Death of BPC stalwart Rachidi a huge loss
‘Salute the warrior Motionless on the battlefield Shorn of life
Yet living evermore
He who gave his last
Gave his sacred best
That we might be free Carrying our load
He wrote our destiny’
THIS extract is taken from the poem Salute The Warrior, by the Azanian poet and elder freedom fighter, Ntate Donato (Don) Mattera. Even though this poem may not have been written with Ntate Hlaku Rachidi in mind, this extract nevertheless encapsulates the essence of his life and meaning to us as a black people.
For my generation of black consciousness activists, Ntate Rachidi is a legend. An icon. A source of inspiration. A man among men and freedom fighter of the highest calibre. For this reason, his passing constitutes a monumental loss to those of us who share in his philosophy of black consciousness, and a moment of profound national sadness, for in life, he lived and worked for a reality wherein black people would freely enjoy the beauty and wealth of the land of their ancestors.
His life forces those who share his vision for a truly liberated Azania to engage in critical and honest reflection on the extent to which black nothingness has been institutionalised, and our failure to provide a well thoughtout political programme that counters all this.
His life reminds us that, from the black consciousness perspective, when we talk about the liberation Struggle, we are not referring to a nefarious scheme that has been designed to enable the fraudulent enrichment of a few.
On September 17 this year, we gathered under the auspices of Mutapa Afrocentric Dialogues at Funda Centre in Soweto to mark the 45th anniversary of the murder in detention of his comrade and friend, Bab’Bantu Biko. Unfortunately, due to the fragility of his health, he could not join us at Funda Centre. We then went to see him at his home.
We spent the remainder of the afternoon with him and his family. We sat and listened to him. He regaled us with anecdotes about his work in the Black People’s Convention.
Ntate Rachidi sacrificed his youth and dedicated his life to the Struggle for black dignity in South Africa. He did this aware he was not just risking detention or torture, but also death.
For this reason his name today enjoys honourable mention among those of the other giants of the black consciousness movement such as Bab’Bantu Biko, Ntate Onkgopotse Tiro, Mme Winnie Kgware, Mam’Nikiwe Matshoba, Ntate Mapetla Mohapi, Bab’George Wauchope,
Bab’Muntu Myeza, Bab’Mthuli Shezi and many others.
As black people, we owe Ntate Rachidi an incalculable debt of gratitude for his sacrifices and those of his family.
Ntate Rachidi was the embodiment of the irrepressible philosophy of black consciousness, which taught black people to never surrender their souls to the European invader, or bow at the feet of whiteness.
He is a national liberation hero, and of him, history shall say: here lies one of Azania’s greatest sons. One who loved his people so much that he gave his only life to the noblest cause of all, the liberation of his people. May the great name of Ntate Hlaku Rachidi live on in our hearts and minds.