They, our people, us collectively, we Blacks, have lost purpose for our lives, and those that still have purpose for their lives, starved to the periphery of insignificance.
A friend, who will remain anonymous but is a journalist of note, made me laugh last night (Friday January 30, 2026). Says my journalist bosom friend:
“Ngwenya I am sitting at a dinner table where there is mention of your name in an uncomplimentary manner, but I keep mum to enjoy the meal in the good company of your detractors.”
“If you want to starve, continue taking cue from that one,” the friend hears it assuredly said as a self-evident statement, “you will starve.”
“Principles do not put food on the table,” came the elaboration.
After the elaboration came what came across as matter-of-factly hyperbole: “Do not mistake Ngwenya’s six pack as being due to the gym, he is starving.”
To think I hardly have athletically defined stomach muscles to boast of or to exhibit, depicts macabre joy of people delighting at pain inflicted by starvation.
The friend’s parting shot is not lost on the joke that is on us all: “Mangingaphika nawe mngani wami, ngingalamba.” Loosely translated: “To continue taking cue from you, I would starve.”
“Albeit my silence about knowing you is my well calculated investment to help me make it through my sumptuous meal, it uncannily illustrates oftentimes mentioned truism, ‘if you not at the table, you are on the menu.’”
By now, we both are in irrepressible stitches laughing at this inhumane (wo)man made societal tragic joke. We both laughed about at this hard-to-resist- stomachist logic of a curse imposed by circumstances beyond our control, in avoidance to being starved – albeit living in a country purportedly free for no less than three decades and counting.
Even in the vicissitudes that Black life presents, my friend and I never lose a moment to laugh about the unfailing consent to our debasement to survive. One thing is certain, we dare not allow anyone to take away our amusement.
But loss of purpose for our lives and fear of starvation finds many amongst us going for Maserati show off displays as compensation for their diminution and loss of self-worth in the cruel system they are living in. And there lies loss of purpose for our lives.
![Hordes of students marching against the Bantu Education system and the use of Afrikaans as a medium in schools, during the June 16, 1976, Student Massacres / Soweto Uprisings [Image: GSMN]](https://gsmn.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Soweto-uprising-2-1-1.jpg)
