The context of this writing is limited to the writer's small experience circle.
A black African child is dying psychologically because he needs cleansing in the river.
A black African child's business is not progressing because his ancestors don't know anything about the business.
A black African child's success is tied to ukuphahla, they say your grandmother is angry or was lost in the forest decades and decades ago and she wants you to do a cleansing.
A black African child can't be in a happy relationship because his absent and dead father wants them to use his surname.
A grandmother who died hating you is now the one responsible for your success because they magically had a change of heart in death and now they are your ancestor and have blessings for you.
Your great grandfather wants you to slaughter a goat, chickens, and phahla because you must acknowledge them in your life.
A black African child can't enjoy the luxury of sleep because there be serpents, monsters and oceans in his dream.
Three generations before you, no one, no one in your family has ever done anything of value and worth. You finally start a business, you finally show a sign of breaking the poverty circle. Then you are told you need to Thwasa or else there will be hell to pay.
A black child is suffering out there because no one has answers, when you ask they say you are disrespecting culture and traditions.
When you ask, their answer is "BELIEF". You look into their eyes you see lost people.
You lie awake at night with all the questions in your head, wondering how could it be that the answer to all our challenges is to phahla, cleanse in the river, and to thwasa.
You look around you, everyone who honored these rituals, they are broke and helpless as shit. They themselves have no sense of purpose. But, but they want you to follow in their footsteps, again if you don't there will be hell to pay.
In the end, I mean no disrespect to those who believe and feel strongly to perform their traditions. I saw people live and do things evident enough that some of these spiritual or traditional performances may be real for them.
I just want answers. It is possible that I can be blind to somethings.
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