Once Upon A Time, we danced, barefoot, sweat dripping down our brown chocolate like skin too busy to wipe it off. I mean why should we?!!!  Nobody cared, the music took us places.

Once dust rose from all angles of the earth engulfing all our being, we just sought every chance we could get to dance our hearts out. We danced when we planted. Danced during the harvest. Danced at weddings, birthdays and burials. We danced when it rained. And even when it didn’t we never really stopped dancing.

Sometimes  on the starry nights I could have sworn I heard the ground move as though our ancestors were tossing and turning because of the ground breaking sounds made by our feet.

There is no disputing that when we gathered around huge fires, that those were the best moment of our lives. Telling stories of  horror and humor. Of how we turned tears into raindrops and our souls melting around the big fire. Our  strong family bonds and community ties were formed here with our hearts holding hands.

But Once Upon A Time, we were nurturers,  healers, medicine women and men, kings and queens, royals, chiefs.Once we were magic particles not slaves. How could we forget that?

Once we moved freely across the continent taking only what we needed for the journey ahead. We were not made to stay in one place and perhaps that’s why we have feet. We were one big family, one big AFRICA. Now we are just…

Once Upon A Time we were our brother’s keeper. We cared for everyone’s child, not because we felt  obligated to but because a child did not belong to the parents only but a child was of the community. But that was then…

Once we lived truly, fully and loved abundantly. True authentic love. What do they call it these days? Ooh that’s right they call that love – old fashioned.

Once upon a time we were custodians of our own cultures and education  but today we borrow culture.

What are we left with after all this?

Years of converting ourselves into a little bit of this and a little bit of that until later we are a whole lot of nothing.

This has cost us Our Identity .

Years of trying to fit in and acceptance to impress the people who didn’t matter has cost us our Identity ..Is it all worth it in the end?

Because

Once Upon A Time…

 

Guest Writer

Catherine Kimambo

Founder, African Child Projects Tanzania and YALI Fellow

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