CULTURE AND NATION BUILDING
CULTURE AND NATION BUILDING
B Rambilass
Preamble
This presentation attempts to outline an Indian/Hindu perspective of Africanisation defining it in the context of what it holds out for a South African of Indian origin. This then sharpens our focus on culture and nationhood and will hopefully help us define the Hindu/Indian Africans and their culture either:
1. As part of the mosaic of African nationhood (melting pot of cultures)
2. As a motif in its own right adorning the fabric of African Culture OR
3. As a blend of both i.e. a clear picture of Indian culture which at its fringes blends into the colours of Africa.
A brief overview of a range of initiatives will attempt to demonstrate that a process of cultural dialogue is already in place. Cultures have begun engaging each other because of the proximity they are now placed in and other factors that have led to this interaction.
Nature-Philosophical Base
African and Indian traditions share a common world view i.e. their art forms celebrate the benevolence of nature and creation. Their musical instruments, dance movements, paintings, all draw from nature. The origin of Indian Music is defined as the struck (music that is performed), which emanates from the unstruck sound. (the eternal sound which permeates creation and from which language, music and voice originate) This unstruck or eternal sound is symbolised in Indian Music by the drone, which holds he key-note/tonic throughout the performance, the note from which variations of the melody are supposed to emanate, evolve and resolve.
While there is an increase in the use of electronic instruments and devices in the more modern genres, there is a tendency among the more serious artists to perform e.g. using traditionally crafted instruments - imbiras housed in calabashes, sitars made of pumpkin shells etc. In Indian music there are prescribed times of the day when certain ragas (melodies) may be performed. The raga has a mood and temperament conducive to the particular phase of the day so an evening raga would then create or add to the mood of the evening.
Dances depict the elegance of birds and animals, the graceful flow of the waves of water, the wafting of the gentle breeze, the charm of the dancing peacock.
African and Indian Art (Fine Arts) also evidence the inherent use of motifs of nature. Even the paints were made of extracts of plants, leaves, flowers, coloured clay
The performing and fine arts depict in dance, drama, music and paintings, the simplicity and beauty of the daily pleasures of life – filling and fetching water from the village well, the exciting hunting expeditions, the elegance of a maiden bedecking herself with ornaments or a flower.
Cultural Accretions
There are many borrowings from African Culture evidenced in Indian Culture and vice versa. ‘Porridge Prayer’ observed by those of South Indian origin use a very South African pap like liquid porridge flavoured with mint and other herbs. The Indian equivalent is a more rice pudding like concoction. African cuisine has also borrowed much from Indian preparations and has become part of the African spicy menu.
Fusion
There is an increasing popularity of renditions of Indian and African drums where the artists engage each other in lively rhythmical dialogues. We are also seeing an increasing number of dance performances, which include ballet, Indian classical dance and African traditional dance movements. These performances are often presented at national and international platforms and receive wonderful applause and acclaim. Besides being politically correct, these items are lauded for the image they create, the aspirations of a nation wanting to bring its people together. They are directly concerned with human rights, the rights of preservation of a cultural identity, yet they display a balance of cultures without the one stepping on the sensitivities of the other. They present a unique chemistry of a co-existence of cultures, marked by a reciprocal respect and a mutual understanding of the subtle nuances that characterise the one alongside the other.
Indian and African Weddings
There are amazing similarities in African and Indian nuptials. An elder or a matchmaker moves the proposal, the gifting of a cow/s either as dowry or bride price, the singing of wedding songs are just some examples of cultural parallels.
Oral Traditions
Africans may not have a script but they have a strong oral tradition, which enables them to transmit to the future generations the value systems that constitute African culture. The rich folklore, which is now being recorded, published and being accessed by the world speaks tremendously of the resilience and perseverance of a people and their culture.
Cultural Dialogue at Grass Roots
Many ‘Indian’ schools, religious and cultural organisations boast translations of the South African national anthem and other popular African songs e.g. Soshaloza presenting them with great pride. In KZN large numbers of African children attend “Indian” schools. These children are learning Indian languages and dance with great enthusiasm and Indian children join in the African songs and dance with equal joy. These again demonstrate a nationhood in the offing, opportunities we need to exploit. Every such initiative must be nurtured with care, this is the bigger picture of Africanisation; embracing every hue that graces the African soil, anything otherwise will be contrary to the spirit of Africa and Ubuntu.
Maintenance of Indian Culture (Difficulties)
Lest I leave you with the impression that all is well with Indian culture, I need to point out some anomalies that may surprise you and may well serve as a caution to African Languages and Culture. Indian children, youth, adults, and musical groups enjoy singing songs in the Indian languages, present lovely dances but do not understand the songs they sing or dance to. Almost all Indian families love Indian movies, buy CDs of films and songs but do not understand the language of the movies or the songs. Most Indians are unable to speak Indian languages. Most Indians perform their rites rituals and ceremonies in the medium of Indian languages that they do not speak or understand. Indian culture is manifest mainly in external trappings, a Sari, Samoosa and Chutney culture lacking any serious depth of appreciation and understanding.
Therefore whatever solutions we seek in maintaining our cultural, religious and linguistic values, Africanisation will have to allow equally for cultures like Indian culture, which seem to thrive but are in dire need of a serious evaluation.
I would like to leave you with this imagery of the arrival of Indian Indentured labourers to Africa:
Plea to Mama Africa
Mama India bound by the cruelty of her colonial master
Wept bitterly as she looked at her yearning children leave her shores
She pleaded to Mama Africa, I am poor and robbed of my loved ones.
We know as sisters that while the one toils the other suckles the crying babe
Take them in your bosom, Grant them refuge.
May they learn to tell their tales, sing their songs and dance their dance with their African brothers and sisters.
