Our world as we know it has evolved and revolutionized to a great digital futurist method that we should adapt to.
With the Eco system changing in all forms of the climate we need ways to preserve our world and make it better to sustain the environment for tomorrow. I was watching Dr. Strange the other day (Yes an MCU junkie), the level of digital transformation and diversity in the multi verse connecting to the metaverse was just mind blowing for me. Imagine a world with no contact, a world filled with AIs and virtual reality and stimulations of reality, that’s right a Metaverse! The Metaverse represents a highly interactive three-dimensional virtual world. Like the real world, users can trade land, buildings, and other digital assets in the Metaverse and explore the space using their personalized avatars. This type of world is a game changer for advertising, selling and Marketing.
Few of us who are experimental individuals have had the opportunity of trading in the Metaverse through Bitcoin and buying land. A lot can be done in the metaverse that preserves our world to make it better. It is time that Africa prepares to do away with a lot of traditional methods of living (which were highly effective in the past) to prepare for the metaverse. This is the place we transform our environments and even the economies, we get to experience a lifestyle created by us with a million other people. Recently we have all noted how the Advertising world Is slowly adapting to the metaverse in the 21st century which I think is a bit embarrassing considering the reach we have to technological equipment and other digital elements. The 360 photo booth saw the 2021/22 year going crazy over the rotating photo booth and it’s not an event until the 360 booth starts rotating.
We need to step up to the standards of the Metaverse, introduce more of the digital aspects in our advertising; the hologram, AI bots, virtual extended reality, gaming systems that go beyond ps5. It’s time we dream big and make it our virtual reality through preparing for the Metaverse. The Metaverse will socially allow us to connect with a billion people in a split second, this is even amazing for anti-social – socially preserved individuals as we will be using avatars. Imagine your avatar walking up and sitting next to Beyoncé or even Mark Zuckerberg at a global festival.
The Metaverse will also be cheaper for the advertiser as it’s using less human resources and focused on creating a virtual reality that anyone can access. The reality and metaverse are all connected we could call them digital twins. Data and ideas can be shared in the metaverse in their true state without altering a lot also from the comfort of wherever. Imagine launching your brand in Europe while you are on your bathroom floor at home in front of top executives; it’s all made possible by the Metaverse. The Metaverse unlocks a new world of creativity as well as revenue generation.
Your brand needs to start having a strategy for the Metaverse now, this is the time to go completely digital! As creatives we need to start adapting our skills now to prepare for the Metaverse. The Metaverse is an existence of endless possibilities and we can do this! Brands can start experimenting of all the possibilities of the Metaverse in ways that can benefit the brand, image, customer experience and even make a profit from it through
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Virtual Influencers
Gaming
Virtual Venues
Virtual Events
Metaverse commerce
Meta Investment / Expansion
With all these possibilities, I can not wait to meet you all in the Metaverse!
The characters and events in the story are and of my late mother, names of characters have been changed to protect their identities. Any other similarity to other real people dead or alive is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Special Mention
I would like to thank the editor, creative designer and my late mother for sharing her story so I could bring it to life today.
I never will forget my life was shaped in part through tragedies and the weird thing about tragedies is that they don’t tell you that they’re shaping you. It doesn’t feel like they’re shaping you but they are in fact shaping you. The tragedies don’t start when you need the power from them they start early accrual interest over time and in retrospect when you look back over your life you understand something that you didn’t understand in real time speed, when you’re going through it you kind of feel sorry for yourself but after you’ve gone through it you look back and you say eventually if you’re mature it was good for me that I’ve been afflicted. BISHOP TD JAKES.
Here is my story to give power to someone to keep going, don’t give up the best is yet to come. You have the choice to shape it into the best future. Through my eyes I saw pain, poverty, kindness, deceit and happiness. Sometimes blood isn’t always thicker, you are just related. Blood doesn’t always make you related. Where your heart lies is where your family is. Family are people who choose you at your worst. Value them with loyalty but do not betray yourself. From birth I felt my life was a battlefield that I could barely calm but everything I went through was worth it for my growth.
CHAPTER 1
“Where I came from”
I was born in the year 1979 in the largest and second oldest high-density township in Harare, Highfield (Machipisa) known as Fiyo in local slang. My grandfather worked as a teacher for a white school that was the reason why we could live there as Fiyo was the place for predominantly black labourers and their families during the colonial era in the country.
Both of my parents passed on months after my birth, leaving me in the care of my maternal grandparents and I also had a half sister (Tendai). I was raised up by my grandmother who had five children (aunts and uncles) to also raise while she took care of Tendai and I. Growing up was difficult especially with the division in the family, the difference in Tendai and I having different fathers. We were raised to compete with each other; it was battle of the fittest. My family lived the 9 of us in the 2 bed roomed house in Highfield, 5 of us slept in the tiny lounge while gogo with sekuru slept in the main bedroom and the eldest boys slept in the other bedroom. This was gogo’s second husband who she had 2 uncles of mine and 1 aunt with. I grew up knowing from a young age that I was an orphan. You can never receive the same love your own mother and father would have given you when you are left with relatives. I had many times I wanted to wander off and to never show up again, problem is where I would go to. I had anxiety and depression from a young age because my childhood was a nightmare, I can barely recount good memories.
CHAPTER 2
“Sisi Tendai”
Way before I started school I knew how to fend for myself from a young age, how to bath myself and to make sure I would have eaten. I was independent before I ever knew what it was when all I would have appreciated was love and support from family. I did not have a childhood; I had more of a military training. I started Primary school when I was six; it was something new and fun because I got to meet new people that did not seem like they were judging me. I made friends that would know me for me and not what they wanted they would assume of me.
My dream was to become a teacher, sekuru was a teacher and spoke highly of his experience each day. Things were not smooth but I made it through and moved on to high school at Highfield High, it was beautiful I was learning new things. My teachers were starting to notice me, I still wonder was it because they heard my story or because I was actually good enough? The year was 1992 when I started my form 1; I remember the eagerness of starting something new and I did feel my life had focused now that I had something I was aiming for. I was very intelligent but the drama from home began to cloud that and it was now clouding my focus. My elder sister was also not there to support me; I mean why would she be when we were raised to be enemies? I remember one time I was in form 2 on a Saturday afternoon, I had gone to the shops, “Machipisa shopping centre” with my friends to help them buy a few things their parents had sent them to purchase. I had worn Tendai’s skirt without her knowledge, she shouted on top of her voice with anger for me to remove her skirt. The embarrassment I felt was too much to wish I would be swallowed by the ground at that very moment from all the stares and whispers that went on. My friend knew my situation and she just pulled me away as I wiped tears from my cheeks. This was supposed to be the shoulder I could lean on but she was actually the one constantly breaking me. I really wish I had that relationship with her which is based on nothing measurable but love from deep down that would at least instead of quiet tears help me to stay warm at night. I wish I had the privilege of writing her a letter today expressing myself so she would know what I yearn for from her. To the letter I could not send in time:
“Dear sisi Tendai,
I wish I could experience you in a different space, maybe in a more balanced way were amai would be present and she would get to express love so we could unite. I need you the most on most days but I know we have distance between us that was created. I would do anything for you but seems you would do anything to harm me. I wish I could understand you further on why you are the way you are. You are all I have left as family, I envy that your father is still alive it’s just unfortunate he does not want anything to do with you. I wish our world was balanced so we could feel happiness and not hear it from the neighbours or when sekuru is happy about his lotto betting’s. I want you and need you sisi. I pray one day you will be there for me.
I know I do not say this often but truth is I really do not know how to express it but I love you.
Your munin’ina”
I am sure you can never give what you have not received so I will leave my relationship with Tendai for later.
