Who are you? Give us an overview of your ethnicity/heritage?
My name is Tindikai Crispen Munyawarara. I identify myself as an African male from Zimbabwe. I belong to the Manyika clan which is part of the Shona tribe. On a wider paradigm I belong to the Bantu peoples of Africa who originated in West Africa before the great Bantu migrations which resulted in the population of East and Southern African. Without neglecting the European migrations to Southern Africa, I do owe some of my ancestral identity to a Dutch forefather on my maternal side of my family.
From a linguistic point of view, I speak two languages; Shona and English. I received my primary education in Zimbabwe and a tertiary education in Australia, through which l attained an Honours level degree. I am married to an Australian whose father was born in Italy and a mother who was born in Australia of Irish heritage.
How did you come to Australia or were you born in Australia? Please share your experiences
I came to Australia as an International Student. Coming to Australia was a huge transition into independence and also a great adventure into the unknown. As an impressionable young man with the opportunity to study overseas, Australia appealed to me for three main reasons:
Coming from Africa or should I say my part of Africa, Australia opened my eyes to the possibilities of how a society can be prosperous if certain foundations are in place on a micro and macro level. In my interactions in both a rural and metropolitan setting, I found the general public in Australia to be very welcoming. I was located in a little country town called Wodonga, which gave me a wealth of encounters that enriched my understanding of the Australian way of life.
When I relocated permanently to Melbourne to further my studies, this wealth of cultural experience proved to be invaluable. My peer group was made up of a number of Africans who were from different parts of Africa which confirmed a sense of solidarity and love I had for being African despite the challenges plaguing the continent.
A turning point in my journey was the decision I had to make about whether to stay in Australia or go home to Zimbabwe. The economic situation in Zimbabwe made the decision intellectually easy but emotionally hard. After having made that decision to stay, new decisions had to be made on an existential level. After having crossed that bridge a lot of things fell in place – employment and marriage. Here i am 18 years in Australia nearly half of my life.
Name one thing you really passionate about and why?
Religion. Everyone believes in something, even believing in nothing is still believing.
Describe a few things you find fascinating about Australia’s multicultural society?
There is a deep sense of egalitarianism and informality. This adds a unique characteristic to the Australian Culture.
What kind of experiences have you had in relating with people whose backgrounds differ from your own?
At university i had wonderful opportunities of engaging with people who were not of the same background as my own; this was carried over through my religion, employment and marriage.
What did you learn from this experience?
People are the same and at the same time different. What a mystery!
What does a commitment to diversity/multiculturalism mean to you?
Knowing yourself deeply in order to have genuine cultural encounter.
What do you see as the advantages and challenging aspects of an increasingly diverse community. What can we do to overcome such challenges?
Diversity is nothing new. One only needs to read history. The same challenges that were there in the past will continue to follow humanity into the future. When society overlooks Natural Law it plants the seeds of its own destruction; justice, truth, solidarity and peace must be the constant aim of any society irregardless of its nature.
What fun and interesting activities/events can we do/hold to aid in bridging the cultural gap thereby creating an inclusive society for all to enjoy?
Educate the young through engaging platforms such as Afrocentrik to strive for the imperishable richness of peace.
