Saturday, 10 November 2012

OuMbanderu Muami: I am

PART 2: (Unedited Confession/Thoughts of a Son of OVANDU)

In me, and for me,  ouMbanderu is my way of life. If you take the time to observe me, you will see from the way I interract with people; the decisions I make and not make, my interpretation of the world, etc.
The sacrifices I make and the commitment I have in this way of life is like that of a religious person. For I am.

The values of my people are reflected in my thouhgts and actions. I may not be a true mirror, but to some extent I am.

I know that there is also a lot of influence from the western (or whiteman's) culture, and I might act in ways that seem to reject who I am. There is a fight to make me and you reject what you are, and make you adopt ways which are not yours, in order for you to feel "civilised".

You cannot be fully satisfied or happy by trying to be who or what you are not; by being artificial. You can lie to others but not to yourself. Deep down you will feel that you are faking it.

The best thing you can do is to help me re-discover the best of my people's culture. For there are a lot of solutions in it to the challenges we face today.

I might at times seem to be racist, tribalist, discriminatory, etc, this is a result of my socialisation. And a desire to defend who I am and what I believe in.

A man must be a man even when faced with personal danger. Thats what all great men and women did. Standing up for what they believed in. For there will be no change until you stand up for the change you want.

This allows one to stand up even if it is only YOU who has to stand up. Even if all around you do not see the need to stand with you.

Do not blame me for being who I am, for this is who I am.

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