Jipox –(verb) Kiswahili Slang: to boldly assert one’s belonging/membership to a group of people or an event despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary.
Jipoxer –(noun) Kiswahili Slang: one who jipoxes.
Last year, my blog twin wrote a fantastic response to Angelina Jolie’s adoption of an Ethiopian baby. In the same blog piece she mentioned that Oprah claimed, on the basis of a DNA test, she was a Zulu woman.  In Friday’s Guardian, Gary Younge revisited Oprah’s announcement and revealed that,
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“…the results suggested [Oprah’s] most likely match was from the Kpelles tribe of Liberia. Indeed she was told that she could not have come from South Africa.�
Despite the fact that science has told Oprah otherwise, she still lays claim to her (supposed) Zulu heritage on the basis that she is, “crazy about the South African accent,�
This recent discussion on what my blog twin refers to as the commodification of Africa has inspired the following post; after all, if something is worth saying, it is worth saying twice.
As someone whose cultural identity spans over three continents, I appreciate the difficulties of living in a world where people feel the need to categorise and label those around them. I can relate to that feeling of not fitting in and I certainly empathise with those who feel compelled to latch on to any identity just so that they can feel accepted.
That said; I do take issue with Oprah’s claim. Firstly there is the issue of “the South African accent,â€? to which my only response is, which South African accent? Doesn’t she realise that the South African accent is as intangible as the American accent?ÂÂ
The sad part for me is that I remember growing up in 1980s England as an African. It was not cool to be African then. Your accent was mocked.  You were subject to an endless stream of dumb and offensive questions such as “did you get to England by elephant?� You had to constantly challenge inane stereotypes – “do people in your country have bows through their noses?�.  No distinction was made between a South African and an East African, you were all the same and you were all treated the same. The images of Zulu men with spears and shields that are now considered cool were considered then, to be further proof of a barbaric cannibalistic group of people.
In recent years the Western world has begun to acknowledge Africa and while on the whole this has been positive there are still those who’s acknowledgement does not seem genuine. Perhaps their over zealous love for all that is African is their way of compensating for years of anti-African sentiment. It could be that they just enjoy following a trend, so much so, that jumping on the bandwagon will not suffice; instead they throw themselves right under its wheels. Whatever their reasons, they are no different to those who ridiculed or ignored Africa in the 1980s. They do not care that Africa is a continent with over fifty countries. Many will not know that it in some African countries it is possible to hear forty different languages being spoken.
I can not speak for the people of South Africa, I can not even speak for the people of Kenya but I can speak as a Kenyan woman and to anyone who is thinking of “becoming� a Kenyan I have this to say; The more the merrier BUT please do so for the right reason. If you can not find a good reason then at least have the gumption to say this,
“Me, I am not Kenyan. I am just a jipoxer. I just want to jipox on your people�
This may not guarantee you instant Kenyaness but your efforts to familiarise yourself with Kiswahili slang shall add an air of sincerity to your claims. (Do note: irrespective of what is considered grammatically correct, for your claim to be convincing it is imperative that you use the words ‘Me, I am’ in the exact manner depicted above)
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KenyanMusings says
LOLOLOL @ fantastic post. AKi I have so laughed. I have heard things but “do people in your country have bows through their noses?� is a classic!
The last time I heard the word to ‘jipox’, it was in high school when people used to jipox on people’s fries. LOLOLOLO…you are so mad!
Me I (kenyan all the way) always wonder why Oprah is so stuck up on validating her africanness or lack of it. I have gotten into trouble time and time again for putting her down, so let me not about start. This one of people trying to be african alawys seems so condescending, to the point of annoyance. Don’t make me start on dreadlocked gypsy white women….Si na ubaya lakini….
Nice, deep, post.
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KenyanMusings says
Yaay! and i AM FIRST. LOL @ “‘jumping on the bandwagon will not suffice; instead they throw themselves right under its wheels”.
Double LOL @ “…the results suggested [Oprah’s] most likely match was from the Kpelles tribe of Liberia. Indeed she was told that she could not have come from South Africa.â€? First, it just sucks for Oprah to come from the tribe which is not Zulu, and which I heve never heard of. Its like coming from the ‘dorobo’ tribe in Kenya as opposed to being a Maasai…yeah, I ma sure that is her line of thinking.
Dang! her face must’vr dropped @ the fact that regardless, “She could not have come from South Africa”!! LOL…
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mshairi says
Jipox – never heard of it but what a brilliant word!
