Tuesday 29 April 2008

Adrienn Nyisztor Is On The Right Path

By Vincent Nnanna
Commentary

I completely agree with Adrienn Nyisztor regarding her project of documenting her personal experience with a view to instructing others against falling victims. Although she has not introduced herself as a Journalist, but what she has embarked upon is a journey into one important aspect of journalism. If I have my way, I would certainly lend some helping hand to facilitate Adri's bold project.

If someone had done some documentary on the human face of XENOPHOBIA, we would have been spared of the many lives that have been lost and all the mayhem against strangers in South Africa.

I live in a society outside of my home state. Here, the first language is not English. My first language is English. And everyone who speaks English in this place is automatically given a derogatory nomenclature that makes you know that you are not welcome. It doesn't matter what commitment you make socially, economically or morally to the upliftment of their environment.

Yet, they cannot boast of self-sufficiency in any area. They certainly need us (strangers), to open their hearts and eyes to the good that lie behind and beyond their primitive ideology. Unfortunately, even most of their intellectuals are not exempt from this xenophobic intimidating attitude.

The only way to get by in this tumult is to learn to speak more than one of their local languages in addition to their lingua franca.

I have had to speak publicly in condemnation of this attitude. I have gone on air several times to argue that they are many of their own people in other countries who are enjoying first class hospitality irrespective of their class, culture or language. But because the xenophobic tendency is deep-rooted in them, there is little respite from an insignificant number of the population.

I feel sorry to say that most of my co-strangers are not helping matters because of the way and manner they conduct themselves in this environment. There is so much arrogance, selfishness and dishonest practices among my kins over here. I believe that this is what they have exported to Hungary that makes Adrienn Nyisztor want to cry out.

Let her cry if that will bring about any positive results. She has my blessings, and I am ready to give her material some professional touch if she asks me.

Vincent Nnanna writes in from Cotonou