Kwasi Gyekye: There is Apartheid in South Africa
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Adenta, Ghana - When asked by his eldest child if Ghanaians need a passport and visa to travel to South Africa, Kwasi Gyekye, a former pilot who now ‘looks for money’ as a living, answered in the affirmative.
“All those who went to the World Cup had to go for a visa,” he replied.
When asked why this was so - because after all, isn’t South Africa part of Africa? He answered by saying it had something to do with pizza and chicken.
“South Africa, unlike the rest of Africa, is the only country that has access to Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s. No other sub-Saharan nation has Kentucky Fried Chicken. That’s why you need a visa to enter the country.”
Curious about what was prompting these questions, he asked his loin fruit why she was asking so many questions about South Africa. Her response that she was thinking about immigrating there took him by surprise. His rebuke was sharp and swift.
“Why? Because of what you saw on the TV?” he quizzed. “You can’t believe everything you see on the TV oohh! There is still apartheid in South Africa!”
Even though Mandela became president?
“Yes!”
Even though the ANC is the ruling political party?
“Yes!”
To give credence to his assertions, he pointed to South Africa’s climactic conditions. Pointing out that there is not only snow in the region, but also a lack of indigenous plantain, Mr. Gyekye alleged that these were all evidence of an egregious apartheid system.
“What African does not have plantain growing wild in his back yard? Heh? We all do…except South Africans!”
Further more, several Ghanaians came back to Accra and reported an inability to bathe for several days because of the bitterly cool air (despite the presence of hot water) in the Cup’s host country. Mr. Gyekye says that it is that failure to bathe that supports that racist White men’s notion that all Africans smell.
“Do you know how many stinking Africans from other nations are roaming the streets of Johannesburg right now?” he queried. “No, you don’t.”
His advice to his child, and all African youth seeking a job, adventure, a vacation, a drink of water, a condom (especially condoms - S.A. rubbers are obviously defective, given the country’s astounding HIV/AIDS numbers) in Mandela’s home country is to forget about it.
“An African should be able to roam the streets bare foot or in slippers 365 days of the year,” he said in conclusion. “But because of that country’s racist meteorological climate, orchestrated by that wizard, Vervoordt, Blacks are unable to do so. It’s a disgrace. ”