The fact that some people will take several DNA tests only to discard them until they find one they feel suits them best is weird.
p.s. can we set up a fan club for Mr. Gary Younge?
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Guessaurus says
I am with Mshairi on two things:
1. Never heard of the word jipox, but loving it already
2. Love Gary Younge’s articles
Oprah: What to say – I suppose it is this thing nowadays of Black people from western countries (will not say African Americans because we have seen programmes on TV about people wanting to find their African roots here in Britain) wanting to assert their Blackness, but they go around it with tinted glasses, wanting their heritage to be African but not too primitive, not too dark, not too this, and then end up being all disappointed when they find a little tribe in a small town down some ravine with no access to anything who dont even know where England or America is, let alone that the world outside their little corner exist – and these same people want their ‘celebrity’ to be recognised yet end up with blank faces and request for ‘money’ thrown in their faces.
Yes, I have watched the TV progs without too much sympathy so excuse my sounding a little ‘off’ – ok a lot – and blogging happily on your blog Kui – see, you should blog more often … Brilliant article 😀
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Prousette says
It is lovely to read this word again, actually I’ve never seen it written anywhere, it was one of those diss word in high school. Being a jipoxer is never a good thing but then again if you fake it till you make it good for you! Only I do not know how Oprah will manage this and become Zulu.
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afromusing says
This is too good! LOL! I enjoyed this post very much. Should we make a badge for the jipoxers? perhaps akiey can help us out, i am bila graphics skills. Hmm ama those bands that they can wear on their wrists with JPXR on it?
Kinda unrelated…but
I like Gary Younge’s writing, i saved a quote from a piece he did early this year, referring to US and lobbyists “pimping the principle of democracy in pursuit of profit” just thought i’d share…
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Ntwiga says
Very nice post, I enjoyed reading it and funnily enough, I just read about the ebonic equivalent called a ghetto pass a couple of days ago.
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kelitu says
hey i saw that show about celebz finding their roots, and yes Oprah’s mouth did drop to the floor when she was told that she is from Liberia. i have to admit i was a little happy.i’m tired of akataz(african-americans) claiming to be from SA.
Chris Tucker found out that he was from Angola, Whoopi was from Cameroon or something like that. All in all it was a very informative show.
I still love Oprah though.
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uaridi says
I hate trends and trendy things. The current trend then is for Africa-Americans to find their real roots then (of course as with all things, there are those who will manipulate the results until they are quite happy with the results)
I did however see two Brits who found out where they came from and were very excited, and actually visited.
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mshairi says
Mama Junkyard, I just tagged you – check out the meme on my blog.
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acolyte says
I feel you on this post!Why is it that when some of these people trace their roots they always claim that they are from one of the bigger more illustrious tribes?Oh I hear Oprah is at it again with the race machine!But it has been so long since I heard that word!We had moved onto “forcing”
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Medusa says
You know, I have no doubt hat Miss. Oprah does alot of good, I can certainly appreciate her work in South Africa, and elsewhere. Some days though, she makes some remarks that leave me perplexed.
Sometime back, she had her trainer Bob Greene on the show, and she was sharing-kama kawaida-about her weight issues..She seems to have gained some back, and she kept saying all this happened when she was on vacation in S.A. Ati because she had to eat copious amounts of bread, because you know..and I quote ” You can’t quite trust that meat over there”..after which she quickly offered a disclaimer..that ofcourse whoever wants to try it can go ahead.lol PLUS, ati lack of fresh fruits and veggies..what?? I almost hit the tv with my shoe- Perpetuating ignorance about Africa to an audience that just about considers her deity. Jipoxer is right! lol
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Mymmoh says
@ Medusa. Thank you for sharing that Oprah, meat and fruits and veggies thing. I was livid. I’m still mad at her for treating James Frey badly. And I walk into work and people are asking a lot of idiotic questions over meat. Takes me back to the damn South AFrican show she did (never seen it and I hope I never do) that caused teh same flow of damn stupid questions. I’m just glad she’s not Kenyan, hell East African. She has been rubbing me the wrong way all over lately. I quickly told the people that bread is made from wheat which is grown in the same fields that grow the fruits and veggies and pleaded kindly that they ask no more questions in the name of peace. And wouldn’t a map showing the slave trade route give this people an idea that South Africa is where they’re least likely from??? Vichwa maji, I tell you.