The Wicked Remain Winning

Besides Christianity, our African culture; whether you’re Zulu, Sotho, Swati or Xhosa; teaches us about humanity. The lesson of humanity is broad and often orders us to do things that today’s society perceives as sheer stupidity due to the fact that there are wicked people that prey on those that practice humanity (ubuntu) instead of appreciating it.

I grew up in the hands of a devout Christian that believed that on top of ubuntu, we are meant to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in order to live a divine life. I have no issues with the teachings of Jesus Christ, in fact, it is one of the few parts of the Bible that I completely understand and agree with. I am also in full support of the concept of ubuntu because if we all practiced it and didn’t abuse it, the world would be such a better place.

Now on to my point, it concerns me that we live in a society that glorifies wickedness. Before I lose you, this is not a sermon, I am merely referring to the fact that we live in a society that makes it glamorous to abuse someone’s sense of humanity or divinity. We often fail to condemn people with wicked souls when they do wrong to good people instead we find a way to blame the victim for falling prey to such a person. We use sayings such as, “ingoba nawe ulunge kakhulu (you are now in this position because you are too kind/righteous)” which in essence means that there is no room for the kind and humane in our society.

In as much as I have learned to be very forthright with my feelings and opinions, the boy that my mother raised is still there. Some part of me still believes in the good in people despite the wicked things that they do. I am still that person that will never deny even my worst enemy food and shelter should they come to my door and tell me that they are hungry with no place to stay. Okay, I’m lying, I’d probably give them something to eat and tell them not to come back but that’s not the point, the point is I still believe in being humane. This is the very reason I find myself doing good things for wicked people that would never do the same for me given a chance. I do these things to appeal to the good within them but the one thing that I have realised and learned over the years is that someone who doesn’t like you and doesn’t wish you well will never let something that you do for them touch them in the way that you desire, instead, it is in the DNA of the wicked to rather question your intentions and reach a conclusion that your good deed is for your benefit somehow. They then spite you by abusing your helping hand. You can’t win!

Cosmopolitan places like Johannesburg breed the culture of inhumanity. People arrive in this town with the intention of making it and they are told that this is the land where the cutthroat survive and there is room for playing the game fairly. Which is why I am no longer phased when I’m back stabbed or when I hear that someone I thought I am in good standing with said/did something to hinder my progress/success. You quickly learn that in order for your idea/project to come alive, you need to tell as little people as possible in order to shield yourself for the prayers/actions of the wicked. This is inclusive of people that you have never done wrong to but they wish nothing good to happen to anyone in their line of vision, the kind of people that want good things to happen to them only and nobody else.

I guess I am questioning the concept of Ubuntu and whether it is okay to play stupid and allow the wicked to remain winning with the hope that someday they will see the error of their ways or give them the shock treatment by returning each and every one of their serves perfectly?

By Mablerh

Related Stories: