Simply Philile

Dear Diary I, Philile Masango, daughter of a farmer and umgcugcuteli (rural health motivator), live in truly interesting and exciting times. I have lived to experience firsthand what Charles Dickens meant when he said ‘it was the best of times; it was the worst of times’. As expected my previous blog narrating my life story and addressing the state of affairs in Swaziland has generated massive feedback, flak and dialogue, thanks to the Times of Swaziland newspaper for publishing my written thoughts albeit partially, and sensationalized. The feedback of sorts shows I’m on course with what I sought to do - which is, starting a conversation amongst ourselves as Swazis about our socio-political and economic situation and consequently spring us into taking action. In fact, for me, having a conversation is big enough action for a nation that is hardly participatory. Obviously, as I pointed out in my previous article, part of this new conversation was inevitably going to be laden ...

This past December I laughed so hard just seconds after my long-time girlfriend had hopped into the car. I’d picked her up for lunch on one gloomy overcast afternoon in the capital Mbabane. She’s always cracked me up.  This time I had irritably remarked, “I can’t wait to get back to Jo’burg, this weather sucks just like this pothole-riddled street I’m driving on”. My remark was met half-way by a sharp “Aw’seyekele wena ntfombi yakuMatsetsa…yimihlolo yetfu” (meaning “Oh please! A girl from Matsetsa now knows things suck?”).  That’s when I just burst into fits of laughter as she went on… “It’s the same with your facebook statuses, you are practically unhappy and critical about everything here, if it’s not the weather it’s the roads or the cabinet ministers or the Church, the police or the pubs…I mean what was that you wrote the other day ‘I've arrived in the (Swazi)land of Sex, Alcohol and Jesus. In that (dis)order thank you #KnowYourCountry’? What was that huh? Her s...