slightly-radical-universe

[slightly-radical-universe]

In many cultures, ethnic groups, and nations around the world, hair is considered a source of power and prestige. African people brought these traditions and beliefs to the Americas and passed them down through the generations.

In my mother’s family (Black Americans from rural South Carolina) the women don’t cut their hair off unless absolutely necessary (i.e damage or routine trimming). Long hair is considered a symbol of beauty and power; my mother often told me that our hair holds our strength and power. Though my mother’s family has been American born for several generations, it is fascinating to see the beliefs and traditions of our African ancestors passed down. We are emotionally and spiritually attached to our hair, cutting it only with the knowledge that we are starting completely clean and removing stagnant energy.

Couple this with the forced removal and covering of our hair from the times of slavery and onward, and you can see why so many Black women and men alike take such pride and care in their natural hair and love to adorn our heads with wigs, weaves, braids, twists, accessories, and sharp designs.

Hair is not just hair in African diaspora cultures, and this is why the appropriation and stigma surrounding our hair is so harmful.

[slightly-radical-universe]

[slightly-radical-universe]

Indaba, My Children- Review

Indaba, My Children, is a book that compels you to reimagine Africa ,it’s history and the origins of the black man. No- he is not the missing link between ape and humanity ,as previously suggested by “respectable” men of science. Throughout the book, the author emphasizes that little is known about the Black man’s culture ,customs, traditions and religion. This can be attributed to all the strict laws which govern the  accessibility , dissemination and acquisition of knowledge in Africa. Very few wise men and women are chosen as “Custodians of tribal history”. These individuals are then tasked with the grave responsibility of being guardians and repositories of all of Africa’s secrets and wonderful mysteries. 

Custodians of Tribal History are sown to secrecy through intense rituals and blood oaths. They are never to reveal some of the sacred wisdom which has now been passed down to them- to the average Tom, Dick and Sipho. “Vey little knowledge is passed on to common people and nothing is ever disclosed to strangers” (p.654). The author believes that  this impeccable shroud of secrecy surrounding Indigenous African Knowledge  is a major contributing factor to inequality and to the racism that has caused much havoc and heartache in the past. He believes that if there were a better understanding between black and white, much bloodshed could’ve been avoided. (He uses Dingana and the death of Piet Retief to illustrate this point). Credo Mutwa, therefore implores the white man to exterminate his ignorance and arrogance and for once learn and understand the black man for what he truly is- How he thinks , the beliefs and philosophies that guide his thinking, his actions and much more. “The African can only be understood in terms of the strange workings of his own mind and those who do not appreciate this may as well refrain from studying the African” (p.655).

Indaba, My Children is thus an attempt to paint a portrait of Africa that the world has never seen before. To demystify the notion that the black man of Africa is a Kaffir- (“ A man without a soul , an unbeliever and a person who can never see the paradise of Allah” - Arab definition as detailed in p.656  ) who has contributed nothing to the advancement and development of humanity at large. This is achieved by taking the reader on a captivating and thrilling adventure through the annals of time. From the very beginning of time when a great nothingness engulfed the earth. To the very first goddess , Ninavanhu-Ma who created the very stars, mountains and oceans and then went on to give birth the human race. We get a glimpse of tribal life in precolonial Africa - the good the great and the not so good. 

Women play a very significant role in this great piece of literature. Throughout the story we have many great heroines and rounded female characters. Women can be seen in positions of leadership ,as chieftains and emperors. They are presented as wise , strong and authoritative. There is a synergy and cooperative spirit that governs the men and women. Force and violence against the female body are extremely frowned upon and even punishable by death. Women can therefore practice autonomy over their own bodies and even choose to turn down suitors and marriage proposals. 

Tribal law  governs the people and absolutely no one is above it. For the preservation of all the laws, customs and traditions of the tribes- everyone must obey all the laws that have been clearly  set out. The laws are very strict and they pertain to matters such as- Behavior,  rituals , adultery, sex before marriage, theft , murder , abortion ,rape and overall conduct. There are about one hundred such laws and they often contradict those which have been superimposed on Africans by foreigners. When a law is broken a suitable punishment is carried out by the “Tribal avengers”. The punishments are very crude and unforgiving, they are the grimmest part of life pre-colonial life. According to Tribal Law, anyone under 25 years of age is still considered a child and is strictly forbidden to marry or to partake in any form of sexual activities. Failure to adhere to this law is punishable by death. 

