Inaugural Observations . . .

The beauty of writing in a public space is that you can turn and twist words and phrases to your hearts content. Take the heading of this post for instance, it is somewhat catchy wouldn't you say? Even if I have to say so myself.

A previous post stated that the 2009 elections were as, if not more energetic than those of 1994. An amazing political energy criss-crossed our beautiful land with people putting their crosses where their proverbial mouths (and some would say their race and class) where. It was beautiful to behold. People followed the news and debated the newspaper reports in the run-up to the elections.

Similarly, the inauguration ceremony and festivities rivalled those of the inauguration of the first president of a democratic South Africa. A great majority of South Africans displayed ownership of the political process and they braved inclement weather to be part of the celebrations and the pomp of the ceremony. There were the dignitaries, heads of state, captains of industry and your usual socialites. The ceremony was somewhat schizophrenic in its attempt to be "African".

There was no difference between this and the other inaugurations of past presidents including those of De Klerk and Botha. Bear with me, I am not being judgmental and africanist or counter-revolutionary or bourgeois intellectual or whatever other invective may take your fancy. This is an observation. Consider this, the matters of protocol at this and other state functions is in the same hands (and probably the same office) as they were in the pre-1994 governments. I don't know but protocol seems to be determined by some immutable global norms. This reminds me of another but related observation: have you noticed how post-colonial Africa retains all the trappings of state institutions? The uniforms, the ridiculous uniforms (wigs and all), the brass bands (which I sort of like), the motorcades, the medals and gold chains; and of course the rules of protocol.

There was this lady explaining to the country, thanks to e-news channel, that as a matter of protocol, only one of the President's wives may be on the podium for his inauguration. Of course Msholozi the peacemaker and unifier he is reputed to be did not cause no fuss about this. Of course the media made a meal of this whole one man many wives thing; and Deborah Patter had to be obtuse. I take no umbrage with all this, it's tiring and I no longer have my student days communist inspired energy - I simply don't try to change the world no more. However, please allow me the space and a minute to say this: if you are a social commentator or any commentator at all, please make sure that when you comment on or critique many of our cultural and traditional matters, you do so in the discourse of that culture or tradition. Put differently, do not critique the culture and traditions of Amazulu using the English discourse, it simply does not work. I am not knowledgeable of these matters, being all counter-revolutionary and wannabe middle class and detribalised. What I do know is that mine is but one of many world views and not more valid than the next. So, I hope that as we continue to deepen our democracy, we will also seek to develop our own brand of protocol that works for our technicolour nation. Incidentally, there are just about enough ministries now, I am sure one of them will be up to the task.

On the other hand there was just pomp and ceremony. Nothing wrong with that. Apart from the prayers, everything else was done and happened in English. Nothing wrong with that either, I mean to have it in vernacular would simply have been unfair on the guests, the very important guests. For a detribalised native like myself, this augurs well for the future. I will no longer have to endure dirty looks for my english and fake accent. In and among the pomp and the english; and just in case some people may have forgotten what this is all about, there was much singing and dancing by the VIP guests and comrades. The songs were led (or appeared) to be led by Blade Nzimande and Julius Malema. The sound of Umshini Wam must have grinded the eardrums of Terror Lekota to no end. Of course the whole singing, dancing and sweating in a suit would not have worked for me, but hey who asked.

The President had a well structured and conciliatory speech and for that I had to applaud. The speech did not start with a quote from some literary great (this would have pleased Dr Mangcu), but it spoke rather to the people, ordinary and legendary alike. Nelson Mandela looked rather frail while Thabo Mbeki looked out of place yet formal as usual.

All in all, well auguring inaugural observations.