Empowering women via poetry

March is Women’s History Month. It is a month when the global community remembers great women who left a mark due to their positive works. It is also a month to celebrate a woman, acknowledge her achievements and accomplishment as well as lobby for equality.

One person who has dedicated his art to highlight the case of women is poet Tendai Shaba who has used his poems to add his voice to promote and acknowledge women.

During an event to celebrate women in business where President Lazarus Chakwera, former president Joyce Banda and Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati were in attendance, Shaba recited his poem A Conversation About Women.

In the poem, he highlights how women are scrutinised by society and questioned even when they do well.

“There’s always going to be a conversation about women

Until we reach a point we fully understand and acknowledge

The fact that women can

And women will

Until we reach a point where gender equity and gender equality are a reality

Where 50-50 is a real thing

Not just a thing people say to please us

To quieten us

To distract us

And to deceive us …”

Shaba justifies why women must be heard and given attention as they plead their case for fairness in the workplace, in business, home and politics.

He says until all these unfair practices are corrected, there will always be a conversation about women.

In his next poem, She Has Wings, Shaba appreciates the strength and abilities of a woman. While society perceives a woman as the weaker sex, the poet described the woman as one with wings and abilities.

“She will fly

In fair and discomforting weather

She will fly high, to reach the max

Her wings, so strong

Wings of steel, not wings of wax

Sometimes she will fly with a broken wing

Such is her strong will..”

Shaba used the poem recited during International Women’s Day celebrations to emphasise the strength of a woman even in the face of adversity.

He also acknowledges that just like any other human being, a woman will fall, make mistakes and learn.

Shaba’s final offering on women is a poem titled Women Making Power Moves. The poet recited the poem in collaboration with Mhub as part of the messages shared on all social media platforms as part of the International Women’s Day 2022 celebrations.

The poet talks about the modern woman who is empowered to be anything she can be. He acknowledges the effort women are making in business, education and paving the way for others after them.

Shaba, in his poem also tackles the gender disparities that must be broken for fairness to prevail.

“Men have had that power

And first hand access

To education, to resources

To capital, to business

And to social-economic opportunities

While women remained with hopes and dreams of their own

In the background, passengers along the ride..”

He then tells of the modern day story where the woman is emancipated

“No longer in the shadows

Women who are in the driving seat

Not mere passengers along the ride..”

In all the three poems, the poet uses the strength of word to describe why women have been lagging behind, how they are trying to push themselves to receive fair treatment and why sometimes they are looked down upon and rejected despite doing well.

In an interview, Shaba told On The Arts that he has a lot of respect for women; hence, his poems. He said: “I am the person I am today because all the brave and courageous women God placed in my life have been influential in my development.”