Nervous conditions: a post colonial study of the impact of colonialism on the identity of the Motswana

Abstract

One could argue that current African literature explores neo-colonialism or rather the far reaching effects of colonialism in this post colonial period. Hence, the term Nervous Conditions. A Nervous condition is the state in which one exists in dual or multi-polar identities. These dualisms cause an internal clashes of identities that are seemingly irreconcilable. Therefore the notions of identity; culture versus Christianity; progress versus assimilation ; gender issues and the cross boarder nature of identities raised by Tsitsi Dangaremba’s novel Nervous Conditions are pertinent to this research report. In essence these categories explore dualisms existing in Africans. Central to this theme and inquiry into a Nervous Conditions are my own conflicts and desire to explore who I am within these dualities. Therefore culture versus Christianity is my main inquiry in which a design intervention will be developed. This is arguably one of the main reasons that Africans navigate the dichotomy of identities, particularly in the context of Kanye Botswana where this research report takes place. Therefore the choice of Kanye as the town for this research report, was only natural not only due to the town’s history but the fact that it is the origin of my family’s Nervous Conditions. My mother, who maintains a strong Christian identity, is transitioning to become a traditional healer and therefore chooses to practice both religions. A recent resurgence of cultural practices and an emphasis on the infusion of Christianity with traditional Setswana religion /culture has occurred during the post colonial era in Kanye. This research report seeks to explore how such a notion has and can manifest itself architecturally. Post-colonial writing tries to resolve with the effects of colonialism. In this regard one of my explorations will be around the notion of contextualizing Christianity so that it becomes rooted in African culture. The existing anomalies of infused African churches will be used to determine a building program and relationships between spaces in terms of the architectural intervention. Furthermore, the choice of site had to embody the notions expressed above and in particular the notion of a “Nervous condition”.Mmakgodumo dam and bird sanctuary over the years has been home to many religious and cultural practices of both Western and African origin. The bird sanctuary is symbolic as in both traditional Setswana religion and Christianity the bird is symbolic. Ultimately , my architectural intervention seeks to reformulate this narrative of a “Nervous condition”, allowing the architecture to create inclusive spaces for all Christian, traditional and infused practices. Furthermore ,the intervention would further investigate the relationship between culture, religiosity and food production since these are important to Batswana. The main elements of the program being a space for religiosity, a space for cultural practices, a space for Christianity, a space for food production, a bird sanctuary and lastly a space for healing