Using a well-known folktale, Rhodes University History lecturer, Naledi Nomalanga Mkhize, addresses the recent Con Court ruling, Jacob Zuma’s giggle and cannabalism.
uChakide, the trickster mongoose, was hungry. So he convinced uGogo Granny, to play ‘I cook you, you cook me’ in the pots over the fire. Naturally, Chakide went first into the pot and gogo lit the fire. Once it became a tad hot, Chakide called out from inside the pot “Tshiyo tshiyo sengivuthiwe!” (“I’m cooked enough now!”).
Gogo immediately opened the pot and Chakide jumped out. Gogo then jumped into the pot to have her turn. Chakide then put rocks and things on top, an ominous sign of things to come. As the water heated up, Gogo began to cry out, that she was all cooked but Chakide just ignored her. Eventually gogo was fully cooked in the pot.
At that moment, the children came home and Chakide dished the stew for them.
Biting into something that seemed a bit familiar, one of the children asked “Engathi uzipho lukagogo lolu?” (“This looks suspiciously like granny’s toenail”). Chakide replied dismissively: “Hhayi akulona, dlani ukudla kwakho!” (“No no no, eat up your food!”).
And so another of the children queried each piece that looked too much like Gogo. Each one dismissed by Chakide.
Eventually the children ate everything. Chakide immediately ran to the nearest hill and began mocking them “Peh peh nadl’ugogo wenu!” (“You’ve all just eaten your grandmother”).
I love this grisly story of unwitting cannibalism. It is so comedic and dark; the picture of Chakide’s hapless victims suspicious at first, but obligingly eating Gogo’s fossilised toenail in the stew. Whenever you tell this story to children, they are besides themselves with laughter at the gruesome depths of the trickery.
Like many ancient folktales, within this simple story is a profound exposition of aspects of the human psyche.
There is in this allegory a story about manipulation. But it is not a classic cautionary tale, because we, the audience, laugh along with the nasty trickster, at the victim’s misfortunes. The trickster not only gets away with it, but will live another day to trick others and giggle at their expense.
The trickster’s giggle has a powerful neutering effect; can anything be so serious or shameful if you can laugh about it?
Because they are in it only for themselves, the trickster has no qualms employing devious tactics throughout. Gogo, seemingly naive and out for a bit of fun, gets drawn into a risky game in which she relinquishes all control and pays the price.
For the children, valid skepticism and doubts are quickly diluted with a combination of lying and pressure. Personal intimacy and familiarity with Gogo does not prevent them from cannibalising her corpse.
This folktale is found across southern Africa. I sometimes ask friends if they remember this story from childhood. Most of them do, and they give a little chuckle as they remember how it hit that sweet spot of their growing imaginations.
When told in childhood, the story is so sweet, even the dark elements are comical.
In adulthood, the fun is ruined. It is impossible not to correlate the story too directly with the machinations of humans.
I cannot resist drawing parallels between Chakide’s pitiless trickery and the moral decline of our Number One compatriot, from Nkandla.
With President Jacob Zuma’s parliamentary giggles, sidestepping of accountability and the recent Constitutional Court ruling which found he acted contrary to our democratic country’s founding document, it is clear that Number One has had several laughs at his comrades.
They have consistently rescued him from the jaws of political failure, yet he has consistently turned on them when it suits his own ends, especially to save his own skin.
There he is! The trickster Zuma; he has dashed to the top of a hill, where he observes his ANC comrades, in countless bids to defend him, have chewed up the last toe of the ANC. Just as the children do when they eat granny.
Zuma, the trickster looks down at the ANC MPs, the NEC, the rest of the Top Six and giggles: “Peh! Peh! Nadla umbutho wenu!” (“Peh! Peh! You just ate up your movement! ”- Shem this line just doesn’t translate well into the Queen’s English….)
The echoes of his giggling mockery reverberate across the hills, his comrades, bellies full from cannibalizing the grand movement, are at pains to accept they have been brazenly fooled.
This article originally appeared in The Con.
Tremendous things here. I am very glad to peer your post.
Thank you a lot and I am looking forward to touch you.
Will you please drop me a mail?
My brother suggested I may like this website.
He used to be entirely right. This publish actually made my day.
You cann’t consider just how so much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
Excellent article! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our website. Keep up the good writing.
This web site really has all of the info I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog
posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled
upon this site. Reading this info So i am happy to convey that I
have a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed.
I most certainly will make sure to do not forget this
web site and provides it a glance on a relentless basis.
I all the time used to read article in news papers but now as
I am a user of web therefore from now I am using net for articles,
thanks to web.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m looking forward
for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of
your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to
come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Outstanding work!
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this
post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you
are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything. Nevertheless think about if you added some great visuals or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”!
Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this website could certainly
be one of the very best in its niche. Awesome blog!
Saved as a favorite, I love your web site!
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after checking through some of
the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the structure of your blog?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you
could a little more in the way of content so people could
connect with it better. Youve got an awful
lot of text for only having 1 or two images. Maybe you could
space it out better?
Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere?
A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make
my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme.
