A call to celebrate, not destroy – Artslink.co.za

Thami Akambongo Manzana: The attack on black excellence in the cultural and creative industries.

Black excellence has always been a beacon of hope, pride, and progress. It represents the breaking of chains, the rising of giants, and the rewriting of narratives that have long oppressed and marginalized the black community.

But, disturbingly, in the Cultural and Creative Industries in South Africa, this excellence is too often met not with celebration, but with sabotage. Instead of nurturing and uplifting one another, many black creators and leaders face vicious attacks from within their own communities. This is a phenomenon that has to stop.

There is a pattern that plays out when a black individual not only impresses but begins to make a real impact – an impact that goes beyond awards, accolades, and media buzz. When their excellence begins to shift paradigms and reshape societal views, “evil spirits” in the form of human interference seem to emerge. These forces, often disguised as constructive criticism or industry politics, work tirelessly to tear down the very success that should be celebrated. The media, a powerful tool in shaping public opinion, is often complicit, amplifying these attacks and creating divisions. The unsettling truth is that this destructive force comes, more often than not, from within our own black communities.

In other racial groups, excellence is more frequently met with admiration, support, and a collective desire to elevate the success story.

Why is it that in black communities, there is such resistance to this celebration? Why do we, as black people, struggle to give each other the same respect and recognition that we freely offer to other races? Why do we feel comfortable saying “Umlungu wam” when referring to white bosses, but hesitate or even resist offering the same respect to a black person in a position of power or success?

This internalized reluctance, this seeming jealousy of another black person’s success, is not just a reflection of individual attitudes – it is a deep-rooted societal wound. It reflects a lingering psychological scar from years of colonialism and apartheid, systems designed to divide and conquer black communities. These systems thrived on turning black people against each other, fostering distrust and disunity that still plagues us today.

As a result, when one of us succeeds, there is often a collective tension: instead of celebrating, we question, criticize, or try to diminish their achievement. We wish it were us in that position, not them.

This mentality is, in essence, a form of modern witchcraft – a self-destructive cycle of envy and sabotage. We become complicit in the very systems that have historically sought to keep us down. By attacking black excellence, we are doing the oppressor’s work for them.

It is time for a radical shift in mindset. We need to wake up and realize that black excellence in the Cultural and Creative Industries is not just about individual success – it’s about collective empowerment. Every time one of us rises, they break barriers and create new opportunities for others. Every black artist, actor, writer, director, or musician who makes waves is not just opening doors for themselves – they are kicking them open for the entire community to walk through.

Let us stop this witchcraft. Let us stop tearing each other down. Instead, let us celebrate, uplift, and amplify black excellence wherever we see it. Let us take pride in the accomplishments of our peers, knowing that their success reflects our potential as a people. Let us support black creators, leaders, and innovators in the Cultural and Creative Industries with the same fervor and admiration that we show to those from other races.

Black excellence is not a threat; it is a triumph. And when we, as a community, fully acknowledge and celebrate it, we will see our industries – and our society – thrive in ways we never imagined.

So, to every black artist, creator, and visionary out there: keep shining, keep pushing, and keep breaking barriers. Your excellence is a testament to the strength, resilience, and brilliance of the black community. And to every member of that community: let’s rise together. Let’s destroy the witchcraft of envy and replace it with the power of unity and celebration.

Wake up, mntu omnyama. It’s time we honour, protect, and celebrate the black excellence that already exists – and the greatness that is yet to come.

Thami Akambongo Manzana
thami@akambongo.co.za
akaMbongo Foundation Pty Ltd
http://www.akambongo.co.za

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Thami akaMbongo Manzana writes in his own personal capacity.