Sekuru was my ray of sunshine on my cloudy days; he was a teacher and just who I adored. He sadly passed on the year I was in form 3 from High blood pressure. I was gutted because he was the glue that kept the family together. Now that he was gone the struggles we were going through were about to bumpier. It was a blessing in disguise though he passed before he saw my first big lesson in life called Tonderai. I avoid calling them mistakes because at the end of the day there is a lesson whether good or bad.
CHAPTER 3
“My first sly lover Tonderai”
Friday afternoon walking side by side on my way from form 4 lessons. I would always find him by the school gate with a packet of “mabhisvo and kokakora”. I loved the way he paid attention to detail if my hair was different or if I was in a different mood. I would always avoid him when I was on my periods; now that sekuru was gone we did not afford a lot of things and could hardly get by talk about buying pads. Tendai and I learnt how to make pads from clothe and plastic; so every time I would walk they would be that “skwi skwi” sound. I was now used to it but I did not want him seeing me in that state. How would I explain to the perfect tailor Tonderai that we were that poor? The shame I would bring him. He was a tailor for a white man at the Workington industries, he made good money and on top of that his family was of chief hood so he was the next chief in line. I was so excited at this point in my life, was this my big break to a better life?
I met Tonderai while he was looking for a place called Canaan in Highfield, I gave him directions but he kept staring and said in his whitish accent “mwanasikana wakanaka”. I could not help but blush as well as feel noticed. No one had ever reaffirmed that to me. According to my gogo, if I cared too much about my beauty I would become a lady of the night. He introduced himself as Tonderai; he stayed in Glen View – kwaGaza at his own place. He was 20 years older that I was at that point I had just turned 16 doing my standard four/form 4. I saw that as an obstacle but he assured me this would work, he was ready to get married and having a child of his own with me. I was beyond the nine cloud I reached the 11th lol…
CHAPTER 4
“Bhaisikopo”
I started slacking in school as Tonderai was now my distraction, all I thought about and breathed was him. I completely was losing it slowly and I really at that point did not care for I had found a way out of this poverty curse I had been left in. Tonderai saw it too and used it to his advantage. He invited me to a movie on Saturday afternoon, what would I tell gogo or ana sekuru? Where would I say I was going? I made a plan with my best friend Nyarai to say we had study at school that weekend. Our plan worked, I had never been to a “bhaisikopo” before, we did not even have a TV at home all we had was a little radio that sekuru Peter would listen to for updates. After the glorious movie which as a treat could order anything I wanted, I felt like a princess. We still had 1 hour after the movie so Tonde convinced me to go with him to his place to check it out. I agreed to go with him, on our way he spoke of his village and how everyone loved him there. It eased my mind as that made me feel like he had people that would care for me too when I would become his wife.
We got to his house; he stayed in the cottage and said his elder brother’s family stayed in the main house. The maid from the main house saw us came in and greeted him with so much respect I had no reason to doubt him. We entered his house, everything was neatly put together, and I thought it was because he knew I was going to pass through but I was impressed. One thing led to another while we were in there and I lost my “humhandara” right on his single bed which had a brown 2 in 1. The blanket had a horrible sting; I cried throughout the whole thing, I saw my life flash right before my eyes. Gogo said when that happens and you are unmarried your life is over. “Ndanga ndava pfambi, yabvisirwa humhandara bhaisikopo, gogo ndovaudza ndichitii”. He tried to calm me down, told me not to worry everything would be okay. I dressed up, we walked home to Machipisa him by my side and not a single word spoken, as we got to the corner he hugged me goodbye and said I am sorry for hurting you. I wiped my tears, walked inside, greeted everyone and proceeded to go and cook as it was my duty that day. Mainini Tsu noticed I was sad, she came to the fire and asked me what was wrong; I did not know what to tell her. Would I say I lost it or say nothing, I chose to say nothing but the secret would not stay hidden for long.
