A buffoon, is he?
President Jacob Zuma has been called all sorts of names of late for making the choice to enjoy the privilege of being a polygamist which his culture permits, which the South African constitution does not criminalize and which the women he is married to have accepted much to public outrage.
While I have strong personal feelings against polygamy, I notice that during the hullabaloo that ensured – none of Zuma’s wives voiced dissent, none of them took to the streets in protest over their husband’s perpetual marriages, engagements and never-ending wooing.
It was to me, a case of the media crying louder than the bereaved – for if indeed there are any who are harmed or aggrieved by how Zuma conducts his love-life; surely it would be the women he has married, promised to marry and those he has fathered children with – all of whom have remained silent. The silence, presumably, of those who are in acquiescence.
But then people are entitled to their opinions, moreso if the opinions they wish to voice regard those who are in positions of power, who find themselves accountable to the public and whose private lives play out in the public domain as Zuma’s life has.
Now the British media called him a ‘buffoon’ who also happened to be ‘over-sexed’. Now to my way of thinking, buffoon is not high on the scale as far as insults go – in fact it is really nothing compared to some of the colorful invectives that have gone Zuma’s way.
Inadvertently, this insult has done more to turn the tide of public opinion in favor of Zuma, primarily because it was uttered by a white man, who happens to be non-African and whose contemptuous view of Zuma’s polygamous status has riled the afrocentric and pan-africanist sensibilities of some of us.
Though it may sound clichéd, Zuma’s conduct has a cultural premise – an African culture, which (whatever its flaws and imperfections may be) is our proud heritage and an integral part of our ethos as a people, as continent and as a race.
Where I come from, when we fight or disagree – we are allowed to do so without pulling punches knowing that what binds us is greater than what would divide us. I have often found that the only thing that quenches a family feud is the intrusion of an outsider, one who would presume to appoint themselves as the judge and proceed to proffer unsolicited advice or opinions on what is an internal affair.
And that British man has managed to raise my hackles by his superciliousness and the nauseating superiority complex that informs his interpretation of African customs, specifically polygamy.
Had he desired to make an informed judgment of President Zuma’s lifestyle, he would have done so within the confines of the African customs and culture that permits him to be a polygamist.
Anyone, particularly a non-African, would do well to show the appropriate level of humility that is reflective of his or her limited experience and knowledge of African mores when they make the choice to hazard an opinion. Logic dictates that it be so.
Voltaire once stated, I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. It is in the same vein that I am compelled to leap to Zuma’s defense; for while I (as an African) do not agree with how he chooses to conduct his life (and find polygamy to be unpalatable) I defend without qualms his right to marry many women as our culture permits and in the same breathe I would be duty-bound to defend the right of all his wives to be married to their one polygamous husband.
It is a personal choice they have made and whatever the consequences – it is not my place to hurl insults at them because I happen not to agree with the decisions grown, mature and adult women have made in picking a life partner.
So much for the gospel of tolerance that the has been preached by the West with advent of fighting for gay rights the world over and here is one who would scorn a man for marrying three women and find it palatable that two men ‘jump’ each other’s bones?
Whatever; that snide remark however goes beyond the issue of Zuma because really the issue is polygamy and polygamy is an African issue and surely any disparaging comment made about it reflects on the African people whose culture makes it permissible?
A buffoon, is he? What does that make the rest of us, I wonder? Or would someone care to explain how that remark has nothing to do with the rest of us; sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts and cousins of polygamists – let me guess – we’re just a family of African ‘buffoons’.
Monday, March 8th 2010 at 9:25 am
Thank you, well said.
As a South African (white South African, and Zimbabwean) I have plenty of problems with Zuma. His culture is one thing, but he does not respect his own culture which although polygamous is chaste and frowns on sexual immorality, never mind taking sexual advantage of younger women who should be in the role of a daughter to him since their fathers are his friends.
Nor is it (entirely) his own business and that of his wives. Zuma’s large and greedy family (I’m excepting from this his senior wife who seems to be the most amazing gentle and hard working rural person who stays right out of the spotlight), puts financial pressure on him which has already led him to near-disaster in terms of seeking sponsors or patrons who then expect their backs to be scratched in turn. I mean, how is he going to properly educate more than 20 children without somehow supplementing his State salary?
But for all that, our President is no buffoon and you’re quite right, blatantly racist and arrogant commentary like this, from a British journalist (so called) is deeply offensive to South Africans and not only black South Africans either. Zuma’s all about “show business” with the emphasis on business. He took a couple of HUNDRED business people with him to London. Nor does he particularly care what the British press say about him; he seems to be very secure at a personal level and does not react in a threatened manner even when criticised or challenged.
Which is more than one can say for at least one British-infatuated head of state in our neighbourhood who’s more British than the British when it comes to wives and afternoon tea, but thinks nothing of making toast out of his country’s economy.
Thursday, March 11th 2010 at 2:36 pm
I agree with you, the British journalist has no right to call Zuma a buffoon. I also have problems with Zuma’s lifestyle but we have to understand it in the context of his culture.
Would the British journalist call gays and lesbians buffoons? or will he think it is ok if we call them buffoons?
The Western world seems to generally support gays and lesbians and fight for their recognition; fight for their rights as human rights, but what is so wrong with polygamy?
criticising someone is one thing but insulting? quite another
Friday, March 12th 2010 at 11:11 am
This reminds me of the Biblical story whereby this woman was caught committing udultery. They brought her to Jesus. Jesus did not condemn her but condemned her actions. But to the people who brought her to Jesus, He said anyone who has not committed a sin should throw the first stone. My point is many of us big and small has bigger skeletons in our cupboards than Zuma but because we enyoy our private lives then we think we are better. Its not numbers here that count. To me its how we have allowed our short lived desires to overrule our conscience and done bad things. I rest my case.
Thursday, March 25th 2010 at 12:14 pm
[...] is a comment from The Guardian Weekly (12/3/10). It reminded me of Delta Ndou’s blog about Zuma being called a buffoon by the British media. “How do Zulus explain [...]
Thursday, May 13th 2010 at 1:34 am
Well, Family Feud is actually a classic game that traces back wayback in the 80′s i guess. It is a nice game anyway..,;