ZuptasMustFall and other diatribes
Arts EntertainmentsBook Title: #ZuptasMustFall and Other Diatribes
Publisher: Penguin Books
Author: Fred Khumalo
Year: 2016
In #ZuptasMustFall and other diatribes, Fred Khumalo transforms himself into post-apartheid South Africa’s leading social commentator. He no longer just speaks truth to power with his trademark blend of humor, but he denounces the hateful leaders who make our nascent democracy susceptible to kleptocratic disease. He confronts the bare and brutal facts of our recent and middle history about the future of our country.
In the title essay #ZuptasMustFall, Khumalo removes politically correct language. Gloves off! He calls the whole Guptas thing a form of halitosis. Khumalo’s parting shot in this essay is revealing. He writes: ‘As I sat down to tell this story, I was struck by how close those in power came to offering my country to the Guptas on a platter.’
Khumalo’s latest offering is a set of astute political analyses; an insight into everyday life that includes music, soccer, Zimbabwe, xenophobia, and yes, other rants. What makes this collection a must-read is the novel way ordinary Facebook users appear, defending themselves as commenters. Khumalo decided to include his Facebook posts in the collection along with comments as a tribute to the extraordinary power of social media, and of course to please his legions of online followers.
In this collection, there is an exuberance never before seen in Khumalo’s writing. It seems that the freedom of being unemployed in the traditional sense of the word has achieved a metamorphosis that was not possible within the confines of a newsroom environment. This new collection, which includes previously unpublished material, columns published in various newspapers and posts on Facebook, completes Khumalo’s illustrious career as a writer, novelist, social commentator and keen observer of post-apartheid South Africa (on the verge of collapse if ratings agencies they will be believed).
In a nutshell, the book is about the idiosyncrasies of a nation: it warns us about the rampant xenophobia that can lead to ethnic cleansing, the life and shoes of Grace Mugabe, and the antics of President Zuma’s nephew, the huge Khulubus. He takes us on a tour of the United States in a piece called On a Bus Across America. However, it is his opening gambit titled simply #TrevorNoahAllTheWay that really brings home the effects of colonialism and white privilege. In this piece, Khumalo berates American comedians, in particular Richard from the House of Pryor, who apparently came to Africa and stole ‘our jokes’. This, of course, is a response to the US media accusing the host of the popular Daily Show of stealing some of her jokes. Apparently, according to Khumalo, you can’t steal a joke. This collection would not have been complete without the legendary story of Christmas with the Khumalos.
The collection is devastatingly honest in its analysis and commentary. It’s packed. It’s scary. It is funny. Is seriously. At the same time, it is poetic. It’s hilarious at times, but it’s always superbly written. One word out of place could have ruined it. This collection is truly a masterpiece. Khumalo has delivered a coup de grace with the written word on the crooks of South Africa. There is nowhere to hide, Mr. Khumalo is WATCHING you.