There are moments as an author you are “forced” to write something you do not really want to. Sometimes the subject is of no personal interest. Or you have other topics. And in my case it was the finals of this year’s AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) in Morocco.
Forget the results. We all enjoyed Senegal winning and Sadio Mané the true, authentic sporting hero, player of the tournament, of this lovely continent. At the beginning we expected Tanzania to go somewhere. Then we were out. However, like one female BBC Swahili analyst pointed out, we East Africans love football. Mpira! Even when Uganda and Tanzania did not make it, we still watched, followed and cheered.
Ah, you know all this stuff. Media and social media have already documented it.
So then I was not that keen to highlight. And repeat.
Wanted to write something else.
Then I changed my mind.
It is called a writer’s duty.
Was it the American novelist, Ernest Hemingway (winner of the 1954 Nobel Prize for Literature), who said: “As a writer you should not judge, you should understand.”
Ernest Hemingway released many works; similar things. Unfairness. Juju. Corruption.
Number two, caught my attention.
“I cannot stand injustice. These Arabs were being unfair throughout the tournament.”
Asked for an elaboration.
“They started these injustices. And when Senegal retaliated by matching out, after bottling their frustration for long? Senegalese were now the bad guys. FIFA and CAF are the most stupid incidents during this year’s AFCON.”
Few days later, I spoke to a North African friend. He was also curious as to what I thought of the finals. Since he was North African and Arab, I leaned towards the polite roadside.
“Very interesting match…” I smiled.
He shouted: “Listen! Cut the crap! I was very impressed by the character of Sadio Mané. For me I don’t judge people by their religion, tribe, nationality. Only behaviour. Sadio Mané showed humility, integrity and character. I raise my children to be like that. Money does not make one good. Some of my Arab brothers think they are above everyone else…”
On and on he ranted…
visibly, upset.
Later I was thinking why has this match enraged many Africans. Is it about historical truths? That we were once enslaved by Arabs? Even after many, many years?
I remembered the Ndebele (Zimbabwe) proverb: “The axe forgets, the tree does not.”
May we have a happier times.
Ashenalley, if you speak Kima’asai.
