K Seruwe, 45357048

As a an African coming from a Sotho ethnical group, I have been immersed in different traditions, teachings, and beliefs that have deeply influenced my worldview that I believe they are different from other ethics groups.

Firstly, the Sotho people have long held the belief in Modimo which means, a supreme god. Additionally, the Sotho have a deep believe in ancestor spirits, viewing them as a bridge between Modimo and the living. Respect for the spiritual world and the connection between the living and the dead is fostered by this belief system. It molds values including deference to elders, the significance of family heritage, and the recognition of the presence of a greater power in day-to-day existence.

Ancestral veneration, the hold a strong believe in ancestral spirits and the value of paying respect and homage to one's ancestors. To stay in touch with departed family members and ask for their wisdom and blessings, ancestral worship entails rites, ceremonies, and customs. The belief of there is a connection between the ancestors and God they the ancestors you seek guidance from and ask anything you are seeking from like protection or open closed doors for you so things can be clear with that so they can present them to God for your asking to be heard clearly. Dreams for us Sotho’s means more than dreams they are a way for ancestors to connect with us, to show their presence and protection in our life’s. This set of beliefs frequently influences social standards, moral principles, and notions of self and community belonging.

Secondly, the Ubuntu within Sotho’s places a very strong emphasis on how interconnected all people are whether is the community, family gathering or ceremonies this teaching or rather beliefs plays an important part as it highlights the value of compassion, togetherness, and support among one another, people should conduct in a way that serves the community because they are only truly human because of other people and not being separated from others . Ubuntu places a strong emphasis on harmony, empathy, and group responsibility, which may have a significant impact on the Sotho people's worldview.

During any events that requires gathering like Christmas, New Year, Good Friday we celebrate as a whole community and not with our loved ones and friends only, but we get together and build a relation amongst us as community members. We treat each other with the respect and love we give to our family members whether in time of need we support each other.

The reason why I believe the Sotho culture is different from other ethics groups is based on normally there are ethics group that believe in God only and that the dead are dead they have no control over your life, nor do they mean anything or that there is connection between ancestors and God we praise also their presence in dreams and that the Ubuntu we share isn’t easily found nowadays people prefer their own space during such events

K Seruwe, 45357048

As an anti-social person, I do not have a large network around me I love my own space and even though I have a small cycle I do not feel like I lack something as they are enough for me. 

 

Firstly, the people I confine with my every problems whether they are big, small, stupid, silly, serious they help me through that problem and I trust that they won’t judge, laugh, or even belittle the situation I might be going through but rather they encourage me and give me the best advice that I won’t even doubt…those people whom they give me the love, advice, courage and support are my two gems in my life that I cherries whole heartly more than anything in this world and that’s my mother and grandmother and well the rest of my family sister, aunt. In terms of exchange, I usually take my mother and grandmother out separately or buy something special for them as for my aunt and sister we usually go to trips but obviously materialistic things won’t be enough given all things they have given me all I could give is the love, support, shoulder to cry on, my ears to listen to all their troubles, my little knowledge about life I have and the courage they need especially my mother and try make her worries a little off loaded.

 

Secondly, the person whom I hang around out with and unwind with just to release my best friend- sister well my “evil-sister” I prefer not to have a lot of friends so she is the kind of person whom we share a bond that’s weird but actually lovely we met at high school and already she has a place on heart we do not just hang and chill but lift each other to prosper in life give ideas to each other, support one another in times of need. Well in terms of exchange we share a birthday month so she is a book, chocolate, ice-cream with waffle and wine lover so we usually go and I spend her with all her lovers even when its not on our birthday month and not just that what she gives me I give it in return 

 

Lastly, people I meet at varsity and at church they are just people who are their for me to guide me and be there when I need help with mostly the people I meet with at varsity around classes and outside getting to know them and gather information we do sometimes connect but as those friends that are school-related only and in terms of exchange through them is the little knowledge we share amongst each other and how we try to be one with that knowledge we have we hang out as well be the supporting system through this new world. Church members for spiritual support and in terms of exchange is just my presence and worshiping the word

of God. 

Think in the morning, act in the noon, eat in the evening and sleep in the night -William Blake. 

A passing smell of fried chicken meat balls from the cafeteria of NWU the ones you get with spaghettis woke me making me to crave for them to yearn for that source they use that tastes like something sweet mouth watering to a point you start licking your fingers one by one and licking the bowl just for that sweetness okay woke up went to the bathroom took a look of myself in the mirror and was like who on earth will want to wake up next to this kind of face that looks dry filled with white cream color on the corner of my eyes and lips that looks dry with no moisture filled with white cream color as well and the morning breath of last night mint Colgate still smelling brushed my open space teeth which makes me uncomfortable sometimes, took a very long bath just thinking about what I should wear and just think about how will my day be without having to read through my work before the lecture and still not understanding how to manage my schedule and grasp everything before tests start like my sociology first class test on Thursday mind you I haven’t even started reading nor taken notes and I have been attending but that’s where I end when I try to catch another work comes up well maybe it’s because I have the mindset of I am just attending Thursday and Friday only and the rest of the week before that “I will try catch up” even though I’m lying to myself well I guess the day got to move on rather than feeling sorry for myself for something I can change… got done with my bath and went out the bathtub where I almost slip because of the water I split on the floor well I actually don’t bath like a normal person but like a person who fill up the bathtub with water and literally swim front and back to let the water flow, wiped the floor went back to my opened the window to let that fresh breeze to enter change the aroma in the room to something you know that night smell of sweat, the fart the mosquitoes that sucks our blood and leave itchy pimples a person scratches every now and then did my bed with my pretty bedding of sunflower meaning light and happiness lightening up my room and bringing joy for when I have a bad day like failing my tests or even when I fought with my mom normal but crazy as sometimes its just small things arguing about dishes after dinner or not me wanting to study till late the usual….

