Controversial poet Ntsiki Mazwai stirred the hornet’s nest again with a stinging open letter to black people.In it she accuses Africans of being European clones and Western ambassadors.
She charged: “You wear white people’s hair; you bleach your skin; you wear suits; take your kids to white schools; you don’t know your languages, customs and traditions; you swapped i zangoma for Christianity; you prefer white neighbourhoods and look down on places where there are many blacks; you even replaced your Pan-African anthem with one they killed you with ...”
Mazwai said she was not provoked by any particular individual or incident, but rather inspired to write because identity was an important issue that people did not want to hear about.
Opinions varied on Twitter over her latest letter.
Actor Loyiso MacDonald commented: “Just read Ntsiki Mazwai’s article, I just wonder what qualifies her as the sole expert on what is or isn’t African.”
@This-Kate opined: “But Ntsiki, this letter is in English ... ?”
But Twitter user @iamBLAZER12 applauded Mazwai, saying: “Just read your letter & I’m lost for words 2 describe how spot-on and true your letter is. We live in Africa our mind is in Europe (sic).”
Mazwai said, as an artist, she was the eyes and voice of society and was not fazed by attacks on social networks as she was telling the truth.
“I know that the truth hurts, but I am glad they will talk about it. These issues are very important if we really want to grow and understand our position as black people.
“Since we have lost our land, spiritual beliefs, and our original hair, who are we? How do we reclaim and take back what we have lost,” she asked.
Mazwai said apart from writing her controversial open letters – the last one directed at Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula for his “obsession” with Beyonce – she was busy penning a play.
She said the production called Madam Speaker would take to the stage next month in Polokwane and Johannesburg. The show is about politics, women’s issues, and what’s happening in South Africa.
Mazwai said she also planned to have programmes to promote indigenous and traditional art, dance and music. Her initiative, Mama Said Sessions which started three years ago at Roodepoort Theatre, will return later in the year.
In these events musicians perform, then the public engages with them during a question-and- answer session.
The poet who kicked the hornet’s nest . . .
She charged: “You wear white people’s hair; you bleach your skin; you wear suits; take your kids to white schools; you don’t know your languages, customs and traditions; you swapped i zangoma for Christianity; you prefer white neighbourhoods and look down on places where there are many blacks; you even replaced your Pan-African anthem with one they killed you with ...”
Mazwai said she was not provoked by any particular individual or incident, but rather inspired to write because identity was an important issue that people did not want to hear about.
Opinions varied on Twitter over her latest letter.
Actor Loyiso MacDonald commented: “Just read Ntsiki Mazwai’s article, I just wonder what qualifies her as the sole expert on what is or isn’t African.”
@This-Kate opined: “But Ntsiki, this letter is in English ... ?”
But Twitter user @iamBLAZER12 applauded Mazwai, saying: “Just read your letter & I’m lost for words 2 describe how spot-on and true your letter is. We live in Africa our mind is in Europe (sic).”
Mazwai said, as an artist, she was the eyes and voice of society and was not fazed by attacks on social networks as she was telling the truth.
“I know that the truth hurts, but I am glad they will talk about it. These issues are very important if we really want to grow and understand our position as black people.
“Since we have lost our land, spiritual beliefs, and our original hair, who are we? How do we reclaim and take back what we have lost,” she asked.
Mazwai said apart from writing her controversial open letters – the last one directed at Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula for his “obsession” with Beyonce – she was busy penning a play.
She said the production called Madam Speaker would take to the stage next month in Polokwane and Johannesburg. The show is about politics, women’s issues, and what’s happening in South Africa.
Mazwai said she also planned to have programmes to promote indigenous and traditional art, dance and music. Her initiative, Mama Said Sessions which started three years ago at Roodepoort Theatre, will return later in the year.
In these events musicians perform, then the public engages with them during a question-and- answer session.
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