Plato and the humbling, admirable, odd white man

A total rarity it is for one to come across humbling moments from complete strangers. Let alone one that leaves you in near-paralysis. More like arresting flabbergast that leaves you jaw-dropping as you try to catch your breath.

Well, I felt like that emotional cocktail was served me cold last week whilst I went to order my latest book, The Republic, Plato – at Exclusive books, Woodlands Boulevard. Whilst at my business, this odd looking, but interesting white man started talking on his cellphone.

For a moment I refused to believe what my ears were clearly hearing, until – yes I snooped on someone’s conversation – I confirmed my total disbelief. The old, odd man was speaking an African language. To add voodoo to my ears, the tongue was my home language, xiTsonga (Shangaan).

I admired that and him. I found it humbling that somebody from a race that popularly disregards indigenous languages could speak, not Zulu, not Xhosa (most farm whites speak those two), but xiTsonga. My admiration was dampened a bit with a pint of jealousy. Why? He spoke the Shangaan the real ‘makoya’ way. Like they speak it in Mozambique and Giyani (in the Northern Province), respectively.

I approached him with the barest confidence I could muster in a spare of the moment.
“Is that shagaan that you just spoke so eloquently and originally,” I asked in Shangaan too – although the watered down version which I felt didn’t compete with his. He spoke his with finesse. To paraphrase him:

“Yes it is. You see, we live together. In a changed world. And I work with people who speak these African languages… God meant for me to learn other people’s languages… God be with you...,” he bade me farewell as the phone rang again.

He said all that speech without allowing me to cut in with more questions. (I wished to invite him to lunch with my family, but the magical spell in the emotions carried me away – and as I write this, my wife asks me ‘why didn’t you get his number for now’).

And somewhat, I felt it in me that I was blessed to come across a man who saw value in other peoples culture. The indigenous and rich culture elements of South Africa that often go ignored by those whose culture our total educational and business system is based on. Not that I’m a complaining. That’s just a known statement.

This odd man just humbled me and I went on to remember the many intricate but insightful passages in Plato’s book, The Republic, which advocates the understanding of one another, the need for regulations and social structures that compel us to leave together in harmony.

Can’t wait to lay my hands on that all-time great piece of philosophy (by the way, I dropped out of my philosophy class thrice and flunked it twice back at Rhodes University). Let’s see if I will finish this 500-pager without dropping it.

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"Judge of a man by his questions, rather than by his answers." - Voltaire