Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
In days gone by, I strove to have interesting tastes in music. But I don’t.
In 2022, I’m giving up the ghost on good taste. I’m just liking what I like. And it’s better.
The other day in Xolobeni started with some dance-pop and a walk down to the Mpahlane estuary – the ‘cleanest’ estuary in the Eastern Cape. Then I got a wonderful call from Tanveer about her PhD proposal. I had to pause my walk because the phone network starts cutting off closer to the estuary. It was worth it. That nerd's going to transform property law.
After the call I kept walking towards the estuary with my basic tunes.
But I had to start jogging when Kesha’s Tik Tok came on. Obviously.
Next: Paper Planes by MIA.
For those who don’t know the song, MIA opens the chorus by rapping that all she ‘wanna do is’. There’s a pause. Then three gun shots then go off to the beat.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
When MIA (?) reloads her gun, the sound transforms into ka-ching of a cash register.
MIA returns to rap ‘and a, and take your money.’
Violent.
Metaphorically, I've always thought. To me Paper Planes always seemed an anthem about killing colonial injustice.
I have fond memories of Paper Planes. From that movie Slumdog Millionaire (problematic?) and from when Simi told me people hit the floor when MIA’s (?) gunshots went off over the big speakers on the Keith Ellison 2008 campaign bus in north Minneapolis.
Definitely problematic.
Definitely hilarious.
In December, we represented the Xolobeni community (and others) in a court application trying to interdict (stop) the seismic blasting of the community's ancestral seas by the multinational corporation Shell. The application - which you can read here - was a longshot. A similar court application by more seasoned environmental lawyers failed.
Back to MIA.
aboXolobeni are not interested in shooting anyone or anything or taking anyone's money.
The community’s struggle is a righteous one. They seek the right to say no to imposed development and yes to sustainable development on their own terms. They are not only fighting for themselves. Their's is a fight for the sustainable future of all of us. Including their 'enemies' - the people seeking to profit from their lands and seas.
The community is not interested in violence.
They are interested in solidarity.
But anyway, on that morning MIA’s gunshots and her smooth ‘take your money’ resonated with my soul. So much so that I pictured a particular client channelling their inner Omar Little (RIP Michael K, and thank you) and firing off Omar’s Desert Eagle (the sawed off can’t fire that fast, I reckon).
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
After being forced to fight for the most basic right of self-determination for centuries - against colonialism, apartheid, and now a democratic state they had so much hope in - perhaps resorting to the gun is an understandable impulse?
But it wasn't even like that in my mental image. I didn't picture anyone being shot. It wasn't violent. A violent act of solidarity, lol.
The day before my jog, I consulted with a community member along a stunning Wild Coast beach. I needed to better understand why the community thought the seismic blasting had to be stopped to protect their ancestors.
They don’t like big noises, ancestors.
Children are not allowed to play near graves. Roads are particularly troublesome. Gunshots seem to traumatise them.
The reason is that the ancestors wish to rest in peace. Given the expression RIP, I think that sentiment is fairly close to universal.
When there are loud sounds, the ancestors do not suffer in silence. They go to their descendants in dreams - often aggressively - and don’t stop until the offence is addressed. As a client once told me wryly, it is unfair that the ancestors don’t trouble the real troublemakers – the companies. But so it is. Ancestors trouble their children, not Dutch execs.
The community’s strongest ancestors live in the sea. The sea is an ideal resting place, because it is peaceful.
There are no guns.
Or so people thought.
Seismic blasting is conducted through airguns. The concern that the ancestors' rest will be disturbed is one reason the community feels compelled to stop it.
But ancestors don’t hate all sounds.
They love to engage with their children. But these children must address them respectfully, with soft voices or, preferably, in song.
This is why, when there was a nation-wide protest against Shell's blasting on 05 December 2021, the community participated by walking along the beach from Mnyameni estuary to the Mzamba river.
When they did this, they were harshly criticised for being 'anti-development'. This time, people said, aboXolobeni have gone too far.
And, worse (?), they were called dumb.
Who will hear the community walking along the beach, people asked on Facebook. A clear sign of impending defeat.
Not an unfair comment, tbqh. The court papers came together too quickly and with a relatively small legal team without much environmental law expertise. The first court attempt to stop Shell – brought by specialist environmental lawyers – was dismissed. Shell has the world’s best lawyers. The odds of the community winning were slim.
Sensing this, the community had a targeted audience on 05 December 2022 – the ancestors.
Walking from Mnyameni to Mzamba, the community exhorted the ancestors through song to stand up and fight for the community.
And fight the ancestors did, the community believes.
And fight, the community did.
The outcome of this fight?
An interdict/injunction against Shell’s seismic blasting against all odds.
Bang.
With an order that Shell must pay the legal costs.
Bang.
The fight continues.
Bang.
I hope the Shell team knows that the community is fighting for them too.
Bang.
And a, and stand in solidarity.
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