Port Forum, #16 (The Solar Panel, and Three Birds Singing the Song to the Man-Child), Barcelona, 2020
A friend, via WhatsApp, sent me the following story that I found quite touching… at first.
The intention was likely to make you think in very personal psycho-therapy-type terms… or, perhaps, consider how it might apply generally throughout our very individualistic, competitive, capitalistic society… or how it applies to our families.
And more… How might it apply to our criminal-justice system, for example? Or, how might it affect how we rear our children? Or, how and what we teach in our schools?
It really is a great story. Take a read–then take a look at the interesting second opinion that follows.
The Story: Song of the Child
[NOTE: I have edited the version I received for brevity, and I have also used the pronouns “she” and “her”, but you can also use the masculine forms if you like. This is a problem with our English language–we need a pronoun that includes both/all.]
When a woman of a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes to the jungle with other women, and together they pray and meditate until they get the inspiration for a “Song of the Child.” This “Song of the Child” contains the life mission of the child, inspirations to lead her throughout her whole life, and appeals to develop her qualities and strengths.
When the child is born, the whole community gets together and sings her Song. When the child begins her education, the people get together and sing her Song. When the child becomes an adult, they get together again and sing her Song. When she marries, she hears her Song.
Finally, when her soul is leaving this world, family and friends approach and, just as when she was born, they sing her Song to accompany her soul on the “journey”.
In this African tribe, there is still another occasion when they sing her Song. If at some point the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, she is taken to the center of town and the people of the community form a circle around her. Then they sing “the Song of the Child” again.
The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment but the love and memory of one’s true identity. By recognizing her own Song again, she has no desire or need to hurt anyone anymore. Her friends know “her Song” and sing it when she forgets it. Those who love the person cannot be fooled by mistakes she has committed, or by the dark images she shows to others. They remember her beauty when she feels ugly, her wholeness when she is broken, her innocence when she feels guilty, and her purpose when she is confused.
This is what we do in this Tribe which we call our Human Fellowship. We are not fooled by the mistakes our fellow-travelers have made or will make, nor by the dark images they show us, instead we sing “their Song”. In doing so they are reminded about their True Identity. And at the same time… we are reminded of our own True Identity.
A Second Opinion
So, where did this story come from? Well, apparently it is actually an invention based on African stereotypes.
After a lot of digging around, I found a deeper analysis (featuring Aida Manduley)… here is a brief summary:
“Heartwarming. Much inspiration. Wow. So beautiful we could all cry a thousand tiny tears.
SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM, IN A NUTSHELL?
The “African birth song” is a half-baked invention of a White man that essentializes the “African experience” and does not even attempt to give any real details because it relies on collective ignorance about Africa that centers the world on a White axis. The text above does not provide any sources or even NAME this African tribe (though other versions do, but I’ll get into that later). The story uses exotification, the Noble Savage Myth, and people’s ignorance to make others feel warm n’ fuzzy and perpetuate incorrect narratives in the name of New Agey birth BS. This Tumblr post specifically, as many others have when they get reblogged, also uses the image/body of a RANDOM, unnamed indigenous woman from the Himba tribe. The list of problems goes on, because in the eyes of many non-African people, Africa is apparently just one huge jungle where everyone looks and acts the same, and all women run around topless feeling super connected to Mother Earth or something, giving birth in The Most Spiritual Ways We Should All Be Inspired By.”
Wow! Well, then, I guess.. can you say “Western White Privilege“? Who knew, right?
First, I have to say I still like the values contained within the story–I certainly appreciate the intent. But, second, I also agree with Aida Manduley in her critique. (Yes, I think you can hold both perspectives simultaneously.)
A final conclusion: Anything you receive via Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, Email, or any other social media needs to be fact-checked before you pass it on–rein in that gusto for a moment and do some research.
Don’t be a Fake News-Misinformation Buffoon! (Yes, even if the “Fake News” is a feel-good story…)
[To read the well-researched Aida Manduley article in its entirety, here is the link: The Real Origin of the African Birth Song: Surpise, It’s Racist (March 10, 2015)
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