​As a post-colonial country, South Africa should cherish its democracy and not abuse it, said Professor Homi Bhabha, regarded as the world's premier post-colonial literary theorist and Director of the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University, on Wednesday (16 August 2017).  

Bhabha, who is visiting Stellenbosch University (SU), spoke at an event held at the SU Museum on the Stellenbosch campus.

Highlighting the importance of democracy in postcolonial contexts, Bhabha said that “post-colonial countries who gain their independence by opposing restrictive and sometimes totalitarian and oppressive and exploitative systems of colonialization, should cherish democracy."

“They should not abuse their democracy. Democracy is like a basketball, you got to continually try to keep it up in the air and it demands a great effort."

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Bhabha criticised government, saying that current power structures do not seem to support the pillars of democracy which he listed as the distribution of resources, the distribution of education and the maintenance of a free media.

“Instead the leaders are trying to create a kind of populism that does not take advantage of the rich weaving of culturally and ethnically diverse traditions."

Bhabha said it is important for leaders to listen to the people of South Africa.

“Once you stop listening to criticism from responsible quarters, once you think your power is immune, then corruption and demoralisation follow. That is the death of democracy."

For South Africa to truly move forward, there must be trust that is built on a larger sense of recognition of those who have not been able to represent themselves, Bhabha said.

“Trust is also built on forms of redistribution of opportunity to people who have not been to fully explore and extend themselves in the building of civil society."

He questioned, however, whether South Africans can really trust their leaders.

Bhabha said that South Africans should never forget that the country's strength depends on the diverse traditions that constitute it.

• On Tuesday Bhabha engaged students on the theme Engaged Scholarship and Ethical Citizenship. On Wednesday afternoon he was in conversation with among others, Professor Tamar Garb of the University College of Londen, and the artist Sue Williamson. The event saw the screening of Williamson's 2-channel video art installation, It's a pleasure to meet you. Candice Mama, a young woman whose father was killed by Eugene de Kock, and who forgave de Kock and campaigned for his parole release, and Siyah Mgoduka, whose father was also killed by De Kock, also took part in the discussion. On Wednesday night, Bhabha [was] in conversation with Emeritus Professor Njabulo Ndebele, Chair of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory; poet, novelist and essayist.
• Access a bio of Prof Homi Bhabha here.
• Photo: Prof Homi Bhabha: Photographer: Stefan Els