Polygamy is shown as a normal part of life. Most men take more than two wife's and chiefs really have no limit. The author states that : “ A fallacy dear to many people is that polygamy is practiced as a sign of wealth and prestige” (p. xviii). He cautions that that is very far from the truth. According to the coveted high Tribal Law “ A  man must have no relations with his wife during her periods of menstruation or during the entire period while she breastfeeds a baby... Opposition to polygamy encourages extensive immorality and  destruction of Bantu family life and traditions. p.633” . It is believed that the males semen poisons the baby's  milk. Thus polygamy is crucial in these situations, it ensures that these sacred laws will not be broken. It is also worthy to note that polygamy is not only practiced by males. Yes, a female who goes up the ranks and becomes chieftainess , gets a whopping three husbands all to herself! To top it off , she has to ask for their hand in marriage! 

Hair plays a very important symbolism. The “sicolo” hairstyle is worn by married women, usually of royal blood. Different tribes can be identified by their unique hairstyles. “The Strange Ones” are said to have “hair that looks as yellow as corn” and they are identified by their strangely silky , long and shiny hair. The Arabs or  “The Feared Ones” are identified as having “fuzzy hair and long beards”.

Slavery , something that was almost alien to Africans , becomes very rampant shortly after the arrival of the first ship. Life as we know it takes a horrid and bitter turn. Suddenly , human beings are sold and traded off like cattle. Fear and terror reign supreme and it seems that the very gods have turned their backs on the black man and woman of Africa. Men and women are made to fight and slaughter each other as a very eccentric and sadistic means of entertainment for the Strange Ones. Human beings are farmed and breed like pigs, to ensure an overflow of good quality slaves. At times, just for fun or experimentation. This dark period in the history of Africa, make the harsh punishments under Tribal Law seem very merciful and humane. The Strange Ones had traditions that were very macabre and blood-chilling. For instance, when their emperors died, he was buried along with his living wife and half of his slaves!  There is also mention of traitor tribes, who betrayed the black race by banding together with the Strange Ones as well as the slave-raiding Arabi and sold off millions of African men and women to save their own backs. And also for gaining wealth and favors from the straight-haired foreigners. 

Christianity is first introduced by the arrival of the  “Potugeesa” in page 521. It is a completely foreign and alien concept and only symbolized by the statuette carried by the foreigners. “ ...ten more of the aliens emerged from the forest led by the one wearing a dark-brown  robe reaching to his ankles. He was carrying a staff on the top of which was a bronze statuette of a man of some race, nailed to a cross of wood by his hands and feet ”. Africans lived a life in harmony with nature and were guided by their gods , and various traditions and customs. They could discern right from wrong and governed themselves accordingly.

Vusamazulu Mutwa breaks his sacral oath of silence as a high witchdoctor and chosen custodian as a last and desperate attempt to save the dying knowledge and customs of his people. “Why are we expected to abandon our way of life- our culture and traditions- and suddenly adopt others which are extremely strange to us? p.691 ” . In fear of Africa being turned into “a soul-less carbon copy” of her colonizers, Mutwa bears it all. “Oh! my indolent and gullible Africa- the superior aliens glibly talk of bringing “the light of civilization” to your shores. And yet the only civilization they can bring is one infected with physical,  moral and spiritual decay p.691”. Mutwa, believes that by bringing forth Africa's not-yet- forgotten past , we can weave a better understanding and corporation between Black and White, and dispel blatant mistruths and strongly held beliefs such as the one published in the Sunday Times “...The White man is superior to the Black, because apart from a few crude drawings in crude caves, nothing cultural, scientific and social has ever been achieved by a black...” (E. Morris,  Johannesburg, on August, 1962 ).

Indaba My Children is truly a work of genius. Its written in a compelling and enchanting style that is on a league of it’s own. The reader is thoroughly entertained and goes through a whirlwind of emotions ranging from amazement , pity , fear and anger to name a few. “A person  who is not familiar to Africa and its people might find it difficult to understand this story, let alone read between the lines p.529” It does not follow the “classic”, western three-act structure of story-telling and the perspective of the story-teller jumps back and forth between the main characters, the author and even animals! Parts of the story are told from the point of view of the animals. This draws the reader in the mind of these beasts and it is a powerful way of showing that animals have a mind and consciousness of their own. It also signifies the sacred relationship between the pre-colonial African and the animals in his environment. This story is said to be “...a strange mixture of historical fact and legendary fantasy, a strange mixture of truth and nonsense”. This story is not intended only as a means of entertainment, but is also educational in that it is said to embody tribal history and law. It is written in a way that it can be enjoyed by both old and young. 

