Ever since Thabo Mbeki's "I am African " speech I always wondered why, some of us are so uncomfortable with it.
Although he included all South Africans ,making plain their contribution and belonging ,his somewhat harsh comment to one of his advisers ,"Who asked you?" reminds us that we may not be the African he so eloquently described.
As South Africa hurtles down a somewhat slippery slide into chaos and anarchy amid the valiant efforts of those who are clearly concerned about the country's ability to deliver on its promises;we start to question the intention of the, "I am an African" statement for it struggles to take us forward as a nation.
Would not it have been better if we bodly stated : " I am a South African" and worked with each other to deliver to the masses what we promised in ninety four?At least this will give all and sundry hope for the future and it will build pride in our people to finally awake to the reality that we are one,no matter how we look or sound.We will still be able to hormonise the the lyrics of the National Anthem and live as one.
For now we are free to dream 'cause we can proudly say;"I am a South African" .
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