Zimbabwean twins jailed for wearing traditional clothing

[Kefentse_Bandele]

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean twins who became media
celebrities for appearing in public wearing nothing
but
traditional African goatskin loincloths have been
detained
pending trial for indecent exposure.

Harare magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe also ordered the
22-year-old brothers, dubbed the "Terrible Twins" by
local
newspapers, to undergo psychiatric evaluation, the
official
Herald newspaper said Friday.

The men, Tafadzwanashe and Tapiwanashe Fichani, raised
eyebrows last month when they went to an upscale
Harare
shopping mall clad only in brief loincloths -- leading
several
shocked shoppers to call the police.

The twins said they were making a statement by
appearing in
traditional African clothing dating back to
pre-colonial times.

State prosecutors disagreed and lodged a case of
indecent
exposure against them, a position the Herald said was
backed by
the head of Zimbabwe's National Traditional Healers'
Association.

"We have failed to see how their actions conform to
our
culture," association president Gordon Chavunduka told
the
newspaper. "Dressing of that nature is now reserved
for special
traditional and cultural occasions, not everywhere."

The twins were denied bail and ordered back to court
for
trial on February 2.

[Baba Ahmed]

Oh yeah! I do remember this. I wasn't gon say nothing; but dauta went to Ghana and was laff'd at for wearing traditional clothing. See my yung brutha, imo, most of the Continental Afrikans I've met here, especially men, discard their traditional garbs; its like when in Rome do as the Romans do. Damnit. Yet onanother note, many family customs are squeezed tightly. Something many of us lack. That is, clear customs. Early on at this site I respectfully told a learned sista that we are like babies in efforts to reclaim what we lost. I think she took exception to that classification. And especially so for those in my age set; yes I'm a lil up on our stories in this damned nation even some recognizable from MaMa Lands; but brutha Language and customs are what essentially make us who we are and intend to be.

Also most of the Afrikans I've met here are Christians. That's who fund many education efforts particularly in West Afrika. Christians from here, Black and White, also sponsor many trips to and from Afrika... to Azania in particular and to Kenya. Have been for many years, I know of. That too makes a major difference. And the "new breed" of "educated" Afrikans are discarding their traditional ways as outdated; and u'll see such statements as, "we have to become modern!" They escape to London, Paris, Washington DC and many now to Atlanta. To become modernized; to return home, it seems unaware, to bcome a 5th column of agents for continual European indirect rule.

Maybe my brutha we here in this god forsaken land; we who were the first to be consciously cut off from our languages, customs, religions, foods, families destroyed etc and I dare say the ones who were affected in a more lasting manner...
Maybe we are some of the babies who have no choice but to lead our int'l bruthas and sistas back in tune with Afrikan worldviews and traditions. Its like one of our learned wrote: traditions are proven ways to think and act. Its the interpretation in today's light that jams many of us.

Yeah bruhMan I remember reading this article and felt like crying. But its like dat, ya kno? This sometimes can be a very lonely seeming chosen path. Yet ours is a very ancient "RIVER" with many varied inlets. With enough "water" to quell our thirsts.

If only I had the power I'd do what sho nuff teachers do: Teach to the future!

Oh btw if u're interested in one man's image of modern continental afrikans, get your hands on We Wont Budge An African Exile in the World by Mathia Diawara a brutha from Mali. Its both saddening and enlightening. It shows somewhat what we face; we meaning we who constantly strive to reclaim our Afrikan minds, regardless if some Afrikans have lost theirs. The glitter, like NYC's bright lights 24/7 & sky tall bldgs bedazzles many newbies in that set'n along with what used to be called "streets of gold" is a m.f. for keeping one's focus clear. Chekh Anta Diop was on to something that's clearer to me now. He charged the Afrikans in America with a duty to complete the correcting and writing OurStories. With added "scholars" who know to write alone is insufficient; one must live what they learn and teach; or as a popular phrase says it to be "warrior/scholars!"

I'm heartened yung brutha, your age set has much to be proud of; if no more than to reconnect with your elders, while showing us as some of my sons are showing me, they were listening and watching and now are laying it down in their forms. In light of today. Not formally organized yet; we've not ingested yet what is a useful purpose to unify. Too many egos swelling;too much ignorance of dealing with our sistas and vice versa; too impatient and romantic and I might add to filled with stagnated paralysis in analysis, which show as tryn to outshine a companion for the sake of chest swellings.

Back on track, traditional clothing serves purposes just as any clothing will. Setting somewhat determine effective uses. Thanks for the reminder Kefentse and if I may say so, please avoid b n "holier than thou" in our struggles. Most of us have plenty get'n it together to do. Imagine that what those yung Afrikan twins did is revolutionary in an Afrikan land! Ain't dat a whachamacallit!?!

Never Forget! What was ain't gwan b no mo' not like bfo'

[QueenWarriorNefertari]

Any updates on this story?

I'm totally flabbergasted at this, especially Chavanduka's commentary. Follow the g.d. leader, huh? No matter how crakkka a** he might be.

Excuse my language, Brother and Baba.

P.E.A.C.E.

[Baba Ahmed]

Harmonious greetings Cynequa, u got that.... I've not heard or seen any update and haven't followed it. Onanother tip, I'm more moved by a report last year about the African Union. One nation's rep, whose name I forget now, spoke in KiSwahili. Not one other Afrikan Nation's rep understood the speech!!!

Its, AU's, "official" languages are FRENCH, ENGLISH, AND I THINK GERMAN!!!

But yeah that's really cold blooded example of indirectly ruled Zimbabweans. A brutha onanother site's forum demanded to know What is White Thought. Well its colored white in actions.

[Kefentse_Bandele]

Originally Posted by Baba Ahmed

[b]
I'm heartened yung brutha, your age set has much to be proud of; if no more than to reconnect with your elders, while showing us as some of my sons are showing me, they were listening and watching and now are laying it down in their forms. In light of today. Not formally organized yet; we've not ingested yet what is a useful purpose to unify. Too many egos swelling;too much ignorance of dealing with our sistas and vice versa; too impatient and romantic and I might add to filled with stagnated paralysis in analysis, which show as tryn to outshine a companion for the sake of chest swellings.

• How can a brutha say somethin as simple as thank you to a statement like
  
  this? It would almost be insultin' to the elder. I here u loud and clear Baba
  
  and as long as I have elders such as yourself to stear me/us in the right
  
  direction and discard our "testosterone filled-brahma bullisms" we gon be
  
  alright.

Uhuru

[Baba Ahmed]

per the teachings of ptahhotep, to hear is sufficient and i'm humbled