Ro kwashiwa: We Have Been Destroyed..... Rotondwa Mulaudzi

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Demolition is a term that is commonly used in the architectural, urban, and regional planning fields. Demolition, and the replacement of buildings is common practice, to the extent that we might think of ourselves as living in a ‘demolition era’. As Day (2020) describes it, “[w]e are entering a new world where skyscrapers and other huge buildings are becoming redundant and need significant overhaul or replacement”.

One can also understand ‘demolition’ as relating to war. In this context, it signifies destruction and brings with it fear, uncertainty and loss. Bevan (2007) elaborates on this by saying that “[a]mong the most indelible scars left by war are the destroyed landscapes, and such architectural devastation damages far more than mere buildings”. When we think in terms of demolition, are we erasing unwanted thoughts and ideas, does the action of demolition clear the way for new things, or is something lost in the process?

Demolition is defined as ‘the act of pulling or knocking down a building’; the complete destruction of something, especially a person’s argument or theory; or in informal usage, ‘to demolish’ is to eat a large amount of food very fast (Oxford South African Secondary School Dictionary, 2014). ‘To demolish’ translates into a few terms in Tshivenda, which are u thuthekhanya, u kwasha, u thuta, and u kwashekanya. U thuthekhanya is derived from the term u thuta, and u kwashekanya is derived from the term u kwasha.

U thuthekhanya and u thuta refer to the act of erasing. My grandfather, Mavhutha (2020) describes this as the permanent removal of an instance, person, or object out of one’s life, and “never to be seen again”. These terms would usually be used to refer to the action of erasing something typed or written, or when one is trying to dissociate oneself from a particular person or memory. U kwashekanya and u kwasha refer to the act of demolition. For my grandfather these terms are used to describe abrupt disturbances in one’s life or surroundings. They are associated with the demolition of buildings, the act of destroying one’s property or belongings, such as plates or glasses, and the destruction of relationships.

U kwasha, u kwashekanya, u thuta and u thuthekhanya are terms that I have been hearing and using all my life. When I was young, the act of me breaking my mother’s crockery would be described as u kwasha and the act of me erasing a word from my homework book would be described as u thuta. As I became older, the meaning of these terms acquired added

Ro Kwashiwa

We have been destroyed ”

Figure 7: Demolition: the breaking up of material and social fabric

U THUTHEKHANYA; U THUTA

the act of erasing; the permanent removal of an instance, person or object out of one’s life, and never to be seen again. Used to refer to the action of erasing something typed or written, or when one is trying to dissociate oneself from a particular person or memory. U KWASHEKANYA; U KWASHA

the act of demolition; abrupt disturbances in one’s life or surroundings, associated with the demolition of buildings, the act of destroying one’s property or belongings, such as plates or glasses, and the destruction of relationships.

depth. I saw how broken relationships, households and people were spoken of using the terms u kwasha or u kwashekanya. I saw the hurt and pain that was represented by u thuta and u thuthekhanya. I also noticed how the elders back in Venda spoke about objects, people and instances using these terms.

Not everything that was being addressed was negative: they spoke about rebirth to a great disruption or destruction that demolition implies. The definition of the term in Tshivenda is much more detailed, not leaving much to the imagination and evoking emotions that are easily relatable. I consider the English definition to be more generic: the concepts it presents are not nearly as relatable.

In South Africa, demolition has caused a breaking down of human emotion. We have

In South Africa, demolition has caused a breaking down of human emotion. We have people who suffer from the devastation that demolition brings upon their livelihoods. ”

extent using these terms. They described how the downfall and destruction of relationships, objects and instances need not mean that life should end there, but that they might rather provide an opportunity to see and approach life from a different standpoint.

The English and Tshivenda definitions of the term ‘demolition’ are different, but they are built on the same foundation. What is common to both languages, is the people who suffer from the devastation that demolition brings upon their livelihoods. This is clearly seen all over the country, again and again, with the destruction and removal of informal homes and businesses. Disturbingly this form of destruction has been on the rise during the national lockdown, leaving many people displaced and distraught. Phillips (2020) describes this period as “the plague of inhuman evictions”. These homes that have been

destroyed were of great value to those living in them. For a person to witness the tearing down of a structure that had represented their security, is devastating. It leaves children, mothers and fathers with emotional scars that may never heal. In this instance, the words which capture to the greatest degree the destruction felt and witnessed, would be the Tshivenda term u kwashekanya. Ro Kwashiwa = we have been destroyed.

References:

Bevan, R., 2007. The Destruction of Memory: Architecture at War. London: Reaktion Books.

Day, N., 2020. The most common way to demolish a building is also the most wasteful. Fast Company. Available online at: https://www. fastcompany.com/90453869/themost-common-way-to-demolisha-building-is-also-the-mostwasteful [Accessed 18 September 2020].

Hall, M., 2014. Demolish. Oxford South African Secondary School Dictionary. South Africa: Oxford University Press.

Mavhutha, W., 2020. Interviewed by Rotondwa Mulaudzi. 14 September 2020.

Phillips, J., 2020. Redefining the meaning of ‘home’ could help solve South Africa’s unlawful eviction crisis. The Daily Maverick. Available online at: https://www.dailymaverick. co.za/opinionista/2020-09-03redefining-the-meaning-ofhome-could-help-solve-southafricas-unlawful-eviction-crisis/ [Accessed 19 September 2020].

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