Waka Waka Ayoba!

Tired of being cynical, I have finally given over to Ayoba-ness. It’s a lot more of a welcoming world than the dark muttered curses of the unpatriotic. I have had a bad attitude towards the World Cup since its announcement almost 5 years ago, and have not been looking forward to it at all. But I’ll admit getting teary eyed during Vuzu hour on Wednesday, and since then have thrown myself into the spirit.


Because the fact of the matter is that we just can’t help ourselves. Patriotism and Nationalism (in the most positive sense) seem to be lurking somewhere underneath the surface of all of us and it takes something like the World Cup to bring it to the boil. Even though FIFA is running the show under the guidance of a despotic Mafia boss, South Africa still has to show the world our mettle.

Uit die blou van onse hemel, uit die diepte van ons see…
Suddenly these words don’t symbolise the pain of the past, but make our hearts swell with pride when Americans gasp “Oh my God, Oh my God” at the sight of Table Mountain, or when gorgeous Italians take to the beaches of Camps Bay to freeze their bollocks off.

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika…
we are filled with national pride and the general feeling of well-being seems to be filling the air. God Bless ALL of Africa, not just our neighbours to the left and right. Soweto, which 5 months ago no Joburg koguls would visit, was last night chock-a-block fill with all of Joburg lucky enough to get a ticket. Fans all over Cape Town stand shoulder to shoulder, no longer black and white and coloured and Indian, but Red-White-and-Blue, Blue-Green-and-White and of course, Yellow-Black-Green-Blue-Red-and-White.

Today I am proudly wearing all the colours of our national flag, my ‘i heart SA soccer’ underwear and a big ol' PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN smile on my face.

Go Bafana Bafana!

Viva South Africa!

and for everyone else, Waka Waka and Wave Your Flag!