My Name by Magoleng wa Selepe

My Name by: Magoleng wa Selepe

• The poem explores the impact of Apartheid on personal identity, specifically through the experience of having one’s name distorted.
• It highlights the power dynamics between a Black South African and a white bureaucrat as "Nomgqibelo Ncamisile Mnqhibisa" is reduced to "Maria."
• The poem reflects the reality of many Black South Africans during apartheid, who often held two names: one in their native language and another, European name used by their employers.
• This reflects the system's attempt to erase cultural heritage and impose a European identity.
• Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced in South Africa for 50 years.
• It involved the enactment of 148 laws that enforced racial separation and discrimination.
• One of the key aspects of Apartheid was the banning of interracial marriages.

The Secret Language

• This poem explores the theme of assimilation and the challenges faced by individuals trying to navigate different cultural identities.
• The speaker learns English for a "fair stranger," suggesting assimilation into a dominant white culture.
• The speaker’s act of braiding her hair "thick and beautiful as the serpent in the story of Eden" signifies a desire to conform to European beauty standards.
• The speaker hides her breasts and surrenders her beads, reflecting the imposed cultural norms of the colonial era.
• Before colonization, the exposure of breasts in many African cultures was not seen as inherently sexual, but rather as a part of motherhood and nurturing.
• This illustrates the suppression of indigenous practices and the imposition of European standards under colonial rule.
• The speaker’s name change from "Binaay" to "Christina" exemplifies the erasure of cultural identity during colonialism. The teacher's hair being the "color of corn" hints at the white teachers and reinforces the colonial influence on education.
• The speaker is praised for her lemon pie and her English, highlighting the recognition of her assimilation but potentially highlighting a loss of her own traditions.
• The final stanza expresses the speaker's internal conflict and longing for her lost identity.
• The poem reflects the complex and often painful process of assimilation, where individuals are pressured to abandon their own cultural heritage and embrace a foreign one.

Gentlemen of the Jungle by: Jomo Kenyatta

• This fable illustrates the unfairness of colonialism and the exploitation of indigenous people.
• The man is initially seen as equal to the elephant, but this is quickly dismissed when the man's attempts to assert his rights are ignored.
• The Lion, representing the colonial power, establishes a Commission to seemingly resolve the dispute. However, the commission is made up of animals, symbolizing the lack of representation and fairness for the man, who is the “human” voice.
• The man's requests are ignored, highlighting the power imbalance and the unjust nature of the colonial system.
• The elephant and rhinoceros, representing the colonial powers, repeatedly take over the man's hut, reflecting the systemic dispossession and exploitation of indigenous people.
• This fable critiques the hypocrisy of colonial justice systems that prioritize the interests of the colonizers over the rights of the colonized.
• Kenyatta’s work effectively highlights the exploitation and marginalization faced by indigenous people during the colonial period.

This quiz delves into the poem 'My Name' by Magoleng wa Selepe, which examines the impact of Apartheid on personal identity. It highlights the complexities of cultural heritage and the experiences of Black South Africans, whose names were often altered by oppressive systems. Explore the themes of identity, power dynamics, and assimilation reflected in the poem.