Some of our Hips are too Big

African women. African woman. Underdog, sufferer, opportunity-less woman.
African women. African woman. Ignorant, indifferent, agent-less woman.
African women. African woman. Weak, poor, emotion-less woman.

Are you her? Is she me? Are we them?

Stop trying to talk about us and understand us. We know who we are – each ONE of us.
Even if still searching, we know who we want to be.
No, not your American models, movie stars and diva….
We like the things you do and the way you do …. But we have our way too… give us the chance to show you.
We know what we are capable of achieving. We do what we can with what we have.
We don’t want to be under your obsessive gaze. Please just let us be.

Thank you for opening doors for us. But please, don’t force us to walk through.
Thank you for being a voice for us. But please, don’t make us conform to your views.
And thank you for trying to understand us. But please remember, we won’t all fit in that box – some of our hips are too big.

Adapted from Neema Ndunguru

Some Basic Strands of My Life Story

Until recently, I have lived most of my life (19 years) in Malawi. As much as it offered the comfort of being within familiar settings and culture, it offered me a single story about life. A story that had similar beliefs, religion, values and culture. It lacked the possibility of challenging my acquired beliefs. It was a single story of women who had accepted less than they deserved, those who refused to take the challenge to become leaders. A story that sidelined women to conventional careers.

My acceptance into the United States Achievers Program (USAP Malawi) in 2008 was the beginning of a journey that would redefine the single story I had been made to believe. I realized that I had the power to either be the victim of my circumstances or be the master of them. I was empowered to believe that a better tomorrow begins with me today.

Well,now that am part of the global community in a small town in Ithaca,NY,my life story has taken a leap into new definitions. I have quite a different view on everything,whether for or against. I wish I studied everything from Law to International Relations to Gender Studies to Economics. My undergraduate career at Cornell University and thereafter will be spent understanding the Interdisciplinary nature of Health; The One Health Approach.