Born To Raise A Man

Born To Raise A Man

by

Nontobeko Ntombela

Compiled by Njabulo Ngobese

The spirit of womanhood continues its reign as we pay homage to the works of female artists who have dedicated themselves at fighting for children's rights through their arts and trades.

Born in 1982 at Empangeni, Nontobeko Ntombela, now living and working in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal is a Fine Art graduate of the Durban University of Technology. She has been actively involved in both arts administration and practising art and has been part of successful art events such as the recent exhibition titled 'Negotiated Space' a travelling show by Ntombela and Bronwen Vaughan-Evans amongst others.

Nontobeko has worked with a number of organisations including Art for Humanity, BAT Centre Trust, Community Art Project, Young People for Change, Amafa/heritage KwaZulu-Natal and now at the Durban University of Technology as the Gallery Curator.

Poem:

Born to Raise a Man

Bandile Gumbi

Son of my sister

My son

The ambers of resistance

Are now sown

In the flicker of your eyes

I leave this story

To mould

The man born of woman

Son of my sister

My son

You who was conceived

When freedom was an embryo

Born at the wake

Of yet another revolution

The burden of your future

Is in the hands

That will raise you

You who will take root

When another imperialist power

Is in the market for your identity

When destruction

Does not come only in nuclear weaponry

But feed to all your senses

Filling some with senselessness

Son of my sister

My son

I don’t aim

To define your manhood

But to nurture the women in your genes

Their strength shall complete your initiation

To a world of mudslides

And volcanic ramblings

May your walk in dignity

Your birth-right

Bend only to guide your step

Never to compromise your principles

Son of my sister

My son

I pray for your hands

Never to be raised in anger

But in exhilaration

As you conquer

Yet another stumbling block

May your dreams be filled with guiding force

At the depth of your youthful confusion

To usher you to clarity

Son of my sister

My son

You whose born of women.

For Tumisa on his 1st Birthday

Wazalelwa Indoda

IsiZulu translation of poem extract: Bandile Gumbi

Ndodana kadadewethu

ndodana yami.

Wena owabambwa

Inkululeko isayumbungu

Wazalwa ngasikhathi somunye umbangazwe

Ikusasalakho

lisezandleni ezizokukhulisa.

A Brief Biography of Bandile Gumbi

Bandile Gumbi holds a BA Social Science from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Since 2000 she has performed in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, mainly at poetry clubs and art exhibitions. She is a founding member of 3rd Eye Vision, an artist-administrated interdisciplinary arts organisation based in Durban. Her self-published Pangs of Initiation was recently launched in Durban.

She performed at Poetry Africa 2004. Bandile is currently studying through correspondance for a Masters in Communication for Development through Malmo University, Sweden and since the beginning of 2006, has been working as a freelance events manager based in Johannesburg.