Date: 27/05/2003
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Title: Skosana: Africa Day, NA
SPEECH BY MR BEN M SKOSANA, MP, MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, ON AFRICA DAY - FROM 40 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY IN STRUGGLE TO A CENTURY OF UNITY AND PEACE, National Assembly, 27 May 2003
Madam Speaker, Honourable Members
I believe it is opportune and proper for this august assembly to commend the people of South Africa, joined by their friends from other African countries, for the joyous and majestic manner in which they celebrated Africa Week and eventually Africa Day on 25 May 2003 in Gauteng. South Africa demonstrated what is befitting for the Chair of the African Union.
Honourable Members, the Renascent African believes that the New Africa is a society where matter is brought into harmony with experience and ceases to be master over mind. An African society where the attainment of mental emancipation becomes the pre-occupation of the apostle or the disciple of the African Renaissance.
This architect of the New Africa strives to rid the African of all complexes that seek to retard his growth towards manhood on the theatre of nations. Like a sleeping giant, it is now time to wake up to harness his powers for his own good and that of mankind.
When addressing the Corporate Council Summit, Chantilly, Virginia, U.S.A. in April 1997, then Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki briefly admonished:
"Those who have eyes to see let them see. The African renaissance is upon us. As we peer through the looking glass darkly, this may not be obvious. But it is upon us. We have been talking about the establishment of genuine and stable democracies in Africa, in which the systems of governance will flourish because they derive their authority and legitimacy from the will of the people".
Then many abroad and within South Africa heard in his words the embrace of a resurgence of African nationalism with the total exclusion of other racial groups and as a result not many South African leaders and politicians openly associated their views with this idea, which was obviously a misconception on their part.
When addressing an Assembly of the United World College of Southern Africa, Waterford, Swaziland, on the Tradition and the Modern State on 21 November 1997. The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr M G Buthelezi said these words in support of the idea of African Renaissance.
"We believe that we need to develop a process which moves the African experience towards the centre stage of our society, after it was marginalized for so long by the pre-eminence acquired by western cultures and traditions". (Kamhlaba Lecture for 1997)
These words said in two different countries at different times by two African leaders from one country reflect the enriching re-appraisal of the African psyche propounded for decades by prominent African leaders, philosophers, writers, intellectuals and social scientists who believed that Africa will prosper and develop when it believes in itself and not when Africa rejects itself. The quest and the struggle to have Africa's future influenced through the historical, linguistic and cultural consciousness must remain powerful, remain as relentless and resilient as the African peoples struggle against the evils of colonialism and apartheid.
The new Africa must not jettison, but revive and regenerate her core African value systems in order to succeed in extinguishing the flames of intra and inter state armed conflicts, succeed in fighting the scourge of private and public institutional corruption, succeed in fighting crime, poverty, unemployment, diseases, illiteracy and general underdevelopment. The new Africa must continue to anchor firmly the moral fibre and stability of African societies, communities and family units.
The Foreign Ministers of Africa and Defence Ministers of Africa are presently deliberating hard on the fundamental issues of regional and continental peace and security arrangement. With this should obviously come into sharp focus the questions of human rights, the rule of law, international morality, democracy and good governance.
However, notwithstanding all this, Honourable Members, central to my concern is the fear of the idea that in our embrace of the African Renaissance we may hasten to consolidate the roof of the African hut and totally lose sight of solidifying the support foundation, which are the South African nationhood and the African philosophy. Our Ubuntu/Botho, our African traditional leadership institutions and cultural heritage need our commitment in the true spirit of national consciousness.
Contributing to The African Reader in the 1970 edition of The Independent Africa, The Articulators of Freedoms wrote: "Nevertheless, Senghor and many other artist-intellectuals have not escaped the dilemma delineated by Frantz Fanon. While asserting the values of the African past and African culture, and envisioning the continental and universal ideas for Africa, they seem to set aside for the moment the particular social and political realities of their own historical context. The intellectual has at least two responsibilities in his society : first to perceive what is good for his country, while holding intact the traditions of the past; and secondly to prepare his community for a good decolonisation, for true Independence".
My concern and fears continue to be confirmed through mine and the life experiences of many African people and empirical facts found in the environment. The demonic legacy of colonialism and apartheid, the deep psychological scars continue to haunt many Africans in their daily lives. The eggs of Eurocentricism are hatching cosily in African nests wherever one travels.
Introducing Afro centricity, Molefe Kete Asante strongly advised that it is a fundamental necessity for African liberation to take place at the level of psychological, economic, social, political and cultural. (The Painful Demise of Eurocentrism)
In conclusion, Honourable Members, let me briefly recall the fundamental bases of the philosophy of the New Africa as referred and argued by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1937.
Spiritual Balance.
Respect for the opinion of others; conceding to others the right to state their opinion whilst admitting one's right to state one's opinion. Cultivation of a spirit of tolerant scepticism for the views of one's antagonists remembering the ideal set by Voltaire.
Social Regeneration.
The jettisoning of all forms of prejudice, be they racial, national, tribal, societal, religious, political or economic the realization that an African is an African no matter where he was born. Economic Determination.
Realization that economic self-sufficiency on a sane basis is the ultimate means to the salvation of the Renascent African. No matter how educated Africans may be; unless they are economically deterministic, they will fail to realise a stable society. Mental Emancipation.
The African has not been in a state of uncertainty throughout history. There is no scientific proof to sustain the idea of superiority or inferiority of any race, physically or mentally. For the African to cultivate an inferiority complex that he is inferior to other races, is to sign the death warrant of Africans. An emancipation is therefore essential. Political Resurgence.
The expectation of political risorgimento is not far-fetched if the Renascent African had cultivated spiritual balance, had experienced social regeneration, had realized economic determinism, had created a condition whereby he is mentally emancipated to appreciate his manifest destiny in the world.
Today our celebrations of Africa Day marked by 40 years of solidarity in struggle to a century of unity and peace, we are also saying to the prominent and perceptive African writer, Chinua Achebe, yes, things did fall apart in Africa, but now with the African Union (AU), with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), The New Africa is gathering things together. The New Africa no longer wishes to poison the nuts that she feeds to her friends but Africa wants to feed herself, and all her children and friends the nourishing nuts of prosperity, development, peace and security.
I thank you!
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Title: Skosana: Africa Day, NA
SPEECH BY MR BEN M SKOSANA, MP, MINISTER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, ON AFRICA DAY - FROM 40 YEARS OF SOLIDARITY IN STRUGGLE TO A CENTURY OF UNITY AND PEACE, National Assembly, 27 May 2003
Madam Speaker, Honourable Members
I believe it is opportune and proper for this august assembly to commend the people of South Africa, joined by their friends from other African countries, for the joyous and majestic manner in which they celebrated Africa Week and eventually Africa Day on 25 May 2003 in Gauteng. South Africa demonstrated what is befitting for the Chair of the African Union.
Honourable Members, the Renascent African believes that the New Africa is a society where matter is brought into harmony with experience and ceases to be master over mind. An African society where the attainment of mental emancipation becomes the pre-occupation of the apostle or the disciple of the African Renaissance.
This architect of the New Africa strives to rid the African of all complexes that seek to retard his growth towards manhood on the theatre of nations. Like a sleeping giant, it is now time to wake up to harness his powers for his own good and that of mankind.
When addressing the Corporate Council Summit, Chantilly, Virginia, U.S.A. in April 1997, then Deputy President, Thabo Mbeki briefly admonished:
"Those who have eyes to see let them see. The African renaissance is upon us. As we peer through the looking glass darkly, this may not be obvious. But it is upon us. We have been talking about the establishment of genuine and stable democracies in Africa, in which the systems of governance will flourish because they derive their authority and legitimacy from the will of the people".
Then many abroad and within South Africa heard in his words the embrace of a resurgence of African nationalism with the total exclusion of other racial groups and as a result not many South African leaders and politicians openly associated their views with this idea, which was obviously a misconception on their part.
When addressing an Assembly of the United World College of Southern Africa, Waterford, Swaziland, on the Tradition and the Modern State on 21 November 1997. The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr M G Buthelezi said these words in support of the idea of African Renaissance.
