HAVE you ever come across someone that has just learnt of a new insight? Has a new idea? Found something that strikes their nerve and stimulates one’s passion?
Well, I am not sure about you, but I certainly have. My son last week read that people lived in caves years ago, before houses were built. Oh my, what a discovery it was and yes, I had to play along each time he shared his new discovery. Ha!Ha!Ha! News indeed.
So when someone discovers something new that resonates with their soul and this happens at the right time, with the right people, in the right mood and so on, there is an explosion. There is such an inspiration that it leaves this person motivated and raring to go. They suddenly become unstoppable! Yes, they go on some spree to share whatever new discovery they would have made. They want everyone to hear, everyone to know that there is something new that they have discovered.
It is like that story Jesus shared about the woman who lost her coin and found it – she even calls her neighbours and friends to share her good news. However, there is a certain point at which this excitement becomes annoying. Imagine sharing your discovery with someone who actually does not care at all about what you are saying or is simply not bothered. Or perhaps it could be a classical case of long playing a bad joke. Well, this seems to be a reality in our case as Zimbabwe.
Girls in many homes are raised in a patriarchal system. There I go again with my feminism – yes, here I go with the truth! She is socialised to be a “good” girl. So they teach us how to sit, eat, cook and do everything that a “proper” woman ought to be and do. Well, it is culture they say, it is part of our inheritance. It is how things are. Many do grow up to follow these instructions as they do not want to be found wanting. They comply to survive and not have to deal with the backlash that comes with celebrating one’s individuality that goes against the norms sometimes.
Well, having said that, girls grow to be women and sometimes they do discover their power, amplify their voice as they fight the good fight towards leadership and making a difference. We defy odds at times so we stand out and do what we have to. Women, at times, find themselves leading and doing what they know best. So, once in awhile, we get these sisters who somehow seem to accidentally find power and might not know how to handle it, as they have clearly fallen victim to the stereotypical masculine notions of power and they go right in to dig. So now here is Grace, socialised outside such notions of power and suddenly she finds herself in a very important post and has all the power the world could give and material wealth to ice the cake. Does she run? Cry? Call the sister’s from the clan? Get an education? Or just smile and wave? How does she decide to use her power? Well, she embraces her newly found voice and makes some hell of noise that unsettles people and makes them rather too uncomfortable.
Amplifying my voice
So now I have discovered my voice. It has power. When I speak, you listen. No one questions my authority. Yes, you may whisper about me in dark corridors or make me a complete joke when you drink, but guess what? I have discovered my voice. It can shout. It can sing. I can throw a tantrum and who cares for the life of whoever? I am Grace.
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I talk, you listen, I do what I have to. Whether you like me or not, I am a legend. The point is that, we chose to own our voices differently. We, of course, choose to utilise our voices in whatever way we deem necessary. When I discover that I have a voice with power, please do not even dare try stopping me. I am a sister doing what she knows best – calling my neighbours and friends to come celebrate the coin with me. I do not have to comply or conform – I will just do this my way or it is the highway. No, we do not do that, Grace dear, it is anarchy, my sister. We chose to be responsible with our words and actions, that builds rather destroys, it is more lethal than the gun itself.
When people with power discover their power, it is the most beautiful song to sing when they sing a song we all can relate to. It is never acceptable for those who make a secret discovery to use their voice and discovery to abuse other people. To mock the weak, abuse the powerless and make a complete questionable show of themselves. It defeats the belief that educating a woman is actually educating a nation. It defeats the whole notion of women being an alternative form of leadership that is inclusive and progressive. It embarrasses the female species to know that one of their own is going against the very notion of their vision, to ensure a comfortable life for its entire offspring. There is urgent need to make sure that we relook the way we do business, the way we lead so that we can make sensible noise as we go all out about our many new discoveries.
This is 2015, we are progressive sisters in many respects. It is a year and decade we celebrated women from all fronts of life. However, we do not want to be associated with the mediocrity of amplifying our voices to make a “wrong” mark in the politics of this nation. It is a time we sought out opportunities for our offspring, ensure that we have fresh air, water and energy. We do trust that we will leave this world working for each one of us.
It is the year for us to understand that karma is real and we do get what we send out into the world. So we cannot just fragment other human beings, be careless with our words and promote fissures and division. No, let us stop it! It is the time that the powerful woman will use her voice to restore, encourage, bring hope to a nation of people who look desolate; it is about cuddling and celebrating possibilities. We cannot continue to be a nation that is defined by hearsays and rumours. It is the year that we go around and bring love and not humiliation to the very people we serve. This is the time for women to utilise their voices to be leaders of distinguishing calibre.
We refuse to be the overplayed bad joke with how we lead – we want to invite our friends and neighbours for something worth celebrating. No time to waste, we excel, mend, create, innovate, amplify courage and unity. In homes, families, religious spaces. Wherever we find ourselves, we choose to use our power of voice wisely as we transform this nation, one rally at a time, one life, one person and we choose to be pillars and beacons of the feminine goddesses that we truly are. Let’s do this!
lGrace Ruvimbo Chirenje writes in her personal capacity and loves stimulating conversation. She would be excited to hear from you. You can contact Grace on [email protected], follow her on twitter @graceruvimbo or Facebook: Grace Ruvimbo Chirenje. Chat soon.
