This blog is about a young and bold feminist, making a difference in eSwatini, a culturally patriarchal society. Patriarchy has created a fertile ground for discrimination against women, undermining, undervaluing and depriving them in terms of skills and capabilities. A woman does not get to enjoy freedom as male counterparts in society. In spite of the challenges, a young feminist is thriving amidst patriarchy in eSwatini. Ncedisa Sihlongonyane, is a young feminist working towards improving the plight of women in eSwatini through community service. She founded Herstorymakers Initiative which is committed to women development and empowerment through community-based education and sensitizing about development, healthcare, entrepreneurship and gender-related issues. 

 

One remarkable notion about this inclusive empowerment is that empowering the whole society prepares the fertile ground for the empowered women and girls to exist and strive as well as to exercise their full potential. Even though there are many women empowerment initiatives which focus only on women, empowered women still find themselves at a disadvantaged position when the society is not ready to embrace them. Empowered women and girls have to go back to underpowered men and society. Owing to underpowered men is the fact that further debilitation of the efforts of women empowerment occurs, which, in turn, worsens the risks of these women to be treated with hostility and further marginalization since the society will not be capable of handling them. This frustrates both women and society and therefore intensifies tensions which undermines the efforts of women empowerment.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has failed to silence her contribution. In the midst of the lock down, Sihlongonyane adapted by changing strategy, turning to social media to spread the message. Her career as a counsellor and model and her social lifestyle have exposed her to community work and outreach activities which complement her genuine character of love for young girls and women. The initiative focuses on allowing women to share and listen to the stories of women and girls aged between 13 and 30, and also provides reproductive healthcare and hygiene education and awareness.The Herstorymakers Initiative offers women with development and transferable skills by empowering them through talent development. This helps to build their confidence which the founder believes is an important factor in development; economically and socially. Strengthening and making reproductive healthcare education accessible is also critical. Women often get left out in reproductive discussions even though they are the mostly impacted since the society laid the burden of the responsibility of reproduction on them. 

 

Empowering young girls to learn to own their reproductive health and family planning without shame and to acknowledge that they are important and valid puts women in a better position to make informed decisions with their bodies and help them to be able to take care of their reproductive health and therefore improving their lives.  eSwatini battles with HIV/AIDS, STIs and teenage pregnancy, and cancer, especially cervical cancer. The Herstorymakers Initiative has a significant contribution in making education and reproductive healthcare and family planning accessible and therefore impacts social, physical and economic development. The decentralization of such care helps information to reach out to people and since knowledge is power, the society gains abundance in this resource which decreases the mortality rate.

 

Furthermore, her initiative offers women hygiene care such as sanitary items which, for a greater majority of women, are a luxury considering eSwatini’s poor economy as a majority of women live below the poverty line. Supplying schooled girls with sanitary towels helps them as they do not have to miss school because of their monthly periods. In turn, such provision contributes in girls getting quality education. Sihlongonyane further advocates for healthy living and entrepreneurship through linking girls with modelling agencies and also offering mentorship and guidance. This empowers girls to have career options and to develop their talents and interpersonal skills through discipline and confidence building. This also allows girls to generate income which contributes in their livelihoods. 

 

In conclusion, Sihlongonyane’s contribution proves that the best way to bring women freedom and development is not about doing big splendid displays, but a personal conviction to start doing something no matter how small it may look. Her contribution may not mean much in the world, but it means a world to those whose lives have been impacted and changed. If as women we commit to struggling together and acknowledging our freedoms, it means nothing if our fellow women are not free. And as we remember that our freedoms are tied together, more women will be empowered and women emancipation will be achieved.

 

The institution of patriarchy works against women of all ages in eSwatini. Patriarchy has deprived half of the world’s population; women and girls, from a fair chance to exercise their fullest potential by marginalizing, restricting and depriving them of freedoms. Women’s voice has been ignored, their experiences left out as if they count for nothing in society. The practices of genital mutilation and child marriage, or being treated as if they are someone’s property have further intensified the underprivileged position of women in society. However, women’s survival abilities and resilience have pushed them to keep their heads above water and to counterattack by coming together and working towards emancipating themselves. Generations of feminists have led the way by first making women aware of their plight, and offering guidance in changing this reality. Feminists have therefore drawn the society, especially women, to the assurance that together we can move mountains. They have worked tirelessly to plead the cause of those women who suffer in silence and augmented the voices of those who took courage and dared to speak and dared to act in order to improve themselves and other women’s situations.

 

Lontfobeko Manana is a graduate candidate of the Pan African University in Cameroon where she will be conducting research on regional integration and governance. She has worked with the Mennonite community on community-based peacebuilding and conflict resolution approaches. Lontfobeko finds that reading feminists’ works is intellectually stimulating, and helpful for her to navigate embedded patriarchy in eSwatini, her home and beloved country.

Lontfobeko Manana enjoys gazing at the clouds, and is inspired by the rain. She appreciates diversity and loves to make decision, particularly on matters affecting gender disparity.