Before - Xenophobia

[Ofentse]

Before

Before the borders, we were one
you may have farmed while I hunted,
but you were my brother

Before I was told who to socialize with
seTswana se tswaneng, isiZulu e sizulwini
you were my sister

Before he said, she said,
“Those dirty little scoundrels aren’t worthy
to play with my kids” you were my mother
I belonged to no house hold, the community
was my family

Before, when potatoes and such were currency,
when we used to barter
over beer brewed in a pot on an a naked flame
we used to debate and we used to play games
long chats we had, before my tongue could twang
when it was virgin to a language foreign,
tongues that came on ships pouring
onto the shores of a continent dubbed dark,
our own tongues clicked and clacked
as we spoke in tongues, yet understood each other
every older man was your father,
when the dark shade of your skin and your coarse hair
were beautiful, YOU and I were BROTHERS

Before, BEFORE, before all of it the was UBUNTU

[Acts Of Faith]

Very nice. I like the language. Just how the words sound rolling of my tongue. Question, "household" is usually a compound word. Does the seperation imply that houses are like holds? Something like in America there's talk of the nuclear family and such 2 parents two children, house, car, career, the american dream.
It seems that "house hold" would shatter that assumption that people need these things to live a successful life. Whereas you're supporting "a village raises a child." I might be reading into it to much. Could just be an oversight or means something else. "Community was my family" implies the former though.

[Ofentse]

Back in the 80's growing up in Soweto, you as a child could stroll into any house. You were up to no good you will get a hiding from your "mother" be it the woman that gave birth to you or the lady next door. You were hungry you would get fed. Houses now, are holds and not homes, in that I mean that we are forced to stay isolated from other families, our neighbours down the street. We have moved into suburbs and don't know the ppl next door. We are held in captivity in our own houses minding our own business.

[sephari]

Originally Posted by Ofentse

Back in the 80's growing up in Soweto, you as a child could stroll into any house. You were up to no good you will get a hiding from your "mother" be it the woman that gave birth to you or the lady next door. You were hungry you would get fed. Houses now, are holds and not homes, in that I mean that we are forced to stay isolated from other families, our neighbours down the street. We have moved into suburbs and don't know the ppl next door. We are held in captivity in our own houses minding our own business.

that is so sad. here in the u.s. it used to be like that, but that was before my time.