Monday, May 22, 2006

JZ et al

Sexism is a Language and a Culture, and so is Anti-Sexism
By Mphutlane Wa Bofelo

If language is the courier of the norms-and-value system within a particular society, then the fight against patriarchy and its values will necessitates engaging and challenging the male-centric language and its literal and literary entrenchment of chauvinistic tendencies. This thought comes to mind when one ponders on the patriarchal undertones and chauvinistic symbolism in the idiomatic and not so idiomatic expression of the support for embattled ANC deputy president, Jacob Zuma.

At the end of a message of support posted on the website of the Friends of Jacob Zuma, a Zuma loyalist waxes lyrical about JZ: “uMsholozi, uGedleyihlekisa, uphunyuka bemphethe, inkunzi ezinkunzini, inyathi emnyama, uMongameli olindile!” Loosely translated this means Umsholozi Ugeyehlekisa is the one who escapes after he’s been caught, the bull among bulls, the black cow, the leader in waiting. Though the writer (Busisiwe) could probably be a female, the macho imagery and phallic metaphors used evoke masculine attributes of machismo and virility. There is an implicit and implied reverence for “the one who escapes after he has been caught”, that is, the one who courts and causes trouble and\ or lands himself in trouble out of sheer belief in his ability to use his wits and muscles to escape being punished for his deeds. This might be an apt praise for a herd-boy, war veteran, underground operative; survivor of hard rural conditions of poverty, exile and successive plots of (character) assassinations from the Apartheid regime.
But words do not have fixed and rigid meanings. Their meaning depend on the context in which they are said as well as the relationship between the context, the person who use them and the one to\ against whom they are directed at that time. This context includes the social structure, the politico-economic system and the prevailing social and economic conditions. As a product of society, language is a signifier of the structure of society as well as a courier of the belief-and-knowledge systems of a society. From this premise, it could be argued that one cannot challenge the dominant system and prevailing social structure without also challenging the language and culture upon which these structures are grounded.

This explains why in their quest to challenge patriarchy and capital, Marxist and feminist discourses have to attach a great significance to the relationship between language and the structure of society, and the relationship between the signifier and the signified. Whether they are Marxists, feminists or radical nationalists, people who are dedicated to the liberation of women from patriarchy and capital, have to ultimately raise and respond creatively to the question of challenging male-centric linguistic and cultural expressions of social reality. This effectively means challenging the appropriation of language and culture by patriarchy and capital. It also means contesting the space and the right to designate meanings to words and the prerogative to define and re-define concepts as well as the right to naming\ labeling and mapping. Part of this is fighting against any gender- insensitive use of language.

This does not only include speaking and acting against the use of language to depict women as useful tools for men, objects of sex, impulsive and irrational people, habitual liars, etc. It includes extolling chauvinistic tendencies that borders on male aggression. It is for this reason that one expects the Marxists, feminists and radical nationalists within and outside of the tripartite alliance to take a tough stance against the calling of the supporters of the alleged victim as “bitches” by some of the friends of J-z and against their macho-sadistic-cum-sexually suggestive (inkunzi ezinkunzini -bull among bulls- Mshiniwami), ethnic (Zulu Boy) symbolism in their expression of their support for Jacob Zuma. It is quite easy to bandy around concepts such as equal access, equity and mainstreaming gender and to talk about the possibility of a female state president in the no-so distant future.

But this would be nothing but empty talk if we are not going to create a safe and conducive environment that allows women take their rightful position in the private and public sphere of life without fear of being victims of various forms of violence and abuse at home, at the factory and shopfloor level, in boardrooms and in public spaces. And the struggle against chauvinistic, sexist and gender-insensitive language is an integral part of challenging societal norms, cultural practices and social behaviors that entrenches sexism and the oppression and exploitation of women. Thus far, the pro-Zuma lobby has been a great disservice and affront to this struggle, and the voices of anti-sexists and freedom fighters of all political persuasions have not been vociferous enough. We owe it to prosterity to be more vocal, articulate and resonant in raising an unapologetic anti-sexist voice in South Africa\ Azania. This should begin at home and spread to the streets, the shebeens, schools, churches\ mosques\temples, synagogues, factories and spaza shops. To this end we should use all spaces and mediums at our disposal, workshops and seminars, rallies and sermons, hymns and graffiti, poetry and music, art and dance; radio and television, the press and the internet.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

at Mzanzi Orleans tonite, 17 May 2006

A stunning evening with poetry by talented Khanyi Magubane, who is soon-to-be-published in a 'Basadzi Voices' collection at Mzansi Orleans Restaurant, 89 Iris Road (behind Asia d’Afric off Grant Ave) – NORWOOD.

