Art must show Africa’s human face or cease to be! The common objection to the work of many African artists is simple: they oversimplify reality and dehumanise the African experience. As a result, their content is predictable and monotonous. In fact, it is not just an insult but, to a large extent, also a lie. […]
Sandile Memela
Sandile Memela is a journalist, writer, cultural critic, columnist and civil servant. He lives in Midrand.
Posted inLifestyle, Media
African artists glorify poverty for white tourist appeal
If you arrived at the Johannesburg Art Gallery today hoping to see the celebration of national progress and African achievement, you would truly be very disappointed. One of South Africa’s renowned visual artists, Kay Hassan, has mounted his latest exhibition titled Urbanation. This makes it hold the promise of a rebirth, a renaissance, a new […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
No ‘non-racialism’ without whites
Few people know that the ANC has, traditionally, not always accepted whites — formerly known as Europeans — to be members of The Party. This only happened in 1985. The non-racial efforts to create a democratic and just society where Africans will be bosses forever continues. In fact, it gained momentum, slightly, when Nelson Mandela […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
Oprah’s African women don’t love themselves
Not too long ago I was frightened by words of a young, gifted and African woman who expressed a desire to be recreated in Oprah Winfrey’s image: confident, aggressive and, of course, American. This beautiful soul is a high-flying creative achiever who wants to be what she is not: a poor imitation of an African-American […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Can a Shilowa be greater than the ANC?
I was amazed to learn that Mbhazima Shilowa has resigned his position as premier of Gauteng province. He has done so without prior consultation with the organisation that had put him there, in the first place. In fact, he has decided to quit the plum job because he does not like how former President Thabo […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Understanding the meaning of why “judges are counter revolutionary”
It is sad that some people are not granted their right to freedom of thought and speech in this country simply because of who they support. Yet all views deserve to be judged on merit, if any. Thus we must resisting prejudging what comes out of the mouths of a people like the Youth League’s […]
Posted inNews/Politics
When Mbeki goes, it will be ‘business unusual’
Perhaps someone must warn my country men not to gnash their teeth now that the ANC has asked its … er, former president to return to base. There has been too much political noise following the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki as president of the continent’s youngest democracy. Look, the man has quit and the […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
Africans need not apologise for affirmative action
It is always disappointing to read or listen to a story of an African who refuses to acknowledge that, directly or indirectly, they benefit from affirmative action. Unfortunately, there are some Africans who claim to have made it on their own, without any help from affirmative action. This is a tragic development, indeed. Africans need […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
To be a young, tired and ‘angry African racist’
I was neither hurt nor surprised when an ill-advised young, gifted and African film director condemned me as an “angry black racist” in the company of a white female colleague at John Matshikiza’s memorial service recently. Of course, it is a dangerous political activity bordering on career suicide for an African artist to confront white […]
Posted inMedia
Loving MK to protect the African male image
The much vaunted pseudo political thriller Jerusalema on circuit should teach Africans to do their own movies themselves. You see, as long as the hunter writes South African history, the lion will always be a victim. It is the same case with the portrayal of Africans in movies, literature, theatre and, of course, film. After […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Drinking from the half-glass: full or empty?
A critical thinking friend called St. Pee was telling me that the Million Man March (MMM) is a set up to create a buffer between the real culprits behind crime in the country and the rising anger of the ordinary citizens. “Desmond Dube should stick to what he knows best,” he said sipping his cocktail […]
Posted inGeneral
Name changes are not only about ANC heroes
Let me begin by confessing that I am neither a political guru on the history of the ANC nor an expert on name changes. But like any other ordinary citizen of this nation-in-the-making, I have my own views on this issue so pivotal to nation building. At the moment there is a lot of heated […]