In my mother’s womb, I knew my place.
I was born to a world that defined my worth without my say.
There I listened as my life was planned for me.
A good wife, she will make. Her food will be the pride of her husband.
She will know her place.
From the first rays of light these eye saw, my beauty was my gold.
Look at that smile, those eyes – attributes aimed to please.
The apple of my father’s eyes
The crown jewel
A princess, all this I am.
An entity built for show not for worth
You are studying too hard they tell me
Why let a flower bruise its petal, when it can stand still on the wall
You’re a woman, your place is in the hands of men.
My rebellion is quiet, arming myself in secret with knowledge
This fight is not for me. This gathering of sisters.
We are coming. Lined up. We march forward.
With or without consent, our voice too, must be heard.
I will have a daughter and she must be ready.
Wathinta abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo
Second generation – the builders
In my mother’s womb, I hear her voice
One day you will do things I can only dream of my mother says.
Her words are cautious, she warns of the world I am about to enter
She says I am worthy but not everyone will agree
I am confused.
Smile, you’re too pretty to not smile.
Know your place, don’t spread your legs.
My mother told me they would doubt my worth
She forgot to tell me they will try to take it away.
Get up. They should never see you defeated
You do this for the young girls to come
Be brave. Put on your face.
If you don’t fight, who will?
Build your armor, make it strong.
Everyday my armor is weakened and I hear her voice.
One day you will do things I can only dream of.
The halls of education feel daunting but I am mother’s daughter.
I have knowledge and I am strength.
Young girls come to me with their stories,
Their pain, the shame they make them feel.
I am their defender of justice, I fight for them.
I stand up for them, in the hope that they will get their dignity back
Their strength and justice.
I fight so my daughter can do better.
Wathinta abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo
Final generation – the unapologetic
In my mother’s womb, I am built to fight
There I listen to the lessons of my mother and her friends
I hear the words of rebellion, defying norms, the laughter of success and the pain of defeat
Leaders, heroes, carers, artists, doctors, fighters, women.
My world is what I make it, I can dance, can fly, walk and swim.
I have sisters, who walk with me, we gather knowledge without fear
We build castles and break down walls that are in our paths
Our worth is questioned by the world but we know who we are and we own it
Everywhere we go, we’re bobbing and weaving through micro aggressions and assumptions
Who we are is so much more than the sums of your cat calls,
Name calling, glass handling and box placing.
They want us on our backs, but on their terms.
We refuse. We lie back for no one.
We step up into the light, we shine
We embrace our flaws, our grace, our strength and our curves
From the nape of our necks to the small of our backs
They ask us ‘who the hell do you think you are?’
And we answer:
We are fire
We are rain
We are thunder
We are light
We are magic
We are women
Watch us Rise.