For a great evening (8 to 9pm) - join in and let’s all support the arts!

To book, call 011 728 1494.


C u there - - - - - I'm gonna be there!

Thursday, May 11, 2006

silent moments


in the rhythm of our friendship
we move to the melody of our unwritten song
we sit side by side
holding an ice-cream cone
and a cigarrette
no questions asked..

we measure our strides according
to the hardships we've been through
our feet aching,
to find rhythm with the earth-

quietly we move,
to follow the beat of our hearts
and the tune of our unspoken words-
and this time-
whether we laugh or cry
there's no need to justify ourselves


written my mosadzi_Ayanda on special moments...

Thursday, May 04, 2006

soos 'n dagga zol

soos ‘n dagga zol

Jy rol my op
tussen jou lippe
soos jy ‘n dagga zol
oprol
-so pynlik perfek
en stadig-

-Jy suig aan my-
rook walm
vir rook walm
rol jy my
om en om
binne jou

Jy oorweldig my
met jou vermoë
om my
oor en oor
te laat voel soos ‘n dagga zol
-wel wardeerd-


written by Martie Jones, Brits. I am not exceptionally good in Afrikaans, but this is amazing and we definitely need more of our indigenous writing.

u and i are like the crescent moon
under the early autumn nite sky…
shaded incomplete, deceitful in appearance…


rusty red moon – beautifully imperfect,
giving the impression that it never should
have been round, white, nor full…

written by mosadzi-Rose. Some relationships are not ideal, but still beautiful in the way they are.

Community Publishing Project

The Community Publishing Project (CPP) was launched in August 2001 by the Centre for the Book and NB Publishers in Cape Town, funded by Nasboek, which has since become Via Afrika.
Nasboek donated R150 000 over three years to pilot this exciting new publishing project. It has opened up entry points into publishing, and has created new opportunities for new and marginal voices. Even writers and writer publishers who have not worked through the project, have been encouraged by it, because of using the draft small scale and self publishing booklet.

Commercial publishers can't always justify the publication of books that would probably only have limited markets, especially in a country like South Africa where the book-buying market is very small. A project such as this makes possible the publishing of more marginal works.
Writers who have not been published are often critical of publishers' lack of interest in their writing. However, working as small publishers means writers will begin to understand the collaborative relationship that publishers, writers, booksellers and other actors in the book chain need to have. Writers and community publishers learn about the crucial importance of marketing and distribution of books. It is not enough to get a book printed; publishing also means marketing and selling. The project aims to develop new small publishers filled with enthusiasm and imagination in the marketing of the books they produce.

What you get if you are selected to be recipient of a Community Publishing Project grant
You will receive mentoring from editors at NB Publishers, and a small grant which will cover the costs of printing a small print run for a first edition. The money you make by selling the books can go towards reprinting, and towards financing a new book by the writer or the writers' group.
The projects being undertaken by the individual writers and writing groups who applied to us are widely varied in form and style, and indicate that writers are generally taking up the challenge to explore themes and concerns of their personal and community lives. Many writers are keen to produce works in the languages of their regions, rather than only English works, and this suggests that there is a realisation among writers of the need to build a readership by reaching out to the majority of South Africans for whom English is only a second or third language.

Small scale and self-publishing: a rough guide --- available in early 2005
By April 2005, we will have this booklet guide available for sale. It is practical guide that offers advice on the full publishing cycle, including finalizing your manuscript, editing, proofreading, engaging with book design, printing options, getting quotes from printers, how to get an ISBN number, marketing and distribution.

The Community Publishing Project (CPP) is proud to say that nine books have been published with the support of its grants and mentoring.

Visit the website at www.centreforthebook.org.za or call them on 021 4232669