This
question was introduced into today's episode of Chat Room on SABC1 and it
caught my attention. I don't usually watch the show but today it raised a topic
of interest and concern to what it really means to be an African, more
precisely a woman, in the 21st century.Firstly let's have a look at the definition of an 'African' before tackling this 'issue' .
Now in the Miriam Webster dictionary it is clearly defined as "A person from Africa, especially a black person" AND " relating to Africa or people of African descent.
Which brings us to the question: what is African descent or ancestry?
I personally perceive it as following or having respect for African traditions and cultures, whether or not you are of black ethnicity, and have influence in your life.
The modern day woman is more than often looked down and frowned upon because of the way she speaks, dresses and where she lives and what she eats. Weaves more especially, have been controversial talks amongst members of society on whether they define your "realness" in being an African or not.
I don't understand what appearance has to do with your roots and cultural background. You may look like the next Beyonce: silky hair, mini skirts, twang or even real foreign accent, dress classy and even eat classy at that or even be a Lebo Mashile look a-like with your big natural afro, beaded necklaces and African print attires but if you're born into a certain belief system - Africanism - or choose to become a part of it in some point in your life, and you're forefathers practiced ways of the African Man, spoke to the ancestors and slaughtered the cow for ceremonies then I don't see reason as to why that rich tradition and culture needs to be thrown away.
THAT makes an African.
Africanism should actually become a religion, where one of whatever race can practice and learn the ways of an African, whether it is the Mbundu culture in Angola or Sesotho of the Lesotho Land, what you eat or wear does not define you're Africanism but rather your CULTURAL PRACTICES.
