Africans are optimistic about their futures and that of the next generation, according to a poll conducted in 10 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa by The New York Times and the Pew Global Attitudes Project. While many Africans are concerned about crime, the spread of H.I.V./AIDS, the quality of drinking water, and corruption, a majority or plurality of the respondents in most countries said their family’s financial situation had improved over the past five years. Following this link for some insight into the views of a sample of Sub-Saharan African countries. LINK.

Senhoras e Senhors, Colegas e Amigos, é com muito prazer que eu aceitei o convite de dar as boas vindas nesta ocasião do espetáculo da Orquestra dos Pequenos Violinos. Ben vindo a todos. Quando eu recebi um telefonema dos organizadores recentemente para falar sobre o concerto, houve automaticamente um avalanche de ideias que podiam-se ser communicadas hoje. Entre umas das ideias foi o desenvolvimento da criança como um elemento indispensável para o progresso da nossa communidade. E é neste ponto que eu gosteria dirigir-me nestes momentos entre vós. It is not often that I have been afforded the opportunity to speak before a group of very talented young musicians, especially young musicians that are merely a fraction of my age and of everyone in the audience. This is a unique opportunity for me to comment on what I regard as an important event for our communities.

The event tonight represents the meeting of cultures, communities and musical talents. The cultures are those of the Portuguese meeting the South African, the Mozambiquan meeting the Portuguese and the South African meeting the Mozambiquan. Of course it is not the first time that the cultures and communities have met. We have done so very successfully in the past – mostly in the construction, farming, healthcare and trading economic sectors. Each community has interacted well at this level. However, what makes tonight unique is that we are meeting tonight not to conduct business and discuss the political status of our communities. We are rather here to celebrate the success and musical talents of our youth, and what better way is there than organizing an event such as this one.

 I’m reminded of a few inspirational words about children and how they live what they learn.

 If a child lives with criticism

He learns to condemn

If a child lives with ridicule

He learns to be shy

If a child lives with shame

He learns to be guilty

If a child lives with fairness

He learns justice

If a child lives with encouragement

He learns confidence

If a child lives with security

He learns to have faith

If a child lives with approval

He learns to appreciate

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship

He learns to find love in the world.

There is no doubt in my mind that the children we will listen to tonight represent all the goodness in the words expressed above. They are confident, faithful, appreciative, dedicated, motivated and their success has not come without sacrifice and long hours of hard work. The children we will listen have derived their success from making a decision to remain focused on their passion. I am certain they have sacrificed many nights of not going to the cinema with their friends, many football matches and countless hours of watching television. Their success has also come with the unconditional support of their parents and the communities they live in.

The closest analogue I can relate to tonight’s event is that of a tree bearing fruit. To ensure a tree produces the best fruit possible, it requires many factors. It must be exposed to the correct amount of wind, not too much frost, enough rain, sufficient balanced nutrients in the soil and abundant sunlight. The tree must also be attended to regularly. This entails timely pruning and regular spraying before the best fruit can be produced. Too much or too little of each of the above factors will often result in a disastrous crop of fruit. The same can be said of a child’s development.

In short and without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s event is a culmination of the worth and potential of the Portuguese, Mozambiquan and South African communities. Tonight is also a celebration of the efforts of each of the communities to produce talented young musicians. The time has arrived for us to revel in our joint efforts and listen to what our youth are capable of offering. I look forward to attending many more of these events in the future.

Thank-you.

19 Nov 2006 – www.pforum.org.za

Friends, colleagues and countrymen – lend me thy ears. What does it mean to be Portuguese? This is the one question that I would like to pose to you this morning. What does it mean to be Portuguese? The question is important because at the root of it is something that we identify with, something that we see in ourselves, something that we believe, things that we say and do. So, what does it mean to be Portuguese?

I’m positive that during the course of this morning’s National Conference we will get one step closer to answering this question. There are numerous presentations and updates planned with the aim of keeping you informed of the developments within The Forum.

So, what does it mean to be Portuguese? To partly answer this question I wish to talk to you from my personal experience. I’ll aim to avoid as many technicalities as possible. I recall as a child when being brought up going to an English-speaking primary school. During this stage of my life I came to realize that I was different – I was a minority -amongst the predominantly English-speaking children. My home language was Portuguese and my name was very different compared to the average child. Teachers and my classmates could not pronounce my first name – João, let alone all my other names. So strong was this external influence that I changed my first name to John – an Anglo-Saxonised version of João, simply to avoid the mispronunciation of my name and also integrate better. I however had an escape route in that I attended Portuguese School in the afternoons after English School. Here I was amongst children who could correctly pronounce my first name and surname. What a relief it was. So, what does it mean to be Portuguese? Is a name important? Yes it is! My name is Portuguese – João Carapinha, and not some Anglo-Saxonised version that makes it easy for some to address me such as John Carapinha or Joe Carapinha. For me, being Portuguese means having a Portuguese name and not being embarrassed to insist that others pronounce my name correctly.

