In this temple, anything goes (almost); people are jamming to the "vuvuzelas" noise, chanting, dancing, screaming, jumping... Here, no priests or bishops are required to start the celebration. This mass is a fever, but when it hits, you feel no pain.
A fever that started from the time you hopped on the train in Soweto to Jo'burg (Johannesburg), to the "City Soccer Stadium" and all the way through the world cup game.
Soweto is a symbol of Nelson Mandela fight and movement (No! Soweto is not in Alabama). The Jo'burg suburb has dramatically improved in the past 10 yrs; many "new rich" live here, but poverty is a part of the daily life and the majority of the one million Sowetans are still fighting for basic needs.
When the cradle of humanity is hosting, when stadiums become places of worship, when fans are congregants and players are "Stadium Gods," South Africa becomes a site of Pilgrimage where people come from all over the world, not only to bless the "Holy place", but also to absorb the culture and forever reconcile with the nation.
To some, "this sport is stupid anyway" (NY daily), but to the "educated ones" this world cup is bigger than just "soccer". To a nation still in search of stability and peace with its own, it represents the pride of a whole continent and an acknowledgment from the world that in the past has ignored the cry of "the Zulu" who for centuries, had pled through struggles for identity and recognition. This world cup is one of the platforms on which the process of reconciliation is being performed.
For a month, Johannesburg through "Soccer City Stadium" and "Ellis Park stadium" as the whole country through other stadiums, will vibe to the world cup beat.
Jo'burg, the wealthiest city in the country, hosted the first game of the world cup and will host the last. before its all said and done , .. Argentina, Ghana, Mexico, Netherlands.., more than 18 different countries will play in this city including the hosting country supported by the entire nation "united" for the cause....
When the "Golden Sounds" came out with their most successful song, "zangalewa" in the 80...it was a boyscout or military marching song....that reflected the whole continent "vibe" then. Today, it’s in the same spirit of "unity" and "via " the Colombian Shakira and the magic of new technology that the same song became "Waka waka" as the world cup anthem not only to symbolize the South African unity but to reunite all Africans, behind the same "goal", and no matter who scores it.
South Africa is still a racially divided country and the continent is facing though challenges but, in life every so often something comes along, an opportunity to set differences aside, to show each other that we can be tolerant, we can work together without regard to race toward a common goal, to give to this "world cup" its real meaning "the Rainbow Cup". A rainbow " that is giving the continent not only freedom and fire, but also a reason to all nations to look in the same direction. A true rainbow that has neither white nor black .
(Thanx to Habib Moudachirou for the beautiful pics, see u at the next one!)
My songs:
_Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0
_ Waving Flag K´naan n David Bisba
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__lUfx7zdo&feature=related