[slightly-radical-universe]

Hair

This hair is mine Not because I bought it But I took time I learned it I nourished it I watered it I plucked out weeds I loved it Unconditionally Flaws and all Through the shrinkage Through the tangles I wear my crown proudly Because there was I time when I couldn't Or wouldnt Or didn't know how And I didn't know why It's my hairitage It tells my story It tells where I come from and who I come from It locates me It grounds me It is me It took forever to love what's mine And now that am here there is no turning back Dont touch my crown 

[slightly-radical-universe]

20/20  VISION

Am on that 20/20 vision On a bigger mission Coz things are clearer Marc J lenses bringing the truth nearer No longer cloudy rowdy Mother is cleansing herself It will get worse before it gets better Its bitter But at least we moving Cries of the children don’t make me weep no more Am jazzy and am grooving It’s the year of revelations And elevations No more energy for fickle squabbles quarrels and babbles Am on a different vibration On a path of liberation For my people Against the evil Those who vibing to this frequency Let’s get jazzy It's getting messy Aint no time for mercy Put on your Armour and grab your machete Its bout to get real rachet Lucy and her androchrome junkies are pulling all the stops Withdrawal got them looking very funky Monkeys It’s no longer hanky dory for Hanky He can no longer run in the forest He kicked the bucket He’s pushing up daisies Shit really hit the fan fam Life is like a box of chocolate afterall Coz the revenge is gonna taste so sweet when the tide turns.

[slightly-radical-universe]

Relaxers should be illegal!

Someone said: "If relaxers are so harmful, then surely they would've  been long removed from shelves. Why would people who sell relaxers sell us something that is harmful to us." Reading that comment gave me shivers down my spine. It was at that moment when I realized that the long walk to freedom has not even began. She went on to say "I use a relaxer on my toddler it is safe to use on toddlers as the package states so" , after that comment I fainted and lost consciousness , I just recovered now. All I can say is that relaxers should be illegal. If anything, they shouldn't be so readily available on shelves, one should at least  have a prescription from a psychiatrist if one insists on practicing that kind of self-harm , furthermore , the packaging of relaxers should give warnings similar to those found on cigarette packets. Something along the lines of "Relaxers cause traction alopecia" or "Do you even care about having a hairline in the future?" or "Chemicals in relaxers are harmful and they cause irreparable damage" or "You don't have to do this". Yes, not everyone who smokes cigarettes will die of cancer, but at least they know the possible side effects of treating their lungs like chimneys. Also , Doctors and toddlers where once used to advertise cigarettes, the claim was that cigarettes are not harmful at all and they are even recommended by doctors! After reading some comments it is safe to assume that ,had certain people not protested against that psychosis that was promoted by cigarette manufacturers and the mainstream media , we would still have advertisements for cigarettes and people today would allow their toddlers to be cigarette models because they are allowed to be parents and raise their kids the way that they see fit!

[slightly-radical-universe]

What I like

I don't care I write what I like After that I mike what I write After that it's fuh what you might think Do the math am on a path to ascension I don't mix well with those who never question Don't mix well with those who never listen Slightly Rad is reckless With her ink She don't link well with those who don't think well Oh well We use words to cast spells that will propell you into action Don't hashtag me don't mention Am from another dimentional plane You other nuggahs playin Driving me insane Questioning everything am sayin

[slightly-radical-universe]

Black child don't relax Get rid of that lace-( stop fronting) Clicks made it click that Your perception of your identity is damaged and abnormal Knowledge of self is frizzy Racists got you feeling dizzy woozy Embrace your Race or Face Disgrace

[slightly-radical-universe]

The black man of Africa does not know his greatness. Does not understand how important he is to humanity at large. " _ Vusamazulu Mutwa

[slightly-radical-universe]

RADIO FVCK YOU Am on a mission to make that old school all cool I don't mumble rap Don't fumble rap That shit is a trap Trap rap Crap rap You Rap crap Stuck in a Rat trap Tryna chase the cheese Tryna chase the stezzz Negro pleasee Break free from that slave mentality Shit is insanity Let go of vanity He said baby you gat bars I said honey am from mars I belong with the stars Don't mind these scars Am a supernova Can't sing like vusi nova But Tryna give a crash course Tryna change the discourse Tryna change the narrative on blackness Shit is a mess Causes major distress Some kinda psychosis This is a diagnosis For the majority Ruled by the minority If you know you know sis If you don't know better open some books sis It ain't just bout the looks sis Get your mind Body And soul on fleek So they listen when  you speak Something like Oshun This shit won't get played on the radio So I bump my stereo Am on that Kanye tip Am complex God complex Fvck a Rolex Who the fuck is Rolex? AkaniAfrica on my wrist Wearing Afrofist to desist Kenako Let's make Africa Great Again Round blacks don't relax Feeling like Black Yeesuz Stepping on some toes In my Yeezys I hate red bottoms They remind me of all the black blood lost at white hands Yet here is a spot; out damned spot! Who knew the Bantu had so much blood in them? Touch my blood Flow is murky Not tryna be mean Louis knows what I mean He wouldn't  walk a mile in my Bathu's Choosen to speak for Abantu State capture State of mind captured Rap captured Thots raptured Radio got us loving the sound of shit Pumping through our speakers RADIO FVCK YOU!

[slightly-radical-universe]

Credoist

I pick up where Credo left off call me a Mutwarian or a Credoist. Aint no Marxist Modern day historian My verses aint Elizabethan or Shakespearean No stanza's in this B!tch No rhyming couplets My only rhyme scheme is abbra cadabra Hex you MF I don't need di-rythmes skeem coz Am on that blackish I drip in melanin Don't need yo Peruvian Yo Malaysian Yo Indian hair I wear my crown proudly coz Vusamazulu said we were kings Ruled the galaxies Come in my milky way The Queen is here to stay Today I pave the way The oppressors are about to pay You stole the necklace of a thousand mysteries But you cant erase its' histories Truth is here to stay My freedom you delay Each dog does have its day And yours might be today Nyoo vest cant write this typa shit Pussy-fied stupefied Am on a different vibration coz I speak liberation fill up my dome with idioms and metaphors rhymes to make oppressors drop-out before they tap out. Opinionated My crown chakra is activated Call me Queen of Maftown This a coronation-claiming my crown tired of this clown his inaptness can make anyone frown can make anyone drown wallow in sadness he is a hot mess But maybe its not him speaking - Its amademoni maybe ga a ipone Possession Dispossession- of the mind A nyathele mademoni sonny a tsameka ka wena It aint about that money This a lyrical exorcist From a certain Credoist Slightly Rad- Is also a lyricist When I hold my pen am also a physicist Call me Doctor Fanon Am the wretched of the earth And you're the scum of it With my words I give birth to songs of freedom tired of your low frequency sh!t If you not on that a$$ you on that materialistic sh!t or that nihilistic sh!t or that SEE ROCK sh!t Take this from a real rock- Imbokodo Stop misleading our kids Help them reach for the stars Help them heal their scars I pick up where Credo left off call me a Mutwarian or a Credoist. Aint no Marxist Modern day historian Shakespearean I write tragedies I use melodies to right felonies Against the black body I mean- against Batho This is a relay his essence burns inside me guiding me from the other side No more time to hide Aluta continua Power to batho all the way from Mmabatho

[slightly-radical-universe]

2020

Am on that 20/20 vision On a bigger mission Coz things are clearer Marc J lenses bringing the truth nearer No longer cloudy rowdy Mother is cleansing herself It will get worse before it gets better Its bitter But at least we moving Cries of the children don’t make me weep no more Am jazzy and am grooving It’s the year of revelations And elevations No more energy for fickle squabbles quarrels and babbles Am on a different vibration On a path of liberation For my people Against the evil Those who vibing to this frequency Let’s get jazzy It's getting messy Aint no time for mercy Put on your Armour and grab your machete Its bout to get real rachet Lucy and her androchrome junkies are pulling all the stops Withdrawal got them looking very funky Monkeys It’s no longer hanky dory for Hanky He can no longer run in the forest He kicked the bucket He’s pushing up daisies Shit really hit the fan fam Life is like a box of chocolate afterall Coz the revenge is gonna taste so sweet when the tide turns.

[slightly-radical-universe]

A tribute to Clicks

Slightly Rad: 

People who relax their children's hair are just heartless. They teach their children from a young age that their own coily hair is not the epitome of beauty. They imprint in the children’s subconscious  ,European standards of beauty. They engage in a frequent and sustained sadistic ritual of  burning the child's’  hair and scalp with deadly chemicals that don’t even belong on donkey’s! These chemicals, namely:  sodium hydroxide, ammonium thioglycolate, and sodium thioglycolate cause irreparable damage both physically and psychologically. 