So, what does it mean for you to be Portuguese? I was fortunate to have been sent to Portuguese School whilst I grew-up. Although at that time I found it challenging to learn the verbs and their various tenses, and the history of the Portuguese nation; today it is something I do not regret. I am able to communicate in Portuguese – speak, read and write. No only this but when I travel I’m able to understand Spanish. I can communicate in Brasil, Angola, Mozambique and Cabo Verde. I’m also able to communicate in Portuguese whenever I happen to cross paths with a Portuguese-speaking person irrespective where they decided to settle in the world. You will be surprised where Portuguese have decided to create a home. With Portuguese as an additional language I’m able to better compete in the global economy, I’m more flexible in the regions of the world I can travel to, and I’m better able to enter into business arrangements. For me, being Portuguese means speaking Portuguese. It means communicating with my countrymen in a common language. I challenge the youth to learn to speak Portuguese and I encourage parents to introduce their children into Portuguese School. The children my protest but your family will reap the rewards in years to come.

So, what does it mean to be Portuguese? The Portuguese community in South Africa is fragmented and has no voice. This is mostly due to the large number of Portuguese spread across the whole of South Africa. It is also due to the very large number of Associations that represent the interests of its constituency. The Portuguese community is the largest European community in South Africa, far exceeding the Greek and Italian. It would naturally become a challenge to coordinate the efficient representation of such a large community. The large number of Associations that exist in our community is also a reflection of the vast number of Portuguese, each requiring an Association that they can be linked to. All of us I’m sure, if given the opportunity, would like to a place to meet other Portuguese, we would also like to go to Portuguese restaurants, join a cycling club or a football club, and also do those things that are uniquely Portuguese. But, let me be clear I’m not saying that the Associations should disintegrate. The Associations are important – they are community focal-points where we meet and share in a sense of nationhood. What I am saying though it that there should be a single voice, a coordinated unification all Portuguese Associations. ACP, Casa de Madeira, Academia do Bacalhau, Luso-Africa and the HIP Alliance (to name a few) should aim to create a single voice for the community. Perhaps a Federation or Confederation of Associations is the way-forward. The Greek and Italian communities have been successful at achieving a single voice for their respective communities. For them it did not mean denying the right to freedom of expression or denying the voice of opposing opinions. It meant listening to the community’s needs and communicating them especially now during these difficult times in South Africa. I know this because I’m involved in the HIP Alliance where the Hellenic, Italian and Portuguese components of the Alliance jointly engage with senior ANC and government officials on a regular basis. The starting point for any engagement with a political party must be with the interests if the community at heart. This applies to all political parties and all levels of government. We should aim to support the politicians in our community whether they engage with the ANC, DA or ACDP, provided they carry the interest of the community at heart. If these politicians aspire for senior political appointments or appointments within the civil service; they too should be supported provided they carry the interests of the community at heart. So, what does it mean to be Portuguese? For me, it would mean creating a single and unified voice in our community that aims to forward all our interests.

Here we are one year later at The Forum’s National Conference. Each of the speakers scheduled today will share with you activities they have undertaken over the part 12 months. I’m asking that each of the speakers be rigorous in sticking to the allocated time for their presentation. I’m confident that during these presentations more answers will arise for the question – what does it mean to be Portuguese? I invite the audience to also find an answer. Before the end of this conference, together we could easily identify 10 reasons what it means to be Portuguese. Lets then publish these 10 reasons in Voz Portuguesa and ask for contributions for the next 10 reasons. And the next 10, and the next until we reach 100 reasons that describes our unified identity and that reflects our diversity.

 

Ten Reasons What is Means to be Portuguese

1. Our language.
2. We are descendants of the Portuguese that explored the world during the 15^th and 16^th century.
3. Our knowledge and passion for the land we work with.
4. Our assertiveness and ability to negotiate creative solutions.
5. Força Portuguesa!
6. Willingness to stand together during times of difficulty.
7. Youthful energy displayed by JAGUAR and Epoca União.
8. Our food.
9. Hearing a distinctly Portuguese ring tone pierce the air during a National Conference.
10. Our skillful sports men and women.