Bless you
Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice
while you amend your website, how could i subscribe for a blog site?
The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear
concept
Do you have a spam problem on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation;
many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to exchange strategies with others, why not shoot me an e-mail if interested.
At this time I am going to do my breakfast, when having
my breakfast coming over again to read other news.
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically
tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a
plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe
you would have some experience with something like this.
Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy
reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites
really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future.
Cheers
Hello to every one, for the reason that I am really keen of
reading this weblog’s post to be updated regularly.
It includes good stuff.
I am regular visitor, how are you everybody? This article posted at this web page is really nice.
I all the time used to read piece of writing in news papers but now as I am a user of net therefore from now
I am using net for posts, thanks to web.
Highly energetic article, I liked that a lot. Will there be
a part 2?
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it,
you could be a great author. I will make sure to
bookmark your blog and definitely will come back later on. I want to encourage
you to continue your great posts, have a nice weekend!
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how
could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal.
I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
Link exchange is nothing else but it is only placing the other person’s blog link on your page at proper place and other
person will also do same for you.
Hey there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one?
Thanks a lot!
I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!
After I originally commented I appear to have clicked the -Notify me
when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on every
time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment.
Perhaps there is a way you can remove me from that service?
Many thanks!
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you
writing this post and the rest of the site is really good.
Simply desire to say your article is as astounding.
The clearness in your post is just nice and i could assume you are an expert on this subject.
Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS
feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks
a million and please carry on the rewarding work.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your
point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you
could be giving us something informative to read?
Hi there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new
iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog
and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the superb
work!
Link exchange is nothing else but it is simply placing the other person’s weblog link on your page at appropriate place and other person will
also do same in support of you.
I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this sort of house .
Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site.
Reading this info So i am satisfied to show that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I discovered exactly
what I needed. I most surely will make sure to don?t disregard this website and provides it a look on a relentless basis.
This design is wicked! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to
start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job.
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that,
how you presented it. Too cool!
Hello, its fastidious post about media print, we all be familiar
with media is a enormous source of facts.
It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad
that you shared this helpful info with us.
Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different
page and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you.
Look forward to exploring your web page repeatedly.
I do believe all the ideas you have offered on your post. They’re
very convincing and can definitely work. Nonetheless, the
posts are too brief for beginners. Could you
please prolong them a little from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.
I was able to find good advice from your content.
Simply want to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your post
is just great and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject.
Fine with your permission let me to grab your feed
to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the
gratifying work.
I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this enormous post
at at this place.
I am really loving the theme/design of your web site.
Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility problems?
A handful of my blog audience have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome.
Do you have any suggestions to help fix this problem?
Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites?
I have a blog centered on the same information you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would value your work.
If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.
Simply desire to say your article is as astounding.
The clarity in your post is just nice and i could assume you’re
an expert on this subject. Well with your permission let me
to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post.
Thanks a million and please continue the rewarding
work.
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about
this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic
blog. An excellent read. I will definitely be
back.
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the
video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos
to your weblog when you could be giving us
something informative to read?
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your
great post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else experiencing
issues with your site. It looks like some of the
text in your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me
know if this is happening to them too? This could be a problem with my browser because I’ve had
this happen previously. Thanks
I was recommended this blog by way of my cousin. I am
now not certain whether this submit is written by him as no one else understand
such certain about my problem. You’re incredible!
Thank you!
I don’t even understand how I ended up here, however I thought this put up used to be good.
I don’t understand who you are but definitely you are going to a well-known blogger in the event you are not already.
Cheers!
I always emailed this weblog post page to all my friends, for the reason that if like to
read it after that my contacts will too.
This is really interesting, You are a very professional blogger.
I have joined your feed and stay up for in quest of extra
of your wonderful post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my
social networks
You really make it appear so easy with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be really one thing that I believe I’d
by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex
and extremely huge for me. I’m having a look forward for your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the dangle of it!
Can you tell us more about this? I’d like to find out some additional information.
It’s in reality a great and useful piece of information. I
am happy that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us
informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog.
He was totally right. This post actually made my day.
You can not consider simply how so much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no back up.
Do you have any methods to stop hackers?
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this board
and I to find It truly useful & it helped me out
much. I am hoping to present one thing back and
aid others such as you helped me.
Good day! I just want to offer you a huge thumbs up for your great information you
have right here on this post. I am returning
to your site for more soon.
I’m curious to find out what blog system you’re using?
I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog and I’d like to find something more secure.
Do you have any solutions?
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the finest sites on the net.
I am going to highly recommend this site!
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up fast!
What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
With havin so much content do you ever run into any issues
of plagorism or copyright violation? My website has a lot of completely unique content I’ve either authored myself
or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over
the internet without my authorization. Do you know any methods to help protect
against content from being stolen? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
I was able to find good advice from your content.
These are genuinely fantastic ideas in about blogging.
You have touched some fastidious things here.
Any way keep up wrinting.
Hello it’s me, I am also visiting this website on a regular basis,
this web page is in fact nice and the users are genuinely sharing pleasant thoughts.
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a team of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a
marvellous job!