Tribeless

In my wife's country it is totally acceptable to ask someone which tribe they are from. When you register at an hotel you write the name of your tribe next to your ID number. I normally just write Mholanzi which means that I am from a tribe called Holland. But it always leaves an awkward feeling of tribelessness.

Team is about as close as I have been to a tribe, but they rarely last. My family is another tribe altogether but that doesn't really count.

To address my modern affliction I sought modern medicine: bought a book, watched a series on TV, YouTubed tribes and even joined tribes online. It only made matters worse. I felt more tribeless than ever.

Of late, my feelings of tribelessness are relieved by fleeting but increasingly frequent sensations of belonging to a larger tribe that is all around me. I don't want to name or brand it for fear it might disappear, but it's great to be part of it.