I stated early on, that I write intelligent pieces, to inform and enlighten, to make one smarter and aware of stuff that perhaps one didn't know about. I'd like to think that I've spent enough time in Africa, slept alongside enough people in their quarters, communicated with them enough times in their native tongies, which lays the foundation of that which I write about.
It was first in 1994, when I was interviewing the late Nelson Mandela, that it came to my attention that this label, placed on Africa by Henry Stanley in his 1878 book, Through The Dark Continent, is perceived by many Africans, as a condescending term. For the better part of the last two decades I have conducted interviews with Africans on this subject matter. Yes, when first used, it spoke to the "mysterious and unknown" aspects of Africa. It also took on an imperialistic context of legitiizing the enslavement of Africans and exploitation of Africa's resources.
Don't hate on me as the scrivener. I'm only passing on to you as a messenger that which I've learned and uncovered to be reality here in 2022. I am also writing a longer comprehensive piece hopefully to be published by EOY.
WAB: The term Bwana Moja was given to me by four Zambian men in 2004. When an African person gives you a name, it is often out of respect bestowing upon you a term of endearment. In Swahili, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa, "Bwana" is translated continent-wide to mean sir or mister. My Professional Hunter Peter Chipman at the time, is the Zambian man who encouraged me to accept this honor. So the name has sort of just stuck over the years. There's a video on YouTube that details more, the very moment African trackers started referring to me as Bwana Moja.
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And yes, I understand the pushback some of you may have. Of course I anticipated it! But Africans are asking to world to do away with the labels and dated descriptions, that were placed on them from outside the walls of Africa. They want to lead their way, on the distribution of their resources. They dislike outsiders telling them how to regulate the hunting of their animals. Their battle cry, is "Let Africa Lead." Resistance to this is termed as "neocolonialism." Also, if someone asked me to stop calling him a certain name because it's inappropriate, I would certainly be inclined to oblige. Especially if it was a name not necessarily placed on you by your peers.
Randy Bo: The title reference to Capstick's book is done out of professional respect and attribution to what another writer has written. Those are the rules of my trade. As you read further and also noted, I take exception to some of what Capstick has written regarding the cape buffalo. Every professional hunter in Africa who I screened this with, stood with me in solidarity. The cape buffalo does have weaknesses. Capstick's literature contibuted mightily to understanding of the bush. But as hunting has evolved, that which he spoke about then, doesn't pass muster today. As a contemporary writer along with thousands of others, our latest literature corrects the record, likely only to be debunked in future generations.
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