Words as Storytellers of US

 It's funny how we wait for others to tell our tale on our behalf. Of which most of the times that tale does not reflect who we really are but a commentary of someone trying to understand things that are complicated for them to do so.  Having said my peace first, the art of storytelling is ever evolving, though the sad part is that our stories have become more westernized than ever before. In a bid to be accepted globally, we have sought to embrace formulas that give us quick fame at the expense of being authentic. Thereby robbing ourselves the potential to sale our heritege from our own perspective.

Before we go forward we need to retrace our steps backwards on how stories used to influence our morale behaviour and how it is even today. Words were never written down but were shared by the fire by grandparents in the form of folklores. These folklores contained lesssons that were hidden at plain sight but however if one was to look deep into them they shaped our lives unaware. This is just to demostrate how powerful they were to convey a message effectively without even realising how "Sekuru Gudo and tsuro" tales panelbeated us to be who we are.

As times changed and we got a bit educated, the way we shared our tales changed but however we became lazy to share them ourselves and even research about them. Leading to era where most of our content does not reflect us and our words has become a morale deccay cause of concern. As we borrow culture we are not familar with and redress ourselves to fit in the western world. We have used words to tear down our own culture for the clicks and empty promises that seem inticing. Thereby adopting a culture that does not really give true.

In as much we do not see directly the influence of words, words have power to shape our tomorrow that is why some scholars pointed out that ink is more dangerous than a gun. For a society norms can be redifined by the words storytellers in that society share and create. Hence the notion of what is now perceived by the society where materails have become the standard of love...

"We have danced with the brush for so long

Unaware of the power we have

Yet bending to the will of lies

We choose to put on to cover our identity

As from the dust of Africa

We are made

But at the sight of cameras

We deny the rhythm that made us."

My dream is to see ourselves telling our stories to influence the world. Where our culture is celebrated for it upbring of well rounded individual rather than being discarded. Where we realize the power of the ink that stains our fingers rather than waitng for our mind to be corrupted. Where our art will finally come alive and speak volumes as the likes of Tsitsi Dangarembga, Chinua Achebe, Dambudzo Marechere and Zakas Mda etc did for the generation before us.