The mother of an aspiring techno-geek
daughter, I often have to listen to my daughter’s analysis of her current
favourite genre of literature, the super-hero comic. Her preferred topic of
conversation about the super-hero comic is how the super woman is betrayed.
Almost every time she lapses into her excited monologues on the super-hero
women, I tell her to write something about it. She dutifully agrees every time,
but I am still waiting.
The consequence of all this talk, however,
set me thinking about what an African Super-Woman (SW) might be like.
Unlike her northern-hemisphere counterpart,
the African super woman cannot be seen to don a skimpy two piece – (top and
bottom) outfit. Especially if her abode is in Rundu, where she immediately will
attract the undesirable attention of over-zealous law enforcers, who instead of
rushing to the side of a sexily-clad SW,
will mistake her for the super villain and arrest her on the spot!
will mistake her for the super villain and arrest her on the spot!
So what might our SW look like? In all
probability, she will be rather demurely dressed in a below-the-knee-length
dress or skirt. This will immediately eliminate any suspicion by those pesky
police men whose only aim is to hog the pursuit of law and order in our own
Gotham , er, Rundu City (RC). On her feet, instead of stylishly laced-up boots,
she might wear a pair of plastic Chinese imports that will keep her feet firmly
planted on mother earth. So, no flying around at supersonic speed for our Super
Woman.
But she does have a trick up her sleeve, or
should I say around her waist: For covering her dress, she will be wrapped in a
sitenge which has the same effect as an invisibility cloak! This allows our
Super Woman to stealthily move through towns and markets and to observe the
comings and goings of both law-abiding and law-breaking citizens, with the
option to intervene, should the situation require it. In fact she is so adept
at blending in, that any woman walking the dusty roads of RC might be mistaken
for her.
Unlike her northern sister, our SW will not
be allowed to live a fanciful life without children. This will immediately blow
her cover. Ideally, southern SW will have a few kids in tow, preferably with
one on the back or hip and another clinging tightly to the sitenge. Her super
power will come to shine when it comes to single-handedly provide for and feed
her brood. For, almost surely, the sperm donor has made a run for it, once
confronted with the demands of the social unit. Our SW is also the able
provider of household energy and water, while at the same time juggling a
market stall and farming small hold.
Northern sister will be truly hard pressed by this feat!
But our SW does have something in common
with northern super woman: Regardless of the task at hand, she will rise to the
occasion. She will do so selflessly and stoically. Disregarding her own needs
and/or interests, Super Woman will sacrifice herself for the good of her kith
and kin!
For further adventures of SW, watch this
spot!
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