THERE is a heartwarming tale about a tribe in Africa where, supposedly, a special song is composed by the community for each member, starting from their birth, performed during various stages of their life, until finally, it’s sung as a requiem at their deathbed.
Although widely shared online by many credible well-being inspirational speakers and writers in workshops since it appeared in 2015, it may come as both shock and huge spoiler for everyone: it’s not true.
The tale is nothing but a product of Internet misinformation going around.
For one, the original material is said to be vague and ridden with generalizations, failing to include reliable sources, much less providing the name of the tribe.
It was only in later versions where the Himba tribe was added, to lend credence to the story, although the damage had already been done. (This fantastic piece of information is available at iorbitnews.com, under the title “the sacred song of each child in the Himba tribe.”)
However, if one had read the piece online, the veracity of the narrative may not be at all be too important since its intent has clearly been just intended to inspire.
Nowadays on YouTube, and shared as a link on other social media platforms, sentimental tales of noted personalities abound, all works of fiction but written masterfully and clearly meant to tug at one’s heartstrings.
Here’s the thing, however, the proliferation of false stories and anecdotes about indigenous cultures has always been a consistent template because of their exotic appeal to non-indigenous people and city-folk readers alike.
Sadly, in many ways, most fall as either derogatory or patronizing.
In the country, we have as many as 110 ethno-linguistic groups. And these do not include our Muslim brothers and sisters, who have distinctions of their own.
Among these Indigenous peoples, 61 percent are found in Mindanao. Through many years, the culture of the IPs has been promoted and celebrated worldwide, with countless documentaries depicting the ways of the people.
For example, there’s nothing wrong if researchers document and narrate the intricate processes of the T’boli or other Indigenous Peoples’ weaving, for example, no matter how romantic and mystical they made it appear to be.
This treatment for purposes of exotica does not at all betray the fact how richly these many cultures have thrived in diversity.
However, in what appears to be an intended counterbalance, the portrayal of the same people as either largely uneducated hinterland dwellers, mendicants and, worse, prone to lawlessness and banditry, painted under the same template of exotic tint to the frame still exists unchecked and that is our reality.
I am reminded of two Mindanaoans, an Agusan priest and a North Cotabato policeman.
The clergy very sarcastically noted that it’s very easy to request funding agencies abroad for four-wheel vehicles in his far-flung diocese. Just send them a picture of an IP child, poor and dirty, along with your proposal and that’s enough to keep the funds coming.
Meanwhile, the policeman had said, just submit a report of an increase in rebels amassing in one’s area and that’s enough. Procurement for new M-16s and other weapons are sure to come.
A missionary, when talking about all these, may have unintentionally capsulized what’s underneath the present mindset.
Everything is exquisitely depicted, as though on canvas. The part of many among us, as people outside looking in, is rendered magnificently, with our own brand of exotic ignorance.
By comparison, that little story of an African birth song pales so badly.
