Young migrants face hurtful words, even at school
Date: January 1, 1970
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I left my home in Angola when I was 13 years old, and I have been in South Africa for nine years. I live in a stable house and have no complaints. Unlike many migrants, I have never had any financial difficulties; I have always had food, clothing, shelter, etc. I have never had to worry about basic necessities.
However, I still have complaints about living in South Africa, because of treatment I have suffered. South Africans have hurt my feelings because I am a foreigner.
When I arrived in South Africa, everything seemed new to me: the people, the environment, everything. Days, weeks and months passed and I still felt out of place.
When I started my schooling, I found it very difficult because of the language barrier. My first language is Portuguese and when I first came to South Africa, I knew very little English. However, it was more than just a new language; everything was different.
One day in my first year of primary school here, I was sitting in class and I heard a voice shout “Hey you!” It was the teacher. I thought that since she didn’t call my name, she must have been talking to someone else, so I didn’t reply. Again, she shouted. “Hey you!
Then I knew she was talking to me. “Sim! Estas a falar comigo?” I replied in Portuguese, because I could not say a word in English. After this, the teacher turned to the whole class and said, “Esh! And she answers me in Portuguese, this Amakwerre-kwerre. How can we teach them if they can’t speak or understand a thing? No sense. They must just stay in their countries.” And then she clicked her tongue at me.
Since I did not speak English, I did not know what she said. It was only later that day, another Portuguese student, who knew English, told me everything the teacher said. He also explained to me what “Amakwerre-kwerre” meant.
I felt sick.
I also felt traumatised because when the teacher called me “Amakwerre-kwerre,” I laughed with the rest of the class. For anyone who does not know “Amakwerre-kwerre,” is an insult hurled at foreigners.
I had no choice to move to South Africa and yet people blamed me for being here. It would be much easier if I was welcomed and helped.
Imagine children even today, whose parents send them to start primary school in South Africa. Before they go, they will be excited, thinking of South Africa as the best country to be, but as they grow up, they will face discrimination because of their nationality.
Other students, and even teachers, will call them horrible, insulting names. The will be picked on at school. People may not physically harm them, but names can hurt a lot.
I have learned to be aggressive, cheeky and angry to cope with the discrimination. I had to learn to act this way, because it was never part of my personality before I came to South Africa.
What kind of nation calls other human beings “aliens?” You see this word in newspapers, and even stamped on your documents. Why torment people of a different nationality? What is the sense of this? It is appalling.
South Africa is a beautiful place, so I do not only want to be critical, but some people make it seem as if all South Africans are discriminatory.
However, I am not letting those people get me down. I am committing myself to do things that will benefit my future. Instead of letting people get me down, their discrimination will inspire me.
I have told myself that not even the word “Makwerre-kwerre” or “alien” will stop me from pursuing my dreams. I will not lose the courage of facing anything that comes my way. I will continue to pursue my passion of learning, while exercising my free spirit and the strong personality that I have.
I believe that with a positive attitude, nobody can stop you from achieving your goals. I will carry on doing what I do best, so that I can be an example. I want to show everyone that immigrants are not cruel people who are destroying this country; they are helping to build it.
I will carry on, with my head always up, without letting anyone stand in front of my ambitions. I believe that I was made to succeed—and I will. I am here to make the most of every opportunity given to me.
As an Angolan, I was taught to love; to build not to destroy; not to judge or point fingers, even when you are being pointed at; I was taught to be a person with integrity and to value being an African.
Yes, I am an immigrant! A foreigner! Amakwerre-kwerre! An alien! I am an immigrant from Angola, and I am proudly Angolan.
Muila Arlete Moses is a student who came to South Africa in 1999 with her family, for schooling from Angola. This article is part of a special series produced by CMFD Productions highlighting lives of migrant women and being carried by the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service that provides fresh views on everyday news.
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