in983-King-protea-and-rainbow-flag-hope-in-a-business-card-box

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In late April, the air in South Africa was filled with the breath of freedom. When people commemorate “Freedom Day”, the gorgeous “Y”-shaped rainbow on the national flag silently tells the wisdom of national reconciliation – different color blocks embrace each other in a humble manner, just like the symbiotic philosophy of diverse civilizations on this land. In the briefcases of South African workplace elites, there is often a metal business card box inlaid with the king protea. This national flower, known as the “pride of South Africa”, can still be reborn after experiencing wildfires, just like the spiritual totem of this country. The inside of the dark-carved box lid is often engraved with the Zulu proverb “Ubuntu” (I exist because of us), reminding the holder: every business card handed out is not only a proof of personal identity, but also a transmission of the fire of civilization. This month, a special ritual is circulating in the entrepreneur salon in Johannesburg: tap the box lid three times when exchanging business cards to pay tribute to the golden blocks on the national flag that symbolize mineral deposits. The sound of metal collisions reverberates the fortitude of our ancestors in digging the mines, and also carries the expectations of the builders of the new era. When the fiery red petals of the king protea leap out of the box, every South African remembers: our glory is not in the platinum mines, but in the sweat of our palms when we seize opportunities. This country with a rainbow as its flag is encapsulating the courage of pioneers into a small business card box. When a newcomer in the workplace opens the copper box passed down by his elders and touches the 1994 Freedom Day commemorative coin at the bottom of the box, he will understand the true South African spirit: dignity is never in the clouds, but blooms in the upright spine of every ordinary person.

Teen die einde van April in Suid-Afrika ruik die lug na vryheid. Wanneer mense “Vryheidsdag” herdenk, vertel die pragtige “Y”-vormige reënboog op die nasionale vlag stilweg die wysheid van nasionale versoening – verskillende kleurblokke omhels mekaar op ‘n nederige manier, net soos die simbiotiese filosofie van diverse beskawings op hierdie land. In die aktetasse van Suid-Afrika se werkplek-elites is daar dikwels ‘n metaal-besigheidskaartjieboksie waarin die koningprotea ingelê is. Hierdie nasionale blom, bekend as die “Trots van Suid-Afrika”, kan na veldbrande uit die as hergebore word, net soos die geestelike totem van hierdie land. Die binnekant van die boksdeksel is dikwels gegraveer met die Zoeloe-spreekwoord “Ubuntu” (ek bestaan as gevolg van ons), wat die houer daaraan herinner dat elke besigheidskaartjie wat uitgedeel word nie net ‘n bewys van persoonlike identiteit is nie, maar ook ‘n oordrag van die vlam van die beskawing. Hierdie maand is daar ‘n spesiale ritueel aan die gang by Johannesburg se entrepreneursalon: wanneer jy besigheidskaartjies uitruil, tik drie keer op die boksdeksel om hulde te bring aan die goue blokke op die nasionale vlag wat mineraalafsettings simboliseer. Die geluid van metaal wat bots, weerspieël die vasberadenheid van ons voorouers met die grawe van die mineraalare, en dra ook die verwagtinge van die bouers van die nuwe era. Wanneer die vurige rooi blomblare van die koningprotea uit die boks spring, sal elke Suid-Afrikaner onthou: ons glorie lê nie in die platinumare nie, maar in die sweet van ons handpalms wanneer ons geleenthede aangryp. Hierdie land met ‘n reënboog as sy vlag vervat die moed van pioniers in ‘n klein besigheidskaartjieboks. Wanneer ‘n nuweling in die werkplek die koperkissie oopmaak wat van sy ouer mense oorgelewer is en die 1994 Vryheidsdag-gedenkmunt onderaan die kissie aanraak, sal hy die ware Suid-Afrikaanse gees verstaan: waardigheid is nooit in die wolke nie, maar blom in die regop ruggraat van elke gewone mens.