Blacks obsessed with Euro-centric ideals of beauty: 

Bathong Wena. What's what?So we must not relax our babies hairs?  But relaxers make my baby’s hair grow and besides they have straightening products for toddlers, what is the fuss about? And if those products were so deadly they wont be sold to us, don’t you think? In fact they would’ve been long removed from stores, stop acting smart with me. Can we just allow parents to raise their kids the best way they know how! You don’t always have to criticize how people choose to handle their hair because you are suddenly feeling woke! Worry about your own kids!  My kids never go to saloon, I buy kids product and do them at home every month , its none of your business thou.

Slightly Rad:

No you must not relax the child's hair, whether you do it at home or at the saloon is neither here nor there.  Studies show relaxers cause life-threatening ailments such as reproductive problems, heart disease, different forms of cancer, early puberty, fibroids, and mental health disorders. Relaxers have been found to disrupt the chemical balance of our bodies by entering our system via cuts and burns. Anyway, what gave you the illusion that white companies selling relaxers care about black people's well-being?

Blacks obsessed with Euro-centric ideals of beauty:

Here we go again *"WHITES"* can a black person actually support their statement without mentioning abantu abam hlophe , don't act smart on me.Not every product blacks buy are manufactured by whites. 

Slightly Rad:

I apologize for my stupidity, do you babe. Peace and love.

THE WHITE WORLD (A.K.A CLICKS): 

We hate black people. We hate their hair, in fact African hair or “natural hair” ,(as they call it these days) is just another name for dry, damaged, fizzy and dull hair! Ewww! Straight , flowy European hair is the embodiment of beauty! This is how hair was ordained to look like!If your hair is not “fine” and “normal” like our Caucasian hair is, fear not we have a range of products that you can buy to fix your embarrassment! Order online now while stocks last!

Slightly Rad: 

[slightly-radical-universe]

someone explain the jewish holidays to me like i'm 5 years old

[slightly-radical-universe]

Lost

Maybe the sun can guide me

Maybe that huge ball of fire way up in the sky can lead me to the light

Make these wrongs right

Maybe the august winds can blow me in the right direction

Release all this tension

Maybe the dirt under my soles can nourish my soul

Get rid of my toil

Perhaps the air can hear

Maybe I just need to breathe in the 02 and breathe out the poison

Maybe I need to meditate

Maybe that blinding light beyond the stratosphere

can blind all my fears

wipe all my tears

Maybe the leaves in my garden

Can cure all my dis  ease

Give me new life

Be-rid my temple of any strife

Maybe the food my mother bears

Is all the therapy I need

Maybe the stars above can take me back home

Where things are not this hard or complicated

Maybe the small shiny dots can tell me an anecdote of who I am

For I am lost

Maybe the mother is speaking to me

Maybe I just need to listen

Switch off all this technology

And listen

Listen to the sweet melody of chirping birds

Listen to the quiet whispers of trees

Listen to the silence

Listen to nothing

Maybe the answers I seek are all around me

Maybe they are inside me

Maybe I am not listening

I am lost

[slightly-radical-universe]

😍😍

check these glossy fuckin scans of the original manuscript of The Picture of Dorian Gray in Oscar’s own hand (full size: 1; 2; 3; 4; source)

[slightly-radical-universe]

Medusa

Her hair was unlike anything they'd ever seen before

 My lady and my missus were shook to the core 

It was unkempt, uncivilized , untamed and ungroomed 

like the jungle that raised her

Each tangle was a mystery

 Her history

 mapped through each coil

 Growth from the root to the tip her strands , fertile like the soil 

Unable to unlock the alchemy of her locks

The madames suffered great turmoil

The masters were enchanted and bamboozled by her barbaric beauty 

Their manhoods turned as hard as stone

 each time they glared into her direction

 Engulfed by jealousy and rage 

the straight haired pinks had to teach her a lesson 

The masters were also to pay for their vomit inducing transgression

 The ladies couldn't fathom how their men could be turned on 

by "an ape with snakes on her head"

 They called her the black serpent and banished her from the colony of Eden

The masters could colonize anything they wanted in the land ,

but were warned to stay far away from the venomous fruit cushioned

between her warm dark thighs