Fast forward to Monday, I went to school. I did not know if Tonde would be waiting for me after school that day, after all Saturday ended awkwardly. There he was waiting after school at the corner with a plastic bag of sweets, biscuits and coke. I had a big smile on my face and forgot all about what had gone wrong during the weekend. We were now fine, weeks went by and I was now relaxed looking forward to writing my form 4 exams. I was about to complete and start a new life as an adult. After a month, I became ill and lost my appetite strangely my period for the month had not come through. Tendai noticed because she did not hear the “skwi skwi” sound of our homemade pads. Little did I know I was pregnant, unknowably Tendai had been watching my moves and told gogo who was now watching me. Tendai followed me after school, she saw me with Tonde and when I got home my bags were packed by my uncles saying we do not house a “pfambi” go to that dhara of yours, we know you love men. I cried while trying to explain what was happening but no one would listen, all the shouting and crying caused a scene for the neighbours who were now out whispering looking on with eyes that pierced with shame. That day I was undressed with words and stares. I picked up my bag that was made from a zambia and walked to Tonde’s house. Tonde was there sitting under the tree close to his cottage, he had a look of shock as I walked in with uncertainty to even say what next.
CHAPTER 5
“Boiling Pot”
Tonde took me in, assured me all will be fine and that I should not worry. I was crying the whole time, I am sure he was more worried about his brother coming to find out what was going on than anything else. I calmed down, sat on the bed and wondered what now? Tonde cooked that night but I could not even eat, I slept without eating and could hardly sleep. I watched Tonde sleep like a baby as I cursed him how he had just made my life worse but the worst is yet to come. Never in a million years could I have imagined there was a place much worse and horrific than Haifirizi, Chihota brought out the fighter in me. It pushed me to be better and to thrive for more. Tonde had hidden a lot from me or maybe I was naive not to see it through his patterns. He woke me up early morning at 6am to boil some water for him so he could go to work, I did not even know if I should still go to school and worse who would pay for my exams that were just around the corner. I got up went outside to start a fire and boiled the water, after boiling the water I reheated the plate of food he had left for me for him. He bathed, ate the food and dressed up to go to work. He said he would be back early from work so we could talk about what would be next. Later that day he came back with a plastic of tomatoes and onions no biscuits, I guess that phase was over.
The confession that came from his lips next had shivers down my spine and my hairs standing……………..
CHAPTER 6
“Village Chihota”
The day was Thursday and we were to depart for the village on Saturday morning, parts of me wanted to go to see gogo and sisi Tendai to tell them where I was going but part of me was scared and also knew they did not care any less. I was all I had at this point; Tonde was a stranger I thought I knew. Tonde’s confession is not for the faint hearted, he told me he had been married twice and had seven children from his two previous marriages which would make my child the eighth. What kind of man holds something so deep like that and I am sure I was the age of his first born, what a disgusting human being. It was too late I could not go back to gogo were else would I go. I was to go and live in the village were Tonde’s children and the rest of his family stayed. I had never been to the village and this was about to be my first time; pregnant, young and afraid of what the journey holds. It wasn’t even his brothers house where we were staying but he was renting, how foolish of me. The maid probably thought I was one of his children that had come to the city to visit.
The day to go to Chihota came we went to Mbare – Musika to board a bus. Mbare was busy as usually with the jittering and shouting of the lively hood, from the vendors shouting “sweets madam? Shall we give you banana’s instead?” to the conductors grabbing your bag and throwing it on top of the bus. I chuckled as it entertained me and that was the first time in a long time I had genuinely smiled. Tonde and I did not speak much on the journey; you know I began to resent him from that moment. I needed a plan; I needed a way out of this trap I had placed myself in. I was going to bring a life into this world in seven months time, my child deserves better than what I am about to give them. I was lost deep in thought I do not even recall the places we passed and how we got to Chihota village. I rubbed my tummy as I said to my inner self, “do not worry my child amai havakusiye, chero zvikarema sei ndichange ndinewe”.
Sherry Mudaz 