B Rambilass
Preamble
This presentation attempts to outline an Indian/Hindu perspective of Africanisation defining it in the context of what it holds out for a South African of Indian origin. This then sharpens our focus on culture and nationhood and will hopefully help us define the Hindu/Indian Africans and their culture either:
1. As part of the mosaic of African nationhood (melting pot of cultures)
2. As a motif in its own right adorning the fabric of African Culture OR
3. As a blend of both i.e. a clear picture of Indian culture which at its fringes blends into the colours of Africa.
A brief overview of a range of initiatives will attempt to demonstrate that a process of cultural dialogue is already in place. Cultures have begun engaging each other because of the proximity they are now placed in and other factors that have led to this interaction.
Nature-Philosophical Base
African and Indian traditions share a common world view i.e. their art forms celebrate the benevolence of nature and creation. Their musical instruments, dance movements, paintings, all draw from nature. The origin of Indian Music is defined as the struck (music that is performed), which emanates from the unstruck sound. (the eternal sound which permeates creation and from which language, music and voice originate) This unstruck or eternal sound is symbolised in Indian Music by the drone, which holds he key-note/tonic throughout the performance, the note from which variations of the melody are supposed to emanate, evolve and resolve.
While there is an increase in the use of electronic instruments and devices in the more modern genres, there is a tendency among the more serious artists to perform e.g. using traditionally crafted instruments - imbiras housed in calabashes, sitars made of pumpkin shells etc. In Indian music there are prescribed times of the day when certain ragas (melodies) may be performed. The raga has a mood and temperament conducive to the particular phase of the day so an evening raga would then create or add to the mood of the evening.
Dances depict the elegance of birds and animals, the graceful flow of the waves of water, the wafting of the gentle breeze, the charm of the dancing peacock.
African and Indian Art (Fine Arts) also evidence the inherent use of motifs of nature. Even the paints were made of extracts of plants, leaves, flowers, coloured clay
The performing and fine arts depict in dance, drama, music and paintings, the simplicity and beauty of the daily pleasures of life – filling and fetching water from the village well, the exciting hunting expeditions, the elegance of a maiden bedecking herself with ornaments or a flower.
Cultural Accretions
There are many borrowings from African Culture evidenced in Indian Culture and vice versa. ‘Porridge Prayer’ observed by those of South Indian origin use a very South African pap like liquid porridge flavoured with mint and other herbs. The Indian equivalent is a more rice pudding like concoction. African cuisine has also borrowed much from Indian preparations and has become part of the African spicy menu.
Fusion
There is an increasing popularity of renditions of Indian and African drums where the artists engage each other in lively rhythmical dialogues. We are also seeing an increasing number of dance performances, which include ballet, Indian classical dance and African traditional dance movements. These performances are often presented at national and international platforms and receive wonderful applause and acclaim. Besides being politically correct, these items are lauded for the image they create, the aspirations of a nation wanting to bring its people together. They are directly concerned with human rights, the rights of preservation of a cultural identity, yet they display a balance of cultures without the one stepping on the sensitivities of the other. They present a unique chemistry of a co-existence of cultures, marked by a reciprocal respect and a mutual understanding of the subtle nuances that characterise the one alongside the other.
Indian and African Weddings
There are amazing similarities in African and Indian nuptials. An elder or a matchmaker moves the proposal, the gifting of a cow/s either as dowry or bride price, the singing of wedding songs are just some examples of cultural parallels.
Oral Traditions
Africans may not have a script but they have a strong oral tradition, which enables them to transmit to the future generations the value systems that constitute African culture. The rich folklore, which is now being recorded, published and being accessed by the world speaks tremendously of the resilience and perseverance of a people and their culture.
Cultural Dialogue at Grass Roots
Many ‘Indian’ schools, religious and cultural organisations boast translations of the South African national anthem and other popular African songs e.g. Soshaloza presenting them with great pride. In KZN large numbers of African children attend “Indian” schools. These children are learning Indian languages and dance with great enthusiasm and Indian children join in the African songs and dance with equal joy. These again demonstrate a nationhood in the offing, opportunities we need to exploit. Every such initiative must be nurtured with care, this is the bigger picture of Africanisation; embracing every hue that graces the African soil, anything otherwise will be contrary to the spirit of Africa and Ubuntu.
Maintenance of Indian Culture (Difficulties)
Lest I leave you with the impression that all is well with Indian culture, I need to point out some anomalies that may surprise you and may well serve as a caution to African Languages and Culture. Indian children, youth, adults, and musical groups enjoy singing songs in the Indian languages, present lovely dances but do not understand the songs they sing or dance to. Almost all Indian families love Indian movies, buy CDs of films and songs but do not understand the language of the movies or the songs. Most Indians are unable to speak Indian languages. Most Indians perform their rites rituals and ceremonies in the medium of Indian languages that they do not speak or understand. Indian culture is manifest mainly in external trappings, a Sari, Samoosa and Chutney culture lacking any serious depth of appreciation and understanding.
Therefore whatever solutions we seek in maintaining our cultural, religious and linguistic values, Africanisation will have to allow equally for cultures like Indian culture, which seem to thrive but are in dire need of a serious evaluation.
I would like to leave you with this imagery of the arrival of Indian Indentured labourers to Africa:
Plea to Mama Africa
Mama India bound by the cruelty of her colonial master
Wept bitterly as she looked at her yearning children leave her shores
She pleaded to Mama Africa, I am poor and robbed of my loved ones.
We know as sisters that while the one toils the other suckles the crying babe
Take them in your bosom, Grant them refuge.
May they learn to tell their tales, sing their songs and dance their dance with their African brothers and sisters.
posted by Ashraf at 2:22 AM
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