Introduction
In our previous article, we argued that one of the key driving forces that have caused South Africa’s inability to harness its socio-economic potential post 1994, is a lack of TECHNICAL leadership. The prevailing social forces, which have been legislated by government, have resulted in our new democracy sailing, without the necessary balance of social and technical leadership, towards uncharted, troubled waters. Ultimately, we have neglected our cultures. We have lost our technical voice and cultures are without balanced hierarchies of command. Jordan Peterson gives the following, appropriate warning to communities who do not safeguard culture. “When ignorance destroys culture, monsters will emerge.”[1]
Danger is lurking among communities in the southernmost country on the African continent. People don’t have work. People are hungry. Monsters have emerged…
In a land that could be teeming with opportunity, many of our next-generation South African leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners are filled with anxiety and despair. Thousands of young people have given up hope of finding decent employment. People are hungry. The decades after the end of the liberation struggle have yielded little harvest for the average man and woman. Something is very wrong in South Africa. For many, their daily existence is characterized by an endless struggle to find ways to survive, let alone thrive. The social compact that was supposed to provide communities with a safe environment and basic services conducive to economic growth has failed. Corruption and the loss of technically skilled and experienced resources have crippled the state’s ability to plan, maintain and develop the infrastructure and systems that form the backbone of a healthy, socio-economically active society. Virtually all organs of state have been on a steady path of decline over the past decades. Our government has run out of money, skills, and ideas. We, the ordinary South African citizens look ahead to an inevitably difficult future on the horizon.
In this dull light of despair, our sons and daughters are sailing for new horizons. Far-off countries beckon with the promise of a brighter future. Yet, it is not only our children, friends, and colleagues, with their South African-bred talents, who are looking for opportunities elsewhere. Investors, too, are leaving our shores and many companies who have contributed extensively to the South African economy have already found their homes elsewhere.
Contemplating the challenges we face, I’m reminded of Joseph Campbell’s “Monomyth”, or more commonly referred to as “The Hero’s Journey”, which he first published in 1949 in his influential book titled “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”[2]. This provides a fitting framework within which to understand our South African journey, as we long desperately for a hero of our own. One who can inspire the nation, change our trajectory, and stand up against the monsters lurking in the shadows.
In this and subsequent articles, we will unpack the Hero’s Journey, as developed across Campbell’s three “acts” or sections: Departure, Initiation, and Return.
South Africa’s Monomyth – Departure
The Call to Adventure
In 1994, South Africa had its first democratic election and the people voted to bring an end to the apartheid regime which dominated the landscape for many past decades. But the call to adventure had started a few years earlier, as our national hero, Nelson Mandela, was released from Victor Verster Prison on 11th February 1990, and walked to freedom with raised, fisted arms. The Call was loud and clear. A rainbow nation, moving forward towards a better, inclusive, non-racial South Africa for all. South Africa chose the peaceful way and the international community watched on with bated breath as most citizens supported The Call.
The Refusal of the Call
In Campbell’s narrative we learn that the hero-to-be often refuses to heed the call to adventure when it first comes. This refusal can be attributed to a range of reasons that would keep the hero in their current circumstances, such as a lack of sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, or a sense of inadequacy. And, the narrative continues:
Refusal of the summons converts the adventure into its negative. Walled in boredom, hard work, or “culture,” the subject loses the power of significant affirmative action and becomes a victim to be saved. His flowering world becomes a wasteland of dry stones and his life feels meaningless – even though, like King Minos, he may through titanic effort succeed in building an empire of renown. Whatever house he builds, it will be a house of death: a labyrinth of cyclopean walls to hide from him his Minotaur. All he can do is create new problems for himself and await the gradual approach of his disintegration.[2]
Like Campbell’s hero archetype, it seems that South Africa, too, has refused the Call to Adventure. Our rainbow adventure has been turned into its negative. Rainbow-nation dreams have evaporated and our nation seems to be no more than a building of insurmountable cyclopean walls constructed by boulders comprising the many different socio-economic challenges faced daily. Many have given up hope, facing a wasteland of dry bones, and it seems as if only the mythical Cyclopes has the strength to break us free. Somehow, the energy initially provided by Mandela at the onset of the journey, dissipated, as communities were unable to provide the social and technical leadership required for the hero’s journey. Social leadership is necessary to remind the hero of his basic beliefs and purpose in life, it inspires a vision of the future, and fosters a value system that promotes the greater good and a better future for all. Similarly, Technical leadership is needed to equip the hero with strategy, skills, knowledge, and the tools required for the journey ahead.
The reasons behind South Africa’s apparent refusal to heed the call are complex and are debated on social media platforms daily. These include a lack of sense of duty among political leaders, a lack of ethics, corruption, insecurities, the yoke of past injustices, etc. Yet, we do not expend the same amount of energy assessing the monsters lurking unabated in our communities.
Refusing The Call has dire consequences for the Hero’s Journey… Monsters have emerged. We need to pay greater attention to what these monsters look like and how they are destroying the fabric of society.
Supernatural Aid
As a hero commits to his quest, often a supernatural presence of purpose and passion aids him on his journey. So why does it seem that this has not been the case in South Africa’s narrative? Most likely, we have not yet seen evidence of supernatural aid because our leaders have not committed to the Call of a true South African adventure. Our leaders, our heroes, have lost purpose and there is a glaring lack of passionate, competent leadership to show the way and inspire others to follow. As a society, we have neglected to protect our cultures and provide the social and technical skills that our hero will need. And, so, we remain as though in a boarding lounge, watching to see who will arrive next to save us, as we consider our options for escape.
Perhaps our heroes have not yet risen? Perhaps the supernatural purpose and passion, which we had a glimpse of in the early years of Madiba Magic, lies dormant within us, the ordinary folk. Indeed, as we look across the South African landscape, there are small glimmers of hope as ordinary people begin to heed the Call. Many have realized that no one is coming to save us. Could it be that our hero, the one with the necessary strength and skill, lies within the ordinary South Africans who dare to heed the Call and risk change. For change starts from the inside, change starts with me.
Could it be that supernatural aid will come in the form of our collective awakening and commitment to the Call?
References
[1] Peterson, J.B. (2021). Beyond Order – 12 More Rules for Life. Penguin Random House, Morris Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68.
[2] Campbell, J. (2008). The Hero With a Thousand Faces. New World Library, Novato, California.
Links to Previous Articles
[1] The Fruit of Our South African Culture.
[2] Culture: Structures and Dynamics.
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