Page 50 - Grundtvig International Secondary School Yearbook 2019

THE PRIDE OF AFRICA ARTICLE

he cooks, she cleans, and she cares.
She toils to introduce doctors,
Sengineers, lawyers, artists, artistes
into the world. The people of the world enjoy
these fruits of her labor while she most times
is forgotten by the embroidered pot which
her hands toiled to mould. Her hands now
bruised from the molding, the caring and her
feet aching from standing to ensure the pot
stands high, straight and tall. “She is a
woman”, they say, “It is her job”.

But she is not appreciated in her untainted
glory. In the dignity of her job, she suffers in
silence. By the age of 2, everyone's world
revolves around her. By the age of 32, she is
most times forgotten as easily as the stars of
the night fade into the morning.

This woman of dignity and valour is the
pinnacle of Africa, the strength of the nation,
the heartbeat of the black tribe and the
backbone of our culture. She works
tirelessly and selflessly with a strength far
greater than any man's; and her job, by far,
more difficult than any man's. This is a
woman whose strength can devour the Lions
of the Forest, yet, she is forgotten and
discarded like wilted flowers blown into the
wind.

The ignorant comes back from work
supposedly tired. “I'm tired”, he says, “My
feet are aching. Bring my food”, he orders
the already worn out woman who has been
standing up all day caring for the children,
keeping them in check to ensure they have
bright and big futures, cooking for the family
to ensure well occupied bellies and healthy
bodies, cleaning to ensure the home is a
clean, healthy environment, often times
works to assist financially. But diligent in
virtue, she goes to do what she has been told.
Yet they say, “He is a man. To be a man is not
a day's job”. Is it just me, or do you hear the bells of bias judgment ringing?

Now, let it be clear that our submission is not weakness neither is it meekness. It is maturity. Let it be
clear that respect is not fear. Let it be clear that no man should lay his hands on a woman in any way;
physically, sexually or mentally in the claim of manliness or any other font.

Now, I ask all men and women, all boys and girls, the young and the old, “Is it easy to be a woman?”

048 Grundtvig Interna onal Secondary School