'We Got South Africa Talking'

Mail & Guardian August 20 to 26 2021 15 Q&A ‘We got South Africa talking’

During Women’s Month, veteran journalist, Felicia Mabuza-Suttle is paying tribute to the resilient women of South Africa. The 71-year-old Mabuza-Suttle, who is now based in the US, tells Kelly Richards how she dealt with patriarchy in the media world, her passion for youth development and why she is a self-confessed germaphobe

You were South Africa’s rst talk show host and contributed to the development of the country’s youth. Take us back to the streets of Sophiatown and Soweto where you grew up and tell us about your childhood role models. Steve Biko, to “conscientise” them When Nelson Mandela made that and to instil black pride. We danced call to South Africans living abroad to songs with a message like To Be to come back home to help build a Young, Gifted and Black by Nina new democracy in 1991 during his Simone and Say It Loud, I’m Black US visit, I felt he was talking to me and I’m Proud by James Brown. personally, because I was living in Atlanta. My first show was with You are living in the US, but you South Africans who had come back manage to stay in touch with South home to serve. My upbringing had Africa: its youth, politics and the dif- prepared me for this mission, grow- ferent events here. How important ing up in Sophiatown and later in is that connection to you? Soweto. I have vivid memories of I always say, “My body is in America, the dusty and dangerous streets of but my heart is in South Africa.” Sophiatown, with gangsters fi ghting There is no place like home — Mzansi each other with stones. I was struck is in my DNA — the warmth of our by one and have the mark to show. people, the beauty of our country and I was young, but remember the the sound of our musical harmony. role models I had: the teachers, I get excited just hearing a South priests, nuns and community lead- African song on the radio in the US. ers who shaped my life. I was a young I love young people. They supported member of icon Emily Motsieloa’s me during the days of The Felicia singing Tiny Tots — we competed Show. They could see what I was try- Trailblazer: Veteran journalist But I realised that being among the You love music and dancing. Do you in singing competitions in our white ing to do as some of the older folks Felicia Mabaza-Suttle says it fi rst women sitting at the board and have a favourite genre? dresses, red ribbons and black shoes. knocked me — black and white. is no longer an honour to be negotiating tables — my role was I love all types of music. I grew up in My best memory was when we were But I kept my focus on my focus ‘the only woman’; the point is to deliver and to create a spot for a musical family. My father Willie, the opening act for Miriam Makeba — I was not going to be distracted. to create space at the table for another woman. Being “the only played saxophone; my uncle Vela, and the Manhattan Brothers. I was I was on a mission. I answered an more women to thrive woman” is no longer an honour. played piano; and my other uncle, obsessed with Miriam and wanted to important call: to come and use my It’s lonely and brutal at the top. My Early, was a renowned drummer sing like her when I grew up. skills to bring black and white South favourite book, [which] I urge every and was married to Busi Mhlongo. I It was an honour to host her on The Africans together, through dialogue, woman to read, is Games Mother used to love listening to the practice Felicia Show and to reminisce about after 40 years of apartheid that kept Never Taught You by Betty Lehan jam sessions at my home in Soweto, my childhood dreams with her and up apart as people. We did! Our slo- Harragan. It was my business bible. where we had greats like Abdullah to sing with her on my show. gan said it all, “We Got South Africa It is old, but the rules still apply. Ibrahim, Pat Matshikiza, Mankunku Talking.” It is important for me to Ngozi, Barney Rachabane and many Tell us a bit more about your child- stay connected to my roots. A tree What angers you most about the more. Both my grandmothers sang hood in Soweto … dies without its roots. I am proudly South Africa of today from a politi- in the choir and I was the youngest The apartheid government’s forced South African and honoured to be cal perspective? member of the choir. I sing and dance removals of blacks from Sophiatown accepted by America. The images of utter anarchy and to every genre: jazz, mbaqanga, moved us to Dube in Soweto. My looting with beautiful South Africa in kwaito, R&B, hymns, amapiano, you proud grandfather, Ben Mabuza, Recently you were quoted as say- fl ames on the television screens were name it. My husband, Dr Earl Suttle, decided to build the fi rst double-sto- ing that South Africa is ready for a extremely disturbing. The reported and I are always dancing. rey house in Soweto to demonstrate female president. You have dealt greed and corruption I read about to the apartheid government the type with patriarchy in your career. What overseas and South African media is We know you never leave home of housing black people deserved. I advice do you have for today’s concerning. without make-up. What don’t South was infl uenced by great role models young South African women? What happened to the “South Africans know about you? from Sophiatown to Soweto, like Dr I often paraphrase Margaret African Dream” we hoped for post- I taught at a top fi nishing school and and Mrs Xuma; Dr and Mrs Motlana; Thatcher’s quote to illustrate how apartheid? Things seem to have dete- I conduct a lot of seminars on image Mr and Mrs Maponya; Mrs Ellen valuable women are: if you want to riorated. I pray daily for our country. and confi dence. So, I just try to prac- Khuzwayo; our neighbour, Gibson know how to do a job, ask a man. If Poverty needs to be tackled fast. As tise what I preach. A friend recently Kente, and his wife, Evelyn, who was you want the job done, give it to a Bob Marley sang: “A hungry man is told me: “You have been practising a top model; and more. woman. We get the job done, because an angry man.” Covid-19 sanitising practices before My background in Mrs Motsieloa’s we know that we do not just repre- Our people are hungry and angry, they were introduced.” True, I am Tiny Tots taught me to do the sent ourselves but that our success is especially when they see headlines of a germaphobe. I spend time clean- same in Soweto where I grew up: the success of all women. For black ‘I always say, “My greed and corruption among those in ing and sanitising everything on the to gather young people and start women, it goes further: we represent body is in America, public service. As a young man told plane and in my hotel room. I even my dance school in the early 70s, our race and women. me once, “We will climb over your rinse utensils in restaurants because called Tswelopele Dance Academy. There are far too many highly but my heart is in high electrifi ed fences and take what I have seen how they are handled in Some of the youth were not that qualified women in South Africa South Africa.” There is we want.” This is already happening. some restaurants. I do not eat cold much younger than me. The goal of who could make great presidents. To the rich I say: practise our mantra food in restaurants: no sushi for me the dance school was to keep them Yes, I have dealt with patriarchy no place like home — of ubuntu and help lift others for a — too much touching. Let me stop off the streets and, in the words of in the corporate and media world. Mzansi is in my DNA’ better society. before I reveal too much [laughs].