I'm South African | Pillay Cheryl | TEDxKCISEC Youth

Key Concepts

• Diaspora: A dispersion of people from their original homeland.
• Indentured Laborers: Individuals who are bound by contract to work for a specified period, often in exchange for passage to a new country.
• Colonialism: The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.
• Cultural Kaleidoscope: A metaphor for a multifaceted and ever-changing identity shaped by various cultural influences.
• Globalization: The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.
• Lingua Franca: A common language used among people who speak different native languages.
• Apartheid: A system of institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.
• Rainbow Nation: A term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe South Africa's post-apartheid society, emphasizing unity in diversity.

The Untold Story of South African Indians

The speaker, who is South African, often faces assumptions about their Indian heritage due to their appearance, particularly while living in China. This recurring question provides an opportunity to share the history of Indian indentured laborers who were brought to South Africa between 1860 and 1911 to work on sugarcane plantations. Many of these laborers, bound by contracts rather than dreams, never returned to India, instead establishing roots and giving rise to generations. Today, over 1.7 million people of Indian descent reside in South Africa, a significant population often unknown to the wider world because their history is not widely publicized.

Colonialism and the Threads of Migration

Colonialism is presented as a force that has intricately woven Indian lives into the fabric of nations like Trinidad, Fiji, Mauritius, and South Africa. The speaker's identity is described as a "tapestry woven from those threads," positioning them as part of the world's largest diaspora, situated at the intersection of continents, languages, and legacies. This multifaceted identity is termed a "culture kaleidoscope," where each interaction reveals new patterns and deeper questions about inherited stories, languages, and ancestral customs. Identity, in this context, is not fixed but is layered, fluid, and refracted.

Globalization and Cultural Fusion

The speaker identifies as South African and ethnically Indian, speaking English as their native language. While they embrace certain Indian traditions like eating curry and roti and wearing traditional Indian clothes for special occasions, this blending is not unique but rather a manifestation of globalization. Globalization, originating centuries ago with voyages of discovery driven by profit and conquest, has led to profound cultural exchange, impacting culinary arts and linguistic phonetics.

Examples of Globalization's Impact:

• Music: African rhythms and instruments influenced jazz, blues, and reggae. Latin American cultures contributed to salsa, samba, and tango. Globalization facilitates the blending of these influences into fusion genres like EDM, hip-hop, and world music.
• Visual Arts: Migrating communities bring their artistic traditions, worldviews, and creative practices, enriching new communities.
• Culinary Arts: The mixing of culinary traditions has resulted in hybrid dishes like sushi burritos and Korean tacos. Global trade provides access to ingredients from diverse regions, and social media and international travel disseminate culinary education and trends.

Personal Identity and the "Waste of an Indian"

The speaker reiterates that despite their ancestral link to India, their lived experiences and commonalities are far greater with their fellow South Africans of all races than with people from India. An anecdote is shared about a fellow teacher in China who was disappointed that the speaker, a Christian unfamiliar with many Indian traditions and unable to speak any of India's official languages, did not meet his expectations of an "Indian." This experience highlights the relevance of the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover," emphasizing the danger of making assumptions about identity based solely on appearance.

Growing Up in Diverse South Africa and the End of Apartheid

The speaker recounts growing up in South Africa during apartheid, a period of strict racial segregation. While encountering people of different races, they lived in separate neighborhoods and attended segregated schools. The speaker's school was exclusively for Indian students and teachers, which seemed normal at the time. However, upon moving to high school, they became aware of the political tensions and international pressure to dismantle apartheid. The release of Nelson Mandela in 1994 marked a turning point, leading to South Africa's first democratic election. The speaker expresses pride in casting their first vote as a person of color for a party they believed would bring meaningful change.

The Rainbow Nation and Embracing Diversity

Under Nelson Mandela's leadership, South Africa avoided civil war and emerged as a "rainbow nation," as described by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In this new era, differences are celebrated rather than dividing. The phrase "Our blood is green," used by the national rugby team, the Springboks, encapsulates this spirit of unity. The speaker asserts that their identity, far from being an anomaly, fits naturally into South African society, which has embraced its "culture kaleidoscope" with pride and resilience.

Conclusion: A Bold and Diverse Future

The speaker concludes by referencing Maya Angelou's quote about diversity creating a rich tapestry where all threads are equal in value. As a South African of Indian descent, the speaker embraces their mosaic of migration, memory, and identity, walking forward shaped by every thread of their journey, and looks forward to a future that is bold, bright, and beautifully diverse.