Tracey Mabasa is a CITW Eco-Club member from the Makuleke community who graduated from high school in 2017 with six distinctions (alongside Destiny, our future pilot)!
She has entered the NYM Cultural Youth Awards with her entertaining visual poem, which our coordinator for the region, Bongani Bongs Baloyi, translated for us.
‘I am Xitsakisi (entertainer) Mabasa, a Mutsonga girl who is very proud of my natural beauty. Enjoy my poem titled “Hikolota mani?” (“Who do we owe?”) The poem speaks about how girls don’t owe anyone the kind of beauty that media demands. It says that girls are beautiful even with their dark skin, full figure and natural hair. It promotes natural beauty in all uniqueness. Please like my poem on FB. “Ahee Magaza Ahee” Greetings Magaza (referring to the Vatsonga people).’
Bongs explains that her poem is all about her pride in being a natural, beautiful Mutsonga girl, and encourages others to appreciate who they are and how they look, without feeling judged. She emphasises that beauty has no limit, and Matsonga people, in particular the women, should be proud of their natural dark skin and well-rounded bodies. There is no need for them to make alterations or additions. (Here she discourages Vatsonga women from using artificial hair extensions and facial creams to improve their skin colouration, etc.). She also mentions that our beauty as people, lies in our diversity, and therefore let’s be proud, and appreciate how we look.
“It’s a good poem and she is gifted”, says Bongs. “She is one of the young people you truly believe in”.
We know she would greatly appreciate your vote too!
Watch it here https://www.facebook.com/103901404329185/videos/2849938408351557/
