oppression and colonisation of the black mind.
Unless we stand up against all these nonsensical assertions, our
traditions, values and cultures will disappear and our future generations will
have nothing to be proud of.
Zama
Malote
Pretoria