In a compelling address delivered yesterday at the Nelson Mandela lecture in Muldersdrift, renowned decolonial scholar Dr Tshepo Moloi ignited passionate discussions about cultural identity and representation in South Africa.
His remarks not only highlighted the complexities surrounding historical narratives but also accentuated the pressing need for South Africans to reclaim their stories. Dr Moloi's lecture unfolded a surprising revelation — the real name of King Shaka Zulu is Mlilwana Mhlongo.
The scholar asserted that the common reference to King Shaka is an affront to the Mhlongo family, stemming from the fact that Nandi, the king's mother, was never married to his father. This foundational aspect of history, he argued, is often overlooked and misrepresented. A significant contention raised by Dr Moloi was the portrayal of King Shaka in the current telenovela airing on television.
He voiced his discontent with the fact that the show's producer is an elderly white man and the director hails from Nigeria. "Our story is told by a white old man and a Nigerian. Where are the South African storytellers?" he challenged, bringing to light the critical question of who gets to narrate a nation’s history.
Furthermore, the scholar pointed out the troubling disconnect between local communities and the production of the telenovela, which is filmed in Mogale City — a place that, despite hosting the project, sees little benefit in terms of job opportunities for its residents.
Dr Moloi remarked that both the community of KZN and Mogale City seemed complicit in their silence regarding such inequities. In an energetic discourse, he turned to the subject of Kimberly University, questioning its nomenclature after Sol Plaatjie, a Motswana from the North West, rather than honouring a local woman who had met the Queen of England far earlier than most South Africans.
"This woman," Dr Moloi lamented, "is not even mentioned in the university's archives."
His statement called for a broader recognition of the intricacies of local history that have often been glossed over. Dr Moloi also addressed the historical governance of Braamfontein, which resided under King Mogale Mogale. In a thought-provoking assertion, he challenged the classification of Braamfontein falling within the City of Johannesburg, insisting that political leaders reassess such administrative decisions.
The absence of recognition for historical figures like Ahmed Kathrada was another grave concern voiced by Dr Moloi. He highlighted Kathrada's pivotal role in the struggle against apartheid, noting his photographic memory that enabled him to transcribe Nelson Mandela's words while in prison.
“He wrote everything Mandela told him and it was smuggled out,” he noted, yet Kathrada's contributions remain largely uncelebrated. Dr Tshepo Moloi's address has sparked a critical dialogue about heritage, representation, and the need for African voices to lead narratives about their own histories. His fervor for decolonial discourse invites all South Africans to reflect on who tells their stories and how that shapes national identity.
Thabile Mange Pretoria
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