MKEKA: Celebrating Pan African Women's Day SOMA

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Wageni rasmi kwenye hafla hii toka kushoto
Ma Charlote O'neal, Ma Maria Shaba,
Prof Marjorie Mbilinyi na Ma Demere Kitunga

Umajimui wa Wanawake Afrika si maneno yaliotapakaa kwenye vyombo vyetu vya habari. Sema siku hii ndani ya ukumbi wa Soma Book Cafe pale Dar es Salaam. Palikuwa na sherehe ndogo kuanisha siku ya Umajimui wa Wanawake Afrika.

Sherehe hii fupi iliyojumuisha wageni rasmi; Mama Maria Shaba wa TANGO, Ma Demere Kitunga wa E&D Readership & Development Agency-SOMA, Ma Charlotte O'Neal (aka Mama C) kutoka UAAC-United African Alliance Community na Prof Marjorie Mbilinyi wa TGNP.

Mshairi Zuhuru Senge'nge akighani mashairi yake kwenye
halfa hii iliyosheherekea siku ya Uajumuia
wa wanawake Afrika pale SOMA

Ilileta pamoja wasichana, wanawake na kinamama kwenye mazungumzo zaidi juu ya safari ya mwanamke Afrika. Hususani kwenye ukombozi wa bara hili toka misuko suko mbali kama ukoloni, 'apartheid' na mengineyo.

In the open hall at SOMA the celebration continued with speeches, poetry and music. With speakers like Ma Demere & Ma Maria much was disseminated on the 'She-roes' of Africa. Like our own Bi Titi Mohammed, whose face you could see on a Khanga at the makeshift stage at the hall..

The participants pose for a group photo

On the the far side of the room, one could spot black and white portraits of women in Africa; who have made significant contributions to the continents emancipation. Legendary women like Winnie Mandela, Miriam Makheba and our own Usu Mallya and Ma Charlote O'neal.

It was a rare treat indeed, questions were discussed history was unfurled to bring to light organisations like CAF-Conferences des Femmes Africaines. Which was launched in Dar es Salaam in 1962, translated to the now PAWO-Pan African Women Organisation affected by the current African Union.

Mama C on her Nyatiti

Mama C gave a riveting performance sitting with her splendid 'Nyatiti', a music instrument from the Luo tribe. An instrument she quickly asserts was taboo for women to play but now she knows, she's among 8 or so females who play it.

This instrument she's learned in the last two years or so and you wouldn't know it they way she makes it sound so wholesome. "It was easy for me to learn this as I've been playing the Obukano for over 4 years now..." She read a poem highlighting the beauty of an African woman it was spell binding. She also sang with the lyrics 'Don't give up, usikata tamaa...' aplty fitting the theme on this day.

We as well heard Da Zuhura Seng'enge a poet who gave two uplifting poems; she was the star of the hour. As several speakers on that stage, couldn't stop referring to her pieces.

Mjasiriamali Isheba Askale akitoa mawazo yake juu
ya umuhimu wa kuwa na ushirikiano kiuchumi
kama wanawake kwenye halfa hii fupi pale SOMA

Siku hii pia tulipata kujua toka kwa Ma Demere kuhusu tamasha la kijinsia mwaka huu, litakalo fanyika tarehe 1 hadi 6 Septemba pale makao makuu ya TGNP, Mabibo Dar es Salaam.

Sote tunakaribishwa. Sherehe hii ilikuwa mwanzo wa ushirikiano mzuri kati ya wanawake wa rika tofauti jijini na uhakika kwa wote tulio shiriki tumezidi kujifunza mengi. Wanawake tumeaswa kuzidi kujielimisha juu ya historia ya wanawake jasiri Afrika. Kutumia mitandao yetu kumulika changamoto zetu na kuinuana na kupeana nguvu kama Waafrika.

My report of this is scant if you're interested to follow up more on this line of topic you can visit www.aaprp-intl-org the website for 'All African People's Revolutionary Party' who were part of the sponsors for this event. As well www.somabookcafe.com of SOMA the hosts for this event there's a horde of information between these two on Pan African Women movements in the country, continent and diaspora.