Our collective African faces

Dr Fahim Chand | Monday June 20, 2022 06:00

For without this structure, none of our governing principles would have materialised. It is only with these as yet unnamed laws, that we would predictably anticipate the sunrise appearing in the east everyday. And only then could the history of humankind originate. Approximately 3.5 million years ago the first human eyes opened to witness this historic event.

The unforgettable venue, The Cradle of Humankind in South Africa.

My family and I drive past this World Heritage site whenever we travel to Johannesburg. There are wide beautiful plains, dotted with zebras, antelope and the most beautiful ponds as far as the eye could see. A more dramatic venue for this momentous event I have not seen. If da Vinci had painted this landscape, it would have commanded a privileged place in the Louvre Museum. It is here the first bold steps were taken by our ancestors to eventually lead us into this cyber-tinged world we live in today.

While Africa commands its seat at the head of the table of human history, what does the world think of Africa now?

While the developed world has forged their identities as world military powers and economic maestros, the Dark Continent is still viewed curiously. Some may view it as that nursing, helpless child in constant need of attention, while others view it as a rising economic power on the global stage. Though I think the most cerebral of the nations view this continent, rightly so, as the “African opportunity”. Why so? You better sit down for this one. Africa is home to 30% of the world’s mineral resources, eight percent of the world’s natural gas and 12% of the world’s oil. This continent has 40% of the world’s gold and up to 90% of its platinum and chromium.

If you don’t know what that means then let me spell it out for you. The comfortable world that you live in, with electric cars and devices that allow you to access the world at your fingertips, doesn’t exist without Africa. Ignore this hallowed continent at your peril. But the world is far smarter than that and that is why all of the so-called big shots on the global forum have a presence here. And of course they must then give us an opportunity to prove ourselves on the world’s stage. And so it was in 2010.

FIFA, world football’s governing body, for the first time in its history granted this planet’s marquee sports event to Africa. Following what was widely acknowledged as the best World Cup ever in 2006, hosted by the ultra talented and precise Germans, South Africa was given the opportunity to prove Africa’s capability and relevance. And as Shakira’s infectious Waka Waka World Cup theme stated, “This is for Africa”. South Africa had taken all of us, from Kgale Hill near Gaborone to the dramatic mouth of the river Nile, under its wing to show the waiting world what this glorious continent could achieve.

As it’s dramatic mosaic facade towered above us, excitement permeated the cool winter air. This was Soccer City, Johannesburg. Shabana, Ayaan, Azeem and I, along with my cousin Arfana and her family prepared to enter the stadium. Excitement condensed the atmosphere as we prepared to watch a round of 16 match between my beloved Argentina against my former North American neighbours Mexico.

As we settled into our field level seats, he appeared. The greatest footballer ever, Diego Armando Maradona. Only today he wore not the sky blue and white masterpiece that is the uniform of the Albiceleste, but rather a pair of track pants as the manager of the team. Beside him stood none other than Argentina’s other famous football son, Lionel Messi.

Maradona strode onto the immaculate Soccer City pitch leading his team for training before the match. With apologies to Messi, every set of eyes in the stadium was trained on the middle-aged maestro from the mean streets of Buenos Aires. As he engaged in a kick around with his team, a dramatic hush escaped into the winter night. It was as if a spotlight pierced the night air and shone on this remarkable man. In the middle of this spotlight one witnessed the most seductive dance you have ever seen. The football obeyed his every instinctive command. Houdini and Copperfield will tell you magic is an illusion, but here it was real. One believed if Maradona waved his hand the ball would rise and if he asked it, it would levitate.

Such was the still awe-inspiring innate talent in a sick, addicted body. It is that night captivated by Maradona’s fandango that I truly understood what The Beautiful Game meant.

And when he turned to lead his team back to the dressing room to ready for the match, the stadium erupted, with none other than Messi clapping his hands. Argentina won 3-1, but the real winner in 2010 was not only Africa, but also the rest of the world.

For this continent, led by the dazzling South Africans showed what Africa is capable of. There were some of the most beautiful football stadiums the world had seen, laughter, camaraderie and the realisation that we are all one on this planet. A German who attended the 2010 World Cup when asked to compare this one to the 2006 German World Cup replied, “Ours is not the best World Cup ever, this one is”. His countrymen behind him all nodded in agreement. It is with a wry smile on our collective African faces we say: “We knew the world could dance, but you didn’t know Africa dances the best of all”.