As we wrap the women’s month today we celebrate those who sacrificed a lot to see us succeed. My Village…

I takes a village to raise a child. My mother found her self a village of dames to help her rasie me. Lionesses do the same for their cubs while they go hunting.

She is a motherly mom , she asks me what to cook when I visit her house, my number one fan. The hair at the back of my neck still stands up when I hear Carol King sings ,the rippingtons, Esther phillips, Aretha Franklin and we have a tendency to sing along when together . She wasn’t happy when I scratched most of her LP’s back in the day.

Aunty Hla -my second Mom, no longer is SA. She saw me Day 3 or Day 4 after I was born.

Sis Thenjiwe a big cuz who taught us to be safe around the kitchen and she would do our chores while we played.

Gogezanzi- introduced me to tea and pumpkin mixed with mealie meal and sugar(The latter didn’t stick ). I don’t eat it. I still wear her brooch though,May her soul rest in eternal peace.

Aunty Gane

I first tasted mint ice cream in her house and it was heavenly .May her soul rest in heavenly peace.

Gogo Ivy

The english talk of a seaside holiday in Portsmouth.This was our annual get away to Durban for its’s beautiful and sunny beaches. I can’t eat anything gritty to this day thanks to those sandy sammies.

Gogo Mazoh

My maternal granmother’s cousin .She would call he Mazanyana .later I called her Wakho .She 1,5metres and so resilient

Aunty Saneli

My other Mom, great cook, loving.

Aunthy Khisiwe;

My other Mom, generous, ostrich leather anything is nice as a hand down. Salute’

Aunty Tiki and Aunty Ah

Family becomes friends

Aunty Ntombintombi

My friend’s mother who treat’s me as one of her own.

Aunty Love Joy

We use to call each before she became a frequent flier to Joburg, my friend’s Mom.

Aunty Zantu

My friend’s Mom was so concerned for me when I had my last needle stick-injury.

The village is a virtual home made up of friends and family . I hold teachings of these fine ladies just by watching them in platfom highheels and earloops, drive a car , strectch anything from food or money. I am a multifacated product of great women who have nurtured me physicically ,emotionally and spiritually and continue to do so.

In great studies they talk of patient years( which is collective age of the study sample) I am over five hundrend woman years old if you agree that the same logic holds here. My village. Mbokodo!