By Masimba Mukichi
I would want to believe that to be African is not just “skin deep” – there is more to it. To be African means adhering to a set of values and ideals. I offer to advance the following as some of the archetypes of being African – to be African is to have those stand-alone African names such as Makanyara, Marwei, Musarurwa, Rowesai, Amandla, Chinedu, Chigozi, Ogochukwu, Chidelu and many other tongue twisting African names.
To be African is to be able to blow the vuvuzela harder, louder and robust. To be African is to be a Masai warrior who is initiated into manhood by killing a lion with bare- hands. To be African is to be able to stick fight the Xhosa people’s way and play horikotyo- the art of letting two knobkerries hit each other in midair –a pass time activity for the Shona cattle herders.
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Being born in Africa does not make one more African than those Africans who were born in the diaspora. Being black does not make one more African than those white people who were born and bred in Africa, who have married in Africa, invested in Africa and speak the local languages better than the so called Africans in Africa and those Africans living in the diaspora.
The apt definition of what it means to be African is simply to rise to the challenges affecting Africa and find ways of improving the quality of life for the people of Africa regardless of colour or creed. In order to find a wider perspective of what it means to be African, I had to interview a cross section of Africans. Below are their views:
Makanyara: “To be born black does not make one a super African. There are many non-black citizens in Africa who are more African than blacks. Take for example Kirsty Coventry the Zimbabwean golden girl she has achieved much for Zimbabwe than some of those who claim to be super Africans by colour. I believe to be African is to be able to assimilate the values and culture of a given community and strive for the advancement of that community. In the case of Kirsty Coventry, her father charged bride price for her the Zimbabwean way when she got married. That’s what it means to be African.”
Mandla: “One cannot be an African without black skin. That’s blasphemy. It only takes a black skin to be an African. That’s the living certainty.”
Chigozi: “I think to be African should not be measured by colour but it should be determined by having the love for Africa at heart. There are many non-Africans in Africa who are elected members of parliament by Africans and they are saving the interests of Africans in parliament. Take for Example Guy Scot, he is a Zambian politician of white origin and has been vice president of Zambia since September 2011. Likewise David Coltart a white man in Zimbabwe, he was the Minister of Education in the government of national unity in Zimbabwe. That’s what it means to be African to save the interests of the Africans regardless of colour.”
Basing on the preponderance assessment it may be concluded that to be African is not entirely based on colour of the skin but by one’s love, to live in Africa and work for its development. Readers are urged to continue the debate as this article is put to rest.
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