Saturday, March 2, 2019

Ndaba Sibanda writes


Dear Granddaughter   

Granddaughter, granddaughter, I hope and pray that you will realise the full potential
of your greatest power that lies in the spirit of our connectedness as human beings --
an embodiment of all the tributaries, tentacles and roots of human existence and love.

Granddaughter, granddaughter, let a love for oneself be the foundation for selflessness,
let a love for humanity be the essence and treasure of your sacrifices, dreams  and victories --
let it knit you together with other human hearts into a commonality that enriches diversity.   

Granddaughter, granddaughter, what is life without companionship and sharing and loving?
For in a polarised world like ours the path to love or an act of love and kindness can be easily
interpreted or perceived as a sign of weakness, or can be abused, but please stand your ground.                    
Granddaughter, granddaughter, listen to the words that proceed from my old mouth,
You`ll have childhood friends, enjoy the vitality of that friendship but more vitally, 
embrace the ephemerality of it too, and move on. By the way, I had childhood friends too.   

Granddaughter, granddaughter, listen to the words that proceed from my old mouth,
You’ll have to deal with oscillations of delight and distress, lures and lies because
life is a rhythm, a dynamism that swings from side to side, that sways back and forth.

I’m telling you this because I want you to be a strong soul who can make bold decisions
and actions and not turn towards a world ruled and wounded by fear, hate  and darkness --
but one whose anger and fear is no match for love, hope and the fellowship of humanity.        

I’m telling you this because I seek to open up doors into everything you need to know 
about the hilarity and complexity of life. How to live it is purely your business, nonetheless     
live it honorably and abundantly. Embrace its highs and lows with pride. Dance, for it`s once. 

Your Loving Granny,

Maphosa  
(Otherwise known as NakaLandisa/The Talkative One)
Aaron Douglas's Magisterial <em>Aspects of Negro Life</em>
Study of God's Trombones -- Aaron Douglas

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