"We believe that we need to develop a process which moves the African experience towards the centre stage of our society, after it was marginalized for so long by the pre-eminence acquired by western cultures and traditions". (Kamhlaba Lecture for 1997)
These words said in two different countries at different times by two African leaders from one country reflect the enriching re-appraisal of the African psyche propounded for decades by prominent African leaders, philosophers, writers, intellectuals and social scientists who believed that Africa will prosper and develop when it believes in itself and not when Africa rejects itself. The quest and the struggle to have Africa's future influenced through the historical, linguistic and cultural consciousness must remain powerful, remain as relentless and resilient as the African peoples struggle against the evils of colonialism and apartheid.
The new Africa must not jettison, but revive and regenerate her core African value systems in order to succeed in extinguishing the flames of intra and inter state armed conflicts, succeed in fighting the scourge of private and public institutional corruption, succeed in fighting crime, poverty, unemployment, diseases, illiteracy and general underdevelopment. The new Africa must continue to anchor firmly the moral fibre and stability of African societies, communities and family units.
The Foreign Ministers of Africa and Defence Ministers of Africa are presently deliberating hard on the fundamental issues of regional and continental peace and security arrangement. With this should obviously come into sharp focus the questions of human rights, the rule of law, international morality, democracy and good governance.
However, notwithstanding all this, Honourable Members, central to my concern is the fear of the idea that in our embrace of the African Renaissance we may hasten to consolidate the roof of the African hut and totally lose sight of solidifying the support foundation, which are the South African nationhood and the African philosophy. Our Ubuntu/Botho, our African traditional leadership institutions and cultural heritage need our commitment in the true spirit of national consciousness.
Contributing to The African Reader in the 1970 edition of The Independent Africa, The Articulators of Freedoms wrote: "Nevertheless, Senghor and many other artist-intellectuals have not escaped the dilemma delineated by Frantz Fanon. While asserting the values of the African past and African culture, and envisioning the continental and universal ideas for Africa, they seem to set aside for the moment the particular social and political realities of their own historical context. The intellectual has at least two responsibilities in his society : first to perceive what is good for his country, while holding intact the traditions of the past; and secondly to prepare his community for a good decolonisation, for true Independence".
My concern and fears continue to be confirmed through mine and the life experiences of many African people and empirical facts found in the environment. The demonic legacy of colonialism and apartheid, the deep psychological scars continue to haunt many Africans in their daily lives. The eggs of Eurocentricism are hatching cosily in African nests wherever one travels.
Introducing Afro centricity, Molefe Kete Asante strongly advised that it is a fundamental necessity for African liberation to take place at the level of psychological, economic, social, political and cultural. (The Painful Demise of Eurocentrism)
In conclusion, Honourable Members, let me briefly recall the fundamental bases of the philosophy of the New Africa as referred and argued by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1937.
Spiritual Balance.
Respect for the opinion of others; conceding to others the right to state their opinion whilst admitting one's right to state one's opinion. Cultivation of a spirit of tolerant scepticism for the views of one's antagonists remembering the ideal set by Voltaire.
Social Regeneration.
The jettisoning of all forms of prejudice, be they racial, national, tribal, societal, religious, political or economic the realization that an African is an African no matter where he was born. Economic Determination.
Realization that economic self-sufficiency on a sane basis is the ultimate means to the salvation of the Renascent African. No matter how educated Africans may be; unless they are economically deterministic, they will fail to realise a stable society. Mental Emancipation.
The African has not been in a state of uncertainty throughout history. There is no scientific proof to sustain the idea of superiority or inferiority of any race, physically or mentally. For the African to cultivate an inferiority complex that he is inferior to other races, is to sign the death warrant of Africans. An emancipation is therefore essential. Political Resurgence.
The expectation of political risorgimento is not far-fetched if the Renascent African had cultivated spiritual balance, had experienced social regeneration, had realized economic determinism, had created a condition whereby he is mentally emancipated to appreciate his manifest destiny in the world.
Today our celebrations of Africa Day marked by 40 years of solidarity in struggle to a century of unity and peace, we are also saying to the prominent and perceptive African writer, Chinua Achebe, yes, things did fall apart in Africa, but now with the African Union (AU), with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), The New Africa is gathering things together. The New Africa no longer wishes to poison the nuts that she feeds to her friends but Africa wants to feed herself, and all her children and friends the nourishing nuts of prosperity, development, peace and security.
I thank you!
Source: Department of Correctional Services (http://www.dcs.gov.za)
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