EZEKIEL MPHAHLELE

Spokesmen of a brand of African nationalism that one keeps running up against in this country operates on the basis that there are things that may be said to be "African" and "non-African". They will listen to no other type of music except that composed by Africans. They say that the African is the most important person in the country, and so minority groups should run along to a corner somewhere or cut their suit according to African nationalist cloth. It all sounds innocent and just; but let us follow it to its logical conclusion. Let us imagine what might happen. Imagine a little kingdom with a fence round it. At the gates you may find a banner: "AFRICANS FIRST." . . . The inhabitants of our imaginary kingdom have the greatest contempt for cinema shows. They look at the posters, frown and mock the stupidity of it all. It is too European and foreign. Dances and concerts? Whoever got it into his head that people want to hear one man or woman sing? We all want to sing! . . . Among the books that have been banned in this little place are works by Shakespeare, Dickens and George Bernard Shaw because they were found to be too English. But the more serious reason is that these writers say all the things we would have likedto be the first to say. . . If you are found reading English poetry you are told you are lost, you should spend your leisure hours singing Bantu praises. If you are found happy in the company of Indians or Coloureds or Europeans you are a "sell-out" and have "vested interests" somewhere. That is the story of a type of nationalism carried to its logical end. It would be the shady side of sunny South Africa, wouldn't it?

- Ezekiel Mphahlele"So You want To Go Back To Stone Age?", Golden City Post, August 14, 1955.