Written by Amanda Tayte-Tait Marufu My period was 4 days late and it was never late. The sore breasts, the puking, the cramps, although these were all symptoms I faced whenever I was on my period anyway. Not to mention the fatigue these past few days. I checked my calendar for the hundredth time before finally giving in to the sinking feeling in my soul. Maybe I could be pregnant. I dragged myself out of bed and walked the few steps to the...
Written by A Brave Woman I’ve had two abortions all below the age of 18, why you ask? I lacked basic sex education because it's quite taboo to educate young people about sex in Malawi. The first time I got pregnant it took me about five weeks to realize I was pregnant, I and my then-boyfriend didn’t use protection or any form of contraceptives because then I did not know morning-after pills or birth control. I was lucky to have been working...
Written by A woman in pain Our baby would have been born today, do you know that? Our progeny, bone of my bones Our pleasurable mistake but the universe’s manifestation of my deepest desires I am pregnant, three little words with so much weight so much meaning Words with the power to rip us apart or bring us together for a lifetime with us being the former I agonised and you were nonchalant, I guess that was your answer to what we would do...
Written by Wonani Mwanza Living abroad sounds exciting. It is exciting. I’m Zambian and my home is Zambia. When an opportunity came for me to leave Zambia, I grabbed it with both hands. I currently live in Malaysia and I have been here for the last three years. When people find out I don’t live in Zambia, they are usually so amused and think I’m living my best life. Everything is rosy and honestly what could go wrong when you practically moved...
Written by David L. Tabb On paper, my life in America seemed outstanding. In 2014, I was a tenured associate professor at one of the best medical schools in the nation, living in a big house on the hill; I was a paragon of privilege. Inside, though, I was crumbling. I felt unable to keep up with the university demands of teaching, mentoring, service, and above all, grant writing. I knew I needed a change, but I wasn’t sure what kind I...
Written by Anesu Nyakubaya-Nhevera I remember the day I got to the Beitbridge border post. As night fell I could see the beauty of the lights across the border, in Musina. My Canaan, right there. To this day I can never put the feeling I had into words. Some can say I had it easy. I had a relative already established in South Africa when I came. That didn't make anything any more accessible though. I was so scared of people. I never wanted them...
Written by Shereen Asafo-Adjei One day in class, a guy I thought was insanely beautiful asked me if I wanted to give him “head.” At the time of my life, I was scared to ask questions because I didn’t want to be branded as a FOB (fresh off the boat- someone who just landed abroad). Up until that point I had pretended to know things so I didn’t appear too foreign. So this beautiful boy asked me to give him head, I just laughed it off because I...
Written by Rumbidzai It was mid-summer in Zimbabwe when my uprooting happened. I knew that this was coming, but my 10-year-old mind had not fully grasped what it meant for the future. I didn’t know I was facing one of the biggest changes in my life. I had just turned 11 when my mother told us that our passports and visas were ready and that we would be boarding a flight in just 2 months. I had never been on a plane before, but we had been...
I was a teen mom and now I'm a young mom, who's ambitions are far beyond someone who has a whole family to look after. After having my daughter at 19, with no clear knowing of myself, I dropped out of 2nd year... All because I was 5 months pregnant and had no other option but to keep my child. I was at the lowest point of my confidence to face the corridors and centres that lurked with the sight of my donor. With this ordeal and feeling so...
Written by Zilanie Tamara Gondwe Taboo. Uttering the word vagina is taboo in my country. Taboo things and practices are usually proscribed to women. The Oxford Dictionary defines taboo as: 1. A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing. ‘many taboos have developed around physical exposure’ 2. A practice that is prohibited or restricted by...
Written by Mandy Taite-Tait For as long as I could remember I was always doing something. Always dreaming, building, and wanting something bigger. As a little kid, this involved taking care of grasshoppers. I was maybe 10 and I would keep them in a pencil case with grass, and some water, and would make sure they were fed every day. I didn’t know why but at that time this project consumed all my energy. I felt like I was helping them and doing...
Growing up I had a small body and so I suffered from an inferiority complex, I saw myself as insignificant and I doubted my capabilities and failed to realize that dynamites come in small packages, I always thought that others people were better than me and always gave them leverage over me. It took me 16 years for me to grow from an insecure young girl who was drowning in the anxiety of other peoples' perceptions to a confident and proud young...
