There is something that every woman fights for. And growing up in a continent that is deemed “third world”, I can surely tell you that it is not to be seen and recognized, it is not fighting the concept “a woman belongs in the kitchen” and it is definitely not better salaries or better careers. It is something beyond that…what every woman is fighting for is an agency-to be given a voice, and for the voice to be heard.
My name is Wanda Baloyi and I am honoured to be sharing a piece of my story today.
Woman empowerment is a topic that lies vested very close to my heart. It is not only a globally contested topic, but it is something personal to me. It is real. I have experienced it. I have felt it, And I can speak boldly and fearlessly about it… Ladies and gentlemen, I’m an artist, a musician, a vocalist to be precise;as some might know or not, lol. I’m a citizen of the world, I am Human! But beyond all of that, I am a woman. Raised by a very strong woman whom I am delighted to call my mother. A woman who sacrificed so much for me to be standing here today. I am a product of her labour, my model c education was funded by a street vendor and unashamedly, that is just part of the sacrifices made and that has proudly groomed me to where I am today. I write this representing a large number of women who are confronted with so many limitations on the basis of their gender. It is heartbreaking to me to know there is a woman who has to sacrifice being a global citizen on the basis that she is a woman. It is heartbreaking to know there are still women who cannot get certain types of work because society ridicules their gender. I have come to realize over the many years in my industry (music industry) that in order to break the boundaries, I had to earn my scars. Not only am I a woman, but,I am a black woman, I am a multi-cultured woman, and by that,life has presented me with a few punches and I own them. I am a Brand New Woman with no limitations. I have many layers of me that I have learnt to embrace. I am fearless in my doings.
As I stand here today I stand as woman who is empowered.
I stand and say I am empowered because I speak with no need to apologize. I am empowered because I believe I matter to society. And yes I am empowered because my journey as an African woman has been a remarkable one. Inside the woman that I am, lies an entrepreneur, an academic, a thought leader and an artist of note that can provoke opinion and engage diverse audiences through telling a story of my journey.
One theme that I always explore as far as woman empowerment is concerned is empowering the “Brand Woman” the philosophy of “Womanhood”. I truly believe that the modern African woman has a lot to offer society. The modern African woman is provocative and has an opinion. All we ought to do is to seek strategic partnerships with the stakeholders of society and move the woman empowerment conversation. I look up to artists such as Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai who have critiqued the norm through their art. The likes of Ntsiki Mazwai who spoken boldly and open on the issues women are faced with such as rape. Women like Carol Bouwer and Khanyi DhlomoMkhize have done the ground work for most us. They have shown us it is possible and it can be done.
My appeal to the woman and actually the men as well is that we should be of the new age era and doctrine. We should engage and empower society enough to be able to take a stand and have an informed voice. Let society strive to unearth and sustain the global citizenship and empowerment of women.
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