Nnemba Zanzibar Part 1

Blasphemy or Propaganda?

Rolling Stone - October 2007

"This is an absurdly outlandish act!!!" I would imagine the custodians of the christian relic would scream, before they call the world wide board of Media and Communications. Personally, I'm not one who's sentemental about imagery or individualistic opinions regarding the basterdisation of religious or political icons. It's all in the name of social-emancipation anyway. Atleast that is the logical justification I would attribute to this magazine cover. I believe in freedom of expression, however in this world that operates with copyrights agreements, I'm sure Rolling Stone could possibly foot a hefty court settlement.

Who would get the $$$$$ if Rolling Stone is sent off for a spin at the cleaners, you ask? Well I would imagine the bastards, or rather their off-spring who've managed to force this propaganda down our self-consciences for all these centuries, possibly would benefit.
Well if they don't then their off-shore accounts' brokers and attorneys surely will make a gay-gallop to the Cayman's when this case is won.

Butan Wear is here!

Khoi son and daughter

By Candice Anne

Ek is Khoikhoin nie Khoisan nie
Ek is mensmens
The artificial name you have given me
Breaks me and strips me of my heritage
From honey coloured skin to brown person
Ek is mensmens

Van Nama, Dama en Griqua
Ek is van my land gevat
Waar ons die blomme en diere by naam geroep het
Ken jy my suster, Saartjie?
Julle het so mooi daar hoog gesit en kyk.
Geloer, gepik, gegiggel en pragtigies gesê: The highest form of animal life And the lowest form of human life. Hoe dan?
As ons almal dieselfde aarde loop?

Maar soos die son ons elke oggend wakker maak
En die maan ons elke aand huis toe roep

So does this brown skin give me my heritage.
A heritage of fathers and mothers that wandered
This earth, laughing and enjoying its beauty.

Ons kom van ver af, khoi son and daughter
And we still have much farther to go.

Photos:
Candy in one of the auditoriums on Robbyn Island, doing her thang.
Candy looking all fly like a honey covered pecan nut pie

Doing what comes naturally!

Here's to my brothers and sisters who are out there doing what they do to make this situation for those who can't do it for themselves. Much respect indeed.
I watched a show by Blaqpearl last night and afterward I had a chat with this 'sista'. She was at times really deep and one would think that her lyrics are too sorrowy at times but she was sincere, to say the least.

After her show, which was supported by a phenomenal backing band, who might I add are too damn duidelik!! I got to exchange a couple of words with the saxophonist of the band, and he was as very calm, collected and plain down to earth. Sista Blaqpearl and I briefly stopped to chat, and she gave me a bit of insight as to how she spends her days. This lady dedicates her time to firstly enriching the lives of the misguided youth in her community. She has a degree in Psychology so from that I derive that she has a good grounding in the proses of productive communication. Which is a perfect tool to encourage others and aides her in dealing with volatile cases such as youth who find themselves in a jail sell. The lives of the youngsters around her who fell victim to the most notorious danger in the neighbourhood, "ignorance" is the force behind what motivates her to teach these kids about the alternatives.

Of course like any other person out there, she too received guidance and had a role model that she dearly loved and honorably respected. Her late brother Mario van Rooy (MR Devious), peace be upon him was her inspiration. This young man was retracted from the physical realm in which we operate about three years ago, and since then Blaqpearl and her family have been dealing with their loss whilst trying to stay positive amongst the mediocrity that surrounds them daily.

Coming back to the sista who dedicates her time to the people, it inspired me even more when she told me that she goes into studio atleast three days a week to record her forthcoming album. All in the name of spreading the positive word and the will to be more than just another statistic. It is these things that end of the day, decides what we'll become. Especially in our country today where your life is in your hands and if you don't take controle of it, then either a guardien angel like Blaqpearl will, or you're doomed.

Save Our Society! How?

Since our country's transition to a democratic state the mindset regarding the improvement of quality of life for the population was approached very poorly. This can be contested of course by the many non-white South Africans who since then, had the luxury to enter into any area without being harrased by the military or police. Since then there was no restraint from private schools, now referred to as Model C's, to restrict none white students from enrolling. A lot of changes were noticed by the general population of S.A, but it was those underlying matters which were not affectively dealt with that today have caused detrimental social degeneration.

Our country is today known as a place ridden of crime, mainly related to drugs, rape, robbery and murder. Our correctional service has become a place perceived to be limited only to those who are sick enough to cause such hanniase offenses. Civil citizens have little knowledge as to why the current economic situation regarding high inflation rates, hiked fuel prices and exacerbated property costs have all been a testament to the deficiency of our country's current social and economic status. One could look to Zimbabwe to comfort ourselves and breath a sigh of relieve in knowing that "atleast we have food in our supermarkets...", but we can't just brush our sickness off like that.

Our society is in need of a new system, a new way of thinking, feeling, believing, understanding whatever it is that we are dealing with. It is our responsibilty to make a difference by communicating differently. This also pertains to how our legal services, jails or rehabillitation centres are managed and used as tools in aide of reconstructing the disjointed shape of society.

This is a problem and can only get worse. Where to start...