Written by Tafadzwa Madzika Sometimes I hate my life. Maybe more than just sometimes. It's not the thoughts of suicide that are ever present but just dying seems good. It seems simpler, an escape of sorts. Life can be painful. It mostly is. No matter where you are or what you have, there's a sort of suffering for it. And I have to say the worst thing about life is that it takes an instant to crush things that'll take years to build up. 2014 was...
Written by Chengeto Mayowe The road to being a warrior is riddled with harsh words, statements and actions, usually done to you and when you least expect it.'You are not good enough''I never meant to hurt you''You wanted it''Your father is dead''Let's see what you do now that he's gone''You're too fat''Lose some weight''Why are you exposing yourself like that' I could go on and on about words said that cut deeper than any knife could but we'd...
Written by Mable Barbara Amuron Anyone who knows me knows of my love for the written word. This past decade has seen the explosion of African literature which has been awesome for readers, such as myself, hungry for books that speak to the African experience and have characters that we can relate to. But more than just the literary genre, the books being produced by Africans range from chick lit to sci-fi to AfroFuturism to thrillers. While...
Written by Sarah Toyin One country among many in Africa you need to visit is Ghana! Ghana is a country I recommend you visit as it is full of rich history, culture, food and more. Independence Square From Pixabay Ghana has become a sought-after holiday destination in West Africa due to many celebrities such as Boris Kodjoe and more visiting. The 2019 year of return campaign also encouraged people to visit the country throughout the year,...
Written by Rudo Manyere Zimbabwe is a landlocked African country situated in the south of Africa. It has a population of roughly 14 million people, 16 languages, and about 7 religions. Although Christianity is the main religion and was introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the natives of Zimbabwe already knew God through traditional religion. The Zimbabwean people (Shona, Ndebele, Kalanga, Nyanja, etc) all knew and believed in God (...
Written by Laker Fiona 1. Things Fall Apart Every time I meet an African who has not read this book, I honestly judge them. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was one of my earliest reads growing up. I love this book because of its writing style and how it reflects the pre-colonial times showing its effects on individuals, families, and communities. The protagonist in this book "Okonkwo" a famous wrestling champion is obsessed with his...
Written by Amanda Tayte-Tait Marufu My period was 4 days late and it was never late. The sore breasts, the puking, the cramps, although these were all symptoms I faced whenever I was on my period anyway. Not to mention the fatigue these past few days. I checked my...
Written by A Brave Woman I’ve had two abortions all below the age of 18, why you ask? I lacked basic sex education because it's quite taboo to educate young people about sex in Malawi. The first time I got pregnant it took me about five weeks to realize I was...
Written by A woman in pain Our baby would have been born today, do you know that? Our progeny, bone of my bones Our pleasurable mistake but the universe’s manifestation of my deepest desires I am pregnant, three little words with so much weight so much meaning Words...
Written by Wonani Mwanza Living abroad sounds exciting. It is exciting. I’m Zambian and my home is Zambia. When an opportunity came for me to leave Zambia, I grabbed it with both hands. I currently live in Malaysia and I have been here for the last three years. When...
Written by David L. Tabb On paper, my life in America seemed outstanding. In 2014, I was a tenured associate professor at one of the best medical schools in the nation, living in a big house on the hill; I was a paragon of privilege. Inside, though, I was crumbling....
Written by Anesu Nyakubaya-Nhevera I remember the day I got to the Beitbridge border post. As night fell I could see the beauty of the lights across the border, in Musina. My Canaan, right there. To this day I can never put the feeling I had into words. Some can say I...
Written by Shereen Asafo-Adjei One day in class, a guy I thought was insanely beautiful asked me if I wanted to give him “head.” At the time of my life, I was scared to ask questions because I didn’t want to be branded as a FOB (fresh off the boat- someone who just...
Written by Rumbidzai It was mid-summer in Zimbabwe when my uprooting happened. I knew that this was coming, but my 10-year-old mind had not fully grasped what it meant for the future. I didn’t know I was facing one of the biggest changes in my life. I had just turned...