Let’s honour the humble spirit and humanity of Tambo

OLIVER Reginald Tambo. A great name in the South African revolution against racial manipulation. A huge essence in this nation’s fight against racism.

In the 1980s at the University of the Witwatersrand I first encountered the name in the passages and corners of the institution.

Let me narrate that the name had a reverence that PW Botha tried to articulate to South Africa as “sabotage” or “terrorist”. Needless to say he did not succeed, because the character and essence of Comrade Tambo was bigger. Much bigger.

Imagine then my terror in the 1980s when we were told that he wished to address the cultural fraternity in the Zabalaza Arts Festival in London.

I was shivering with delight and fear at encountering such a persona.

“Why would a revolutionary like OR regard simple artists like us as important?” we asked. Yet he did.

The issue, he later explained, was not merely the destruction of apartheid, but rather the reconstruction of the human soul in this enormous country.

In other words, he articulated the humanity of the current country. He was articulating this reality in the gruesome realities of the racist regime of people like PW Botha and BJ Vorster and the like.

Facing a murderous regime, he used to teach us the glamour in the love for humanity. Many people could not understand his articulation but gave themselves to the inner depths of revolution.

Understand him or not, Tambo insisted on reminding South Africans that this land was more beautiful than the ugly and false face of racial superiority. It is therefore, in my humble opinion, a great moment to remember the glorious complexity of an essence like his.

His humility is one of the humble attributes of this country. We need to honour his name and the courage carried by it in the democratic revolution.

His name was not merely limited to the artificial tendency of military engagement, but spread to the depths of humanity in its many corners and depths.

I know that the nation state has done many things to honour OR, but I am demanding more, please. I know we can give it. I also happen to think that honouring the great names that decorate the proud lanes in our history is something that we cannot abandon. Humbly, I am suggesting that we start with Mr Tambo.

I am suggesting that the many schools of this country engage in a competition to demonstrate their honour for greats like Oliver Tambo.

I am also making a call to the Ministry of Arts and Culture to view the Tambo moment as one of the artistic moments in our beautiful land.(They can hire me if they do not find nobody, I am humble enough to push such a job.)

In the meanwhile, I think that the various institutions in the nation should be deepening our understanding and comprehension of our role in the majesty of the world.

I think that the broadcast media in the radio sector have not been not too bad in the articulation and advertising of the moment. I think we need more.

Icons like OR need an articulation that must constantly remind the world of the great role they played in the world.

We need to remind ourselves of the great tasks that humanity must complete in this thing called life. And the face in the articulation must be our face.

It must be the beauty, tenderness, braveness and humility that the human being possesses. I think that we owe the world much in helping us retain the treasure of the complexity called life.

One of the great names in that context is Oliver Tambo. Again, we must remind ourselves that this is not an arrogant gesture but the soft humane kindness of a people celebrating that moment called life.

We have responsibility to show off with people like Tambo so that they know that we operate on complexities like humanity. It is also wise that we are known as lekker people who like to know such sweet complexities as Oliver Tambo.

This whole month will experience the most positive in me. I promise to write sweet poems that narrate our complex beauties and charming tendencies. Maybe short stories too.

The point is that we articulate the many depths that characters like Tambo contributed, and still contribute, to this complex thing called life. It is not an impossible task. It is merely a moment that needs articulation.

Deep in my heart, there is a consciousness that keeps on reminding about me and you. It is something we cannot avoid, if you know what I mean!