Page 92 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 11

COMMUNITY

Nomkhumbi Mkhize is a Canadian-born
South African with a Zulu background. October 1986, my mother, with the safety and stability brought on
While studying to be an herbalist for over two months left of her pregnancy by community, being embraced
ten years, she became a certified medicinal with me, arrived in Canada with my by the culture and traditions that
herb farmer in 2020. She has achieved father. This was a chance for my is Zulu. Sadly, my brother would
her certificate as a Doula with the Nesting parents to escape the refugee life of never return home. But for me, it
Doula Collective specialising in BIPOC constantly migrating from country would be years before I returned,
women and babies. She is now studying to country, seeking safety and stabil- and I realized that by the treatment
to be an acupuncturist with the desire and ity that racism and oppression, far we received in our final days be-
intention of creating a holistic healing too often, tends to strip people of. fore leaving. We had lots of love. I
clinic in the future. In conjunction with her Although I was born in Canada, my would spend the rest of my child-
current skills and experiences, she plans to earliest childhood memories were of hood feeling like my identity was
bring health and wellness to her commu- me living in South Africa. stripped away. The result of this
nity. She is currently residing in Victoria, were feelings that created unneces-
British Columbia Canada with her son. Despite tragedies of political strug- sary obstacles, due to circumstances,
gles in South Africa at the time, at 2 that hindered the development of
years old my parents allowed me to my individual responsibility and
be raised with our extended family commitment to my contribution to
in Soweto, a township outside of Afrikan nation building. In order for
Johannesburg. This provided me this agenda to be truly effective, it
the opportunity of a big community must be nurtured from the day each
and privilege of meeting my now Afrikan child comes out of their
late brother, for the first time ever. mother’s womb.

I did not recognize my mother Fast forward to 2021, I now find
when she came to South Africa myself living in a diaspora as a
before my 6th birthday in 1992. I mother of a 2 year old Afrikan
was confused because at that time son whose father is Zimbabwean.
no one had explained to my brother During the moments I am faced
and I that our mom was alive and in with challenges, I tend towards plan-
a distant country. I now understand ning rather than feeling defeated. I

hen I was 14 years telling children their exiled mom use these moments as an opportu-
old, my parents sepa- is alive could have had ugly con- nity to analyze and plan on how to,
rated, and my moth- sequences. For the next 6 months, not raise my son the best I can, but
Wer had to readjust before moving back to Canada, my rather how to do it properly under
herself to the challenge of Afrikan brother and I would quickly transi- the conditions I and so many other
single parenthood in the diaspora. tion into understanding our mom is women in the diaspora are faced
Now, finding myself in a similar our mom. with. This is a time to go back to the
situation, I worry about dealing with drawing board and come up with
the struggles that could have been Being born in Canada was a title my basic, practical guidelines on how to
avoided were I to be raising my son grandmother ensured I carried like ensure this next generation is ready
on the Afrikan continent. Living this a badge of honor. So much so, she to rise, with the tools they have.
reality, I would like to pay my contri- ensured that I went to an English
butions to help uplift other Afrikan speaking school. The ironic part was An important question that needs
single mothers by sharing some sug- when I came back to Canada, the to be asked is: how do I instill a
gestions I have for the purpose of only sentence I knew how to say in strong sense of self in my son, in
Afrikan nation building. In order to English was ‘I am from Canada’, a way that will guide him to being
be successful in this journey, I must in a thick Zulu accent. As a young instrumental in the rebuilding of the
examine my own beginnings and adult we laughed about her wasting Afrikan nation? I will put forth ideas
use those experiences to enrich the her money on that “impersonating a of crucial tactics that single Afrikan
experiences of my son’s life. white school” school. mothers can incorporate into raising
their children in a diaspora that can
My beginnings It was not until later that I realized contribute to being a positive impact
leaving South Africa meant leaving to the global Afrikan community.

92 | Heal . Restore . Rebirth . Afrika