Opinion / Columnist
How relevant is the Zimbabwean history to the youths?
27 Mar 2018 at 11:40hrs | Views
The elections are upon us as the Zimbabwean nation. Some young people sometimes ask; 'are we going to be talking about things of the past again?' Perhaps this is because much talk on elections in Zimbabwe is punctuated with much historical baggage that our young people cannot directly relate to. In schools, national media, among some elders, the story is the same; colonialism.
An open secret is that the young men and women of today did not witness colonialism/racism; they cannot relate to it. Do they really care about it? Perhaps a tiny fraction of them might; even among this small group, a negligible portion is genuine. They might only be doing it so they get fringe benefits of pretending to care. As elderly leaders talk to the young Zimbabweans, they need to be mindful that youths have nothing to say about these phenomenon; merit, and not race as was the case in yesteryears, determines opportunities.
One indisputable fact is that eurocentrism has determined our mind-set more than afro centrism. The European culture has been highly influential on the whole society; especially the young folks. Our values, means of survival such as food, clothing, shelter, education, employment, wealth acquisition and usage are all Eurocentric in nature. Some would thus conclude that while our African identity is crucial, fighting eurocentrism as has been the case at some official platforms is synonymous to disempowerment.
Compatriots, you will agree that in the modern era globalisation has taken precedence over racism, nationalism, regionalism and tribalism. The latter trends belong to the times gone by, they have no place in the modern dispensation. Globalisation has subsumed all races, nations, regions and tribes into one. Who would have the power to stand against the tide and talk of unnecessary/irrelevant identities?
From all that has been said, one is left with the question; would Zimbabwean youths not rather talk about the future that they themselves can shape, than the past that they cannot change? Food for thought.
An open secret is that the young men and women of today did not witness colonialism/racism; they cannot relate to it. Do they really care about it? Perhaps a tiny fraction of them might; even among this small group, a negligible portion is genuine. They might only be doing it so they get fringe benefits of pretending to care. As elderly leaders talk to the young Zimbabweans, they need to be mindful that youths have nothing to say about these phenomenon; merit, and not race as was the case in yesteryears, determines opportunities.
One indisputable fact is that eurocentrism has determined our mind-set more than afro centrism. The European culture has been highly influential on the whole society; especially the young folks. Our values, means of survival such as food, clothing, shelter, education, employment, wealth acquisition and usage are all Eurocentric in nature. Some would thus conclude that while our African identity is crucial, fighting eurocentrism as has been the case at some official platforms is synonymous to disempowerment.
From all that has been said, one is left with the question; would Zimbabwean youths not rather talk about the future that they themselves can shape, than the past that they cannot change? Food for thought.
Source - Mokhumi Valela
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