THE JOHANNESBURG DIARIES - RAINBOW NATION - #BLOGCHATTERA2Z2023

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It was Nobel Peace prize recipient, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who coined the term ‘Rainbow Nation’ for South Africa, referring to the cultural, racial and ethnic groups that were seen in the post-apartheid era. It was in 1994, after the nation’s first fully democratic election that he said, “We are the rainbow people of God. We are marching to freedom. Black and white together.”

When Nelson Mandela took over, he added on to this inspiring quote in his first month in office.  

“Each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.”

                                                               QuoteFancy

The vibrant term was meant to encapsulate the coming together of various diverse people from discrete nations in a country where once, only two colours existed, black and white, people whose cultures and their way of life were vastly different. It was symbolic of the hope and promise that held together a country struggling to reconcile against all odds.

The South African national flag has six distinct colours which may broadly be a metaphor for South African unity.

                                                                            iStock

There is speculation about whether in having created this term, the real issues of racism, disharmony and crime are being overshadowed and sugar coated, almost as though the cheer of the rainbow colours covers the intense struggle that the nation went through in the apartheid era. According to certain politicians, it is almost as if the path to transformation, unity and reconciliation has been further postponed to a nebulous future.

South Africa is home to the Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Ndebele, Tswana, Khoisan, Afrikaner people, along with the Hindus and Muslims and many more nationalities. The word ‘rainbow’ is apt for this country which possesses the most vibrant of cultures, landscapes, races, cuisine, tribes, creeds, languages, arts and crafts. Not to mention the beautiful rainbows that suddenly appear in the cloudless blue skies!

                                                                PictureQuotes.com

Whenever we drive around to the malls, the farmers’ markets, the cultural venues or even on the roads, we find the locals who are never shy to make a song and dance of it anywhere. The sheer abandon with which they celebrate life is a treat to witness, and often, we find ourselves tapping our feet in unison, another highlight of the Rainbow nation.

It is to be hoped that, with the South African people coming together in harmony, that Archbishop Tutu’s vision of a rainbow nation gets closer to reality.

PS.: Special thanks for the idea for this post – Rainbow Nation – which came from our daughter, P.


This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z2023.


Comments

  1. A Rustic Mind4/21/2023 02:33:00 PM

    Seems like such a vibrant, peace loving country
    Would love to visiti someday

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. deepti menon4/22/2023 10:55:00 PM

      It is a vibrant country, Manali! I think you would love it.

      Delete
  2. priyanka26254/21/2023 02:43:00 PM

    Such a beautiful country and you've described it perfectly! Thank you <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. deepti menon4/22/2023 10:55:00 PM

      Thank you, dearest Pincha! We have had such lovely times here with you all! <3

      Delete

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