..gods of wood and stone..
- Sirlaw
- Dec 28, 2024
- 3 min read
This is summarized timeline of some events that seeks to explain how far we’ve come as a civilization, and how we came about to use the calendar currently used throughout the world.
As the year on the Gregorian calendar comes to an end, it is wise that we reflect, not only on the year that was but also on important past events from antiquity to recent times. This will enable us to understand decisions that were taken, the reasons behind those decisions, how they affected our ancestors and how that impact still ripples to this day.
One person once said “Religion is for the numbers (people) and politics are for the power”
We need to always remember the atrocities that have been committed over millennia, against Afrika and Afrikans in the motherland as well as in the diaspora. It is clear to see the strategy, divide and conquer, how the northern hemisphere is more Islamic and the southern hemisphere Christian. If Afrikans are divided in who or what to worship, “unity” is only a fallacy.
The church played a huge role in the development of the western civilization. The Roman Catholic has more than a billion members worldwide, and that’s only one church. In South Africa, Christianity arrived with settlers from Europe, starting with Jan van Riebeeck in 1652, more than 80% of the population identify as Christian in 2024.
Physical slavery is one thing, but mental slavery is a totally different beast, it keeps the system going without the master being present.
Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing. Human language is characterized by its cultural and historical diversity, with significant variations observed between cultures and across time.
We need to acknowledge that we are conquered people, colonized, we have lost all sense of culture, history and language.
To have some fighting chance, we need to know who our conqueror is. Rome might be said to have fallen but is still very much awake today. Latin is still used in churches, judicial system, academia and our daily activities. The Roman Empire is alive and in full swing, it is now a well-oiled machine, cruising nicely.
The calendar we currently use was first introduced by Romans, Jullius Ceaser in 46 BC and it was modified by Pope Gregory XIII in the 1500s. Great Britain and the British Empire (South Afrika included by default of colonization) adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1750. This calendar was modified to account for Roman, Christian and pagan events, days and festivals that are based on the northern hemisphere and have very little to do with the southern hemisphere, our cultures, cycle of seasons and history.
In England, New Year’s Eve was 24 March and New Year’s Day was 25 March (Lady Day – Virgin Marry) which had been so for many centuries.
This date caused some inconvenience, especially with business when trading with other countries whose legal year started on 1 January.
Chesterfield's Act changed the start of the year from 25 March to 1 January.
There are various calendars that exist for different reasons such as religion, seasons (nature), an era of a dynasty and many more. It would be great if South Afrika and Afrikans could develop and use a calendar based on the southern hemisphere, the seasons, our culture, important events and dates, and our language.
Our language has meaning, we don’t just name something for the sake of it. If you look at the names of months in Afrikan languages, it's not just a number but they actually tell the season and how people, nature and animals behave during that time.
Ancient civilizations have left some traces and clues for us, in the caves, the mountains and ancient ruins such as the cradle of mankind and Inzalo Yelanga also called Adam’s calendar to figure out the appropriate calendar for Mzansi.
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