Asi Mbonanga

…. is the title of a song by Le Zoulou Blanc, Johnny Clegg, who makes South African style music which was very challenging in apartheid days, but is now mainly nostalgic.
It means: I no longer see and recounts how leaders like Mandela & Biko were no longer seen (because they were imprisoned or assassinated)
Clegg did a concert in Auckland on Tuesday, attended by thousands of expatriate Africans, 94% white 4% brown. (The only black Africans were on stage!)
It was sad to see the people arrive, eagerly/anxiously scanning for acquaintances (I did it too). How endearing were the injections of common slang and mimicry of typical types.
The thing about emigration is that it is difficult to go back – maybe that is pride? It is still sadtough after 8 years, … I still wish I was on the passing planes winging away homewards..
I know too that I would not be completely welcomed. I rejected my heritage & left them all to survive the hard times & bleated our heartsore & longing.
Asi mbonanga iAfrica …. ek verlang aan my tuisland.

Author: manqindi

Post imperial wind drift. Swazi, British, Zimbabwe-Rhodesian, Irish, New Zealand citizen and resident, now in Queensland, Australia. 10th generation African of mainly European descent. Catholic upbringing, more free thinker now. BA and Law background. Altar boy, wages clerk, uncle, prefect, student, court clerk, prosecutor, magistrate, convoy escort, pensioner, HR Practitioner, husband, stepfather, father, bull terrier lover, telephone interviewer, Call Centre manager, HR manager, grandfather, author (amateur) View all posts by manqindi