Are Tongas tribal? In seminary I had the chance to learn Italian (was compulsory as we had to go and finish university education in Italy) I also learnt Latin which was a major requirement and finally we had to learn how to read and write Greek and oh boy how I hated it coz the alphabet is different and it was a nighmare for me but ultimately I passed. French was optional so I dropped it, didnt want to torment my poor mind beyond measure. I learnt one african language (Swahili) not because it was taught but because majority of the guys where we were stationed (first at San Damiano) Franciscan centre Ndola (next to chifubu secondary school) then St Bonaventure in makeni) were from east Africa. Usually when these guys are talking, I and my friends would assume they are talking about us so I divised a plan, I bought a hardcover notebook and started collecting one word a day then I moved to three and after 3 months I could read talk and understand Swahili. Funny but thats how easy I got the language. To my dissapointment I found out none of these guys used to gossip about us.....my assumption was based just on useless fear of the other. THIS IS THE SAME PARADOX I SEE BETWEEN BEMBA AND TONGAs. Tonga think aba bemba niba Lazo and bemba jus think aba tonga bali pwalala, they dress funny (even men wear female blouse) and just ride on Scott carts while smoking balan. But is this true? Well I disagree. Been in the south for over a month now and I must say its how you carry yourself.....I am a regional head and rep in the same hood and my pay comes from here so I try as much to avoid speaking bemba coz its frowned upon but again I must eat and make my pay so I must work with my fellow men be it tonga bemba or whoever........ its true this part is a bit rough but its not all that bad. many here are such marvellous people specially the young ones who dont even care about tribal nonsense but its the old nkalambaz and you must understand we came from a culture of suspicion and fear of the unknown and ignorance too ....all in all they are beautiful people, I just avoid provoking them with my bemba, specially kopala type of talk, coz they think you out to corn em....I get people who sometimes purposely speak to me in tonga when they know I don know a thing, just to tease me, but am no walk over, I also reply in bemba and laugh, and its amazing what a smile could do to diffuse tension.... in conclusion we all one people, this nonsense of tribe has got to go, Like Dr Kaunda and Martin Luther who had a dream, I saw the future and tribalism had no place in the future of this great nation, we all go through the same frustration, through the same pain, through the same hardships, lets us focus on finding ways and means to fight poverty and ignorance and not each other...we are all children of the same Father...Pishenimo Pen guys and have blessed weekend..
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 06:47:03 +0000
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