I’m not talking about the Linux operating system when I speak of Ubuntu. I am talking of the great African concept that we are intertwined, that we are not islands and that I am my brothers and sisters in Africa and they are part of me.
This is what Shari Cohen over at the Huffington Post has been left with on her travels through South Africa. Her article is an incredibly positive one written by a self-proclaimed cynic and it’s good to read. It’s good to see that I’m not a mad man and that many, many other people across the world are realising that South Africa in fact does rock, hard!
Here’s a snippet:
I have been truly humbled on this trip. And while I have my gripes regarding development here, I cannot say one negative thing about how South Africa has handled its duties as host and hostess to the world. If I could say one thing to sum up being here during this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it would be that I’ve learned the value of Ubuntu, and that when found and offered in abundance, the world is indeed a better place to live in.
So, if South Africa accomplishes nothing more on the playing field, it will still have won as a host country. I am a cynic, no doubt about that. And yet I have to admit, I’m a little teary just writing this because I leave for home next weekend and I will be leaving a little piece of myself here in South Africa. I just hope I have learned enough to bring back a little piece of Ubuntu to my homeland, where perhaps with a little caring and a little water, it will take root as naturally as it does here, in the cradle of civilization. It’s funny, many people in America still ask me, “are the people in Africa very primitive?” Yes, I know, amazing someone could ask that but they do. And when they do, I usually explain that living in a mud hut does not make one primitive, however, allowing kids to sell drugs to other kids and engage in drive-by killings — isn’t that primitive behavior? I think it is. When I think of Ubuntu and my recent experiences here, I think America has much to learn from Africa in general, in terms of living as a larger village; and as human beings who are all interconnected with each other, each of us having an affect on our brothers and sisters.
I am suitably impressed with a news article that I was emailed by a South African friend of mine (Thanks Courts) living in Australia. The article is fair, just and doesn’t bounce about the fact that SA has problems. But it is well-balanced and positive too.
Let me just specify however, that this article was not written by a journalist but an Australian living in SA.
Here’s a little excerpt:
Is South Africa up to hosting an event of this size? Until about a month ago, many locals would have said “no”.
Spookily reminiscent of Sydney immediately before the 2000 Olympics, the locals seem to have passed through an arc of emotions ranging from “no one is going to come” to “the transport is going to be a disaster” to their current mind-set: “This is going to be a hell of a jol [party].”
If Sydney is any guide, the South Africans will spend the latter stages of the tournament putting their case that they hosted “the best World Cup ever” and be properly morose when it is all over.
What an absolutely incredible day to be proudly South African. The streets have been lined with people, proud people, loud people and people who want to feel the vibe.
Today, I am proud to be part of this country!
Here are many photos and a video or two showing what went on around the country!
Thanks go out to all the people who tweeted and linked to photos!
Images of Cape Town Stadium and Cape Town – produced by African Renaissance Productions and Silver Bullet Productions – to get copies of the images – go to – www.africanrenaissance.co.za
I covered the Durban stadium previously. Now it’s Green Point’s turn. Cape Town is one of the most stunning areas in the world and fortunately this stadium does a great deal in adding to that landscape I think.
Another cracking contribution by my man Pienaar – you are on fire!
I’ve blogged a fair amount about World Cup stadiums, from panoramic photographs to videos. Here’s another video focusing on one of my favourite stadiums for the 2010 World Cup, Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
