http://www.gladysganiel.com/dealing-with-the-past/south-africa-the-world-cup-challenging-stereotypes/ Building a Church Without Walls Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:49:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://www.gladysganiel.com/dealing-with-the-past/south-africa-the-world-cup-challenging-stereotypes/comment-page-1/#comment-2082 Michael Bennett Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:13:25 +0000 http://www.gladysganiel.com/dealing-with-the-past/south-africa-the-world-cup-challenging-stereotypes/#comment-2082 The World Cup may have taught westerners little about Africa but it did teach Africans so much about themselves. For four weeks South Africa played host to the world in a noble and gracious manner. For four weeks the peoples of Africa prided themselves in what was happening on their continent. A continent that had known the ravages of oppression, colonialism and apartheid had found access to a different space in which its peoples could hold their heads high. The World Cup was more about African self-image and self-esteem than about the beautiful game. The cacophony of vuvuzelas cried the language of liberation and redemption. The World Cup may have taught westerners little about Africa but it did teach Africans so much about themselves. For four weeks South Africa played host to the world in a noble and gracious manner. For four weeks the peoples of Africa prided themselves in what was happening on their continent. A continent that had known the ravages of oppression, colonialism and apartheid had found access to a different space in which its peoples could hold their heads high. The World Cup was more about African self-image and self-esteem than about the beautiful game. The cacophony of vuvuzelas cried the language of liberation and redemption.

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