The part where I really love and hate picking out clothes for the so I decided to wear and worn a red Nike cap and packed my bag with my laptop one note book went to the kitchen and literally I was the only one who was awoke no one was going to work just me going to an early class of politics at 8h00 and that time it was 6h30 need to be out at 7h00 catch a taxi that will take me to university I left home without eating I really don’t like to eat in a hurry so I just left locked the doors and went out of the gate mind you I have to walk till the stop sign to catch the taxi and it’s a kind of a long walk from down of my street, turning left straight and that part its like a bush grass grown long up to a point where you can’t see other view of the side like kasi life is funny where you ask yourself what does the council we vote for does anyways then I turn right straight down the street to the stop sign luckily the taxi was passing hooting and a person can hear it from far like an annoying alarm beeping every second then stopped and I climbed, like going with a taxi to school especially NWU they literally travel with you all around town dropping people at the taxi then the mall all around to the side of pick n pay then now to the side of pukke arrived went o B14 as that’s where we usually meet for politics got there called my friend Bokamoso and asked where is she? And guess what she not attending the first class as she’s waiting for her transport to fetch her from Klerksdorp both me and my friend travel as of NSFAS rejected our application and still waiting for the appeal to approve okay ended the call and the lecture came attended the class as if I know something but no went sat down and listened to the lecture for like 20 minutes its always a short lecture where the lecture just briefed about the upcoming quiz of unit 1-3 and asking questions of what we don’t understand and that’s it the lecture ended and there she was standing outside and not attending the lecture we were both literally done for the day other class was online zoom for sociology so decided to meet up with some other friends for the PADM assignment at the library when we got there I got hungry my stomach pulling each other like it was being stretched and slowing opening up went to the cafeteria and smelled different kinds of food ,chips, coffee, and that morning smell of chicken fried meat balls with spaghetti and guess what I went straight to it and bought and that sweetness.

After eating we decided to do the assignment but guess what we decided to gossip about what happened the day before where Bokamoso was approached by this rugby boy whom seemed arrogant and full of himself one thing I could tell about my friend is that she’s very weird to understand she says she just want to play around yet she wants “love” not from her age group but age group from 25 till 35 and I’m like okay didn’t expect that but hey we shouldn’t judge we questioned her as then why entertain the young and she’s says for fun went on and on until it was time for me to leave, Bokamoso waits for her ride while I climb a taxi outside the NWU gate go the same route before reaching home the drivers wanting passengers its actually so difficult in the economy where we all hustle for money… 

To conclude I arrived at my location and went through the same route reached home and so it takes me an hour and thirty-minutes to reach home tired not in the mood to do anything but just lie down when I was supposed to be going through my work and study as I should I made my myself some food made a sandwich of bread and jam with orange juice ate took a bath and went to bed setting an alarm to wake up at 2:00 and that time it was 20h00.

 

 

 

K Seruwe, 45357048

In order to make this argument, firstly I outline the concept of stereotype covered by Wainaina (2005) and link with the concept of exoticization in the first paragraph. Outlining the concept of othering covered by Ngozi (Danger of a single story), Bart Williams (Change your channel) and link with the concept of misinformation in second paragraph. Conclusion summarizing my argument understanding in third paragraph. Reference list acknowledging my resources.  

 

“Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour.” (Wainaina, 2005) Wainaina explains Africans can different from others just by protecting their identity from the outside world. Therefore, I have experienced my classmate being judge based on her age (17) working as servants to earn money and save up for university fees in case NSFAS or another bursary doesn’t fund her.

 

“Show people as one thing over and over again and that’s what they become and that involves power they have” Ngozi (Danger of a single story), don’t difference people but view them as a one thing that they can become regardless of their status and not the being inferior to another.

 “Charity creates inferiority and dependency” Bart Williams (Change your channel) explaining sometime in order to progress someone in life to achieve something for themselves money is not what is always needed but “sharity” by “facilitating fair exchange between 2 contrasting worlds that becomes powerful once balance is reinstalled.” Sales agents of street vendors creating their own collections mainly by recycled materials (clothing, backpacks, carpets etc.) Therefore, some people think they would be wasting their money if they support local business, they came across the taxi rank and along the side of the road but they don’t think as them acknowledging the products of those vendors to became known and not differentiating them from shops at malls.

 

In this essay I showed African people are viewed as people who won’t be successful in life based on their background and knowledge without the real knowledge as to why they choose that kind of life then create your own opinion, differentiating what’s found in the streets and in mall viewing products at malls more quality and streets products not quality, backing that up with my understanding.

 

Reference List

Bart Williams (Change your channel), https://efundi.nwu.ac.za/acessss/lessonbuilder/item/15479629/ Date of access: 2 March 2024

Ngozi (Danger of a single story), https://efundi.nwu.ac.za/acessss/lessonbuilder/item/15479629/ Date of access: 2 March 2024

Wainaina, Binyavanga. (2005). How to write about Africa. Granta, 92(1). Date of access: 2 March 2024 (Power Point presentation)