Breaking the Silence Sisterhood

By Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd

Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd

Copyright © 2012 POWA
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-920196-66-0

Contents

Foreword,
Introduction,
Poems,
Sisterhood by Patience Nozithelo Mkosana,
My Sister Could by Namhla Stemela,
A Chant to My Sisters by Mbali Langa,
The Ladies Take Tea by Jayne Bauling,
Slaughtered Sisters by Nicole Rudlin,
Liewe Vriendin by Juliet Rose,
Short Stories,
Sisters by Blood by Carlette Egypt,
Mended Pieces by Mawint Nokubonga Chauke,
Witch and Bitch by Jayne Bauling,
Bread by Sally Cranswick,
White Without But Black Within by Nkosinomusa Truth,
Strength from My Sister by Dipuo Edna Molapisi,
Girl Power by Roché Kester,
Personal Essays,
Companionship by Fortunate Sethoga,
My Circle of Angels by Nokwethemba Musi,
Inspired by Women by Nomalanga Nkosi,
“Suster” by Jade Niemand,
Love Her Madly by Coleth Sitole,
A Starved Sisterhood by Amy Heydenrych,
Forgive Me My Sister by Karen Denise Lanie,
Impilo Iyaqhubeka by Maria Shongwe,
Ndikhulele Phi? by Nokubonga Dikani,
Notes from the Writers,

CHAPTER 1

Sisterhood

by Patience Nozithelo Mkosana

Sisterhood is love
Love so sisterly and selfless
Selfless so sisterly and kind
Kindness so sincere and warm
Warmth so soothing and sisterly

Sisterhood is a way of life
Life so full of compassion
Compassion so sisterly so strong
Pillar of strength so gallant and sisterly
Sisterly so brave and gallant

Sisterhood is lion-hearted
Lion-hearted so sisterly not lily-livered
Sisterly shoulder so huge and mighty
So mighty to comfort and appease
Sisterly soothe so tender and relevant

Sisterhood is giving
Sisterly hand so timeous and helpful
So helpful so courageous and so empowering
So sisterly so sincere
Sisterhood so life-saving and true

Sisterhood is forgiving
So forgiving to see the future in a new light
Together we overcome, we victorious, we thrive
Forgiveness so sisterly it emancipates from the chains of sadness
Sisterhood that gives birth to enfranchisement

Sisterhood is a way of life Life so full of
compassion Compassion so sisterly so strong

* * *

My Sister Could

by Namhla Stemela

I was born alone yet you lifted me to the pedestal you keep locked in
your throne, your heart.

Never have I needed anything that you did not provide, my everything.
You have kept me cupped in the palms of your heart; your manicured
care always cured me, my very own care bear.
Not only are you my sister but a magician too, turning drought into
flourishing, NO DOUBT.
Older and bolder you carried me on your shoulder the world you taught
me, an oyster.
We have walked down almost every avenue of our Sisterhood, carving
the pavements with memories, miniature monuments.
I have travelled the world through your wisdom, for those reasons you
will forever reign in my queendom, my freedom.

* * *

A Chant to My Sisters

by Mbali Langa

Those who don’t buy into media prescribed roles of self being,
Sold by unreal images housed in boxes Tied by pretty red ribbons,
Carrying capitalistic notions of informed beauty Branded by impersonators
Just second-hand imitators of megalomaniacal beings
With self-perceived supremacy, Blood hounds
economically feeding on ebony’s insecurity a