“This is why geography lessons are essential.” Wow! Taraji P. Henson has just been awarded her honorary degree from Spelman, but social media is abuzz with criticisms regarding her knowledge of African studies. The Think Like A Man actress ignited controversy after mistakenly claiming that the Babemba tribe—actually from Zambia—originated in South Africa.
During her inspiring speech at Spelman College’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony, Taraji tried to share insights into African culture, but unfortunately mixed up a few details.
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She narrated a vital ritual performed by the Babemba people in which an individual stands at the village center and is showered with positive affirmations to foster healing and community solidarity. The twist? The tribe is in fact Zambian, not South African, leading to understandable frustration among South Africans.
Hey ???😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/qaz4xbFme0
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— Hlovo (@hlovo_) May 22, 2025
SA Netizens Unearth the Facts
Social media users wasted no time in fact-checking the actress, responding with humor and critique.
An X user, @Hlovo, shared the clip with a perplexed caption, sparking a flurry of comments.
@SuperXolani expressed:
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“Maybe she was alluding to Southern Africa, not just South Africa. The Babemba (Bemba) tribe is actually located in Zambia, not RSA.”
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And the humorous reactions kept coming:
@ghostbestie057 joked: “The foreign tour guides must have told her that nonsense.”
@MasonDoLindor added:
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“Honestly, I think many people often confuse ‘South Africa’ with ‘Southern Africa.’ They might have aimed to reference the Republic of South Africa.”
Meanwhile, @user_name911_ offered some sharp sarcasm: “She probably heard ‘vimba’ and saw a crowd, which led to that mistake.”
Not the First Instance of Mzansi Misrepresentation
Mzansi has been frequently misquoted, misrepresented, or misled. From Donald Trump’s outrageous white genocide claims to Taraji’s recent statements—South Africans are weary of being mistaken for the broader continent.
@Zitholakele_K humorously remarked: “There’s a Kasi tribe in South Africa. When someone acts unjustly, the whole community unites to enforce justice.”
And @Limpooi17 maintained professionalism, stating: “She appears misinformed—this underscores the necessity of researching before publicly speaking. It’s quite embarrassing.”
The conclusion? Taraji’s intentions may have been genuine, but Mzansi will not tolerate any half-truths or “tribal tales.” As @Hlovo aptly noted: “These people still believe Africa is just one big country… we can only laugh and point at them.”
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