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Societal Privilege Does Not Protect Women From Violence
A friend and I begin a Twitter chat. I have picked up from her most recent tweets that she has been violated; a man has touched her inappropriately in a public space and has laughed back at her. “I hope you won’t say this is sexual harassment,” he states. I apologise to her; a helpless apology because, as she reassures me, it is not my … Continue reading Societal Privilege Does Not Protect Women From Violence
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Rest In Love, Dear Elaine Rosa Salo
A surge of heat courses through my blood as soon as I see the email with a simple but foreboding subject line. ‘Elaine’, it reads. Warily, I open it and take in its words, my body quickly collapsing into disbelieving heaves and sobs. “No, no, no.” I repeat the word as though a chorus of my protest will undo what I am reading. As though … Continue reading Rest In Love, Dear Elaine Rosa Salo
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This Silence Cannot Be All There Is
A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog post I titled, ‘Silence Does Not Suit Me’, an exuberantly defiant ode to my right to freely express myself as I chose. In it, I observed of the the self-doubt that often accompanies speaking up about things that are deemed unpopular or supposedly best left unchallenged, “You start to think that maybe they [the silent people … Continue reading This Silence Cannot Be All There Is
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So what do they really mean when they label you a ‘radical’?
What do they really mean when they call you a ‘radical’? Before I go any further, I am going to quickly disclaim that these musings are, in no way, academic or scientific. A question simply came into my mind Sunday evening as I planned for the week ahead and I decided to expand on it by writing about it. There is humour in this piece, … Continue reading So what do they really mean when they label you a ‘radical’?
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What Remains For Zimbabwe After Empathy?
The main traffic light that filters vehicles turning right from Harare’s Avondale Shopping Centre always seems to take an inordinate amount of time to change from red to green. And like many things requiring patience, this is a strange and testing phenomenon for motorists in a city whose worn and constricted roads are primed for daily aggressive driving and manoeuvring. For what feels like minutes, … Continue reading What Remains For Zimbabwe After Empathy?
10 Ways To Be A Good Zimbabwean
You see, life boils down to how much respect and credibility you can garner and I am almost 100% sure that some of these tactics will work for you in one way or the other. If they are working for other folk out there, why must you miss out? And why must I be selfish with proven strategies? I don’t operate on that wavelength. Continue reading 10 Ways To Be A Good Zimbabwean
On Reading ‘Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth’ by Warsan Shire
It is a cool crisp Saturday morning in bed. I have a backlog of reading to get through, which is always confusing and daunting to navigate. Which book is worth my time? Which one will make the effort worth it at the end of the last chapter? As I do my routine rounds on Facebook, I notice two friends’ posts about Warsan Shire. One is … Continue reading On Reading ‘Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth’ by Warsan Shire
I Don’t Like Weaves
I don’t like weaves. Don’t like the way 100% human hair – that is not 100% my own – feels as it pulls at my scalp and lashes against my neck. The way you have to flick it out of the way, tie it, clip it, grease it, tong it, shampoo, condition, maintain it so it’s worth every dollar you’ve spent investing in it. Salons … Continue reading I Don’t Like Weaves
Last Night I Gave Myself A Phone Call by Zibusiso Mpofu
Last night I gave myself a phone call I wanted to purge myself Hear my own voice lulling me to sleep Telling me to keep faith and hang my tears to dry ‘’They called me a fag again today’’ I heard myself say My voice hoarse, packed with weariness ‘’They said I’m an idiot for always being on my own’’, My voice breaking now, giving … Continue reading Last Night I Gave Myself A Phone Call by Zibusiso Mpofu
