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Swagga T
There are many people with disabilities all over the world who have defied their conditions and gone out of the way to perform exceptional feats that many able-bodied people have not achieved. Athlete Oscar Pistorious, (disregarding his other side of the alleged shooting of his girlfriend) is a cripple but with the help of the blades that serve as his limbs, emerged as one of the best athletes in the world.
On the streets of Harare, there is the Gonora family, comprised of visually-impaired father and son, who have gained “fame” because of their music playing prowess, something, which they are surviving on.
These and other instances remind many of the old adage that disability does not mean inability. And this seems to be ringing true for Naume Chaota who was born without hands.
Although she grew up with the shadow of stigma always hanging above her like an axe waiting to fall on her, sheer determination in class, as well as the support of her parents and relatives, saw her soldering on to emerge as one of the best in fine art.
She became the epitome of how resilience pays off. She can take photographs, do make-up, paint, comb her hair and answer her mobile phone among other things a normal girl can do. While the rest of her fellow students were using their hands to write their school work, she would use her legs!
Now Naume is an art student at the National Art Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare where her tutors have identified that she is a rare artistic nugget poised for greater things in life.
In an interview with CLS, the 21-year old girl said art is her passion and she started drawing at a tender age.
“I use my feet to draw and many people are often surprised by this to the extent that they just come to see me as I work. I want to take the art career further, and my advice to other people with similar condition is that, they shouldn’t let anything stand in their way.
“People might say a lot of things, but know God has a purpose for you,” she said.
She says: “If we are given a chance, we can actually prove ourselves as useful members of society. We were born like that but we are not different from any other human being. Support us, rather than ill-treat us.”
However, one would think that her aspirations are only limited to art, but that is not the case.
She is also an aspiring model, and believes that she can outshine other able-bodied models on the ramp, since she has the looks and the brains.
“I like modelling and want to use modelling as a way of championing the rights and recognition of people like me and also become their ambassador. Since most influential people are always supporting models, I want to articulate our issues to them and hopefully they will heed our call. I haven’t found any agency but I know I am beautiful,” she said.
Surprisingly, the talented girl said she applies her own make-up using her legs, which can make even a make-up artist turn green with envy.
“I have my make-up kit and people think my mother or sister does the make-up on me but it’s different as my legs are the best hands God gave me,” she said before demonstrating to us.
This is possible since deaf models in the Miss Deaf Zimbabwe have also successfully held their own pageant that was well supported and helped to raise issues of deaf people to the world.
Born in a family of five, she does not feel like a square peg in a round hole.
“I am are very close with my fellow siblings. I am the third born. Everyone is my friend and this helped me along in life in a big way,” she said.
The artist said her dream was to open her own studio. “My desire is to have my own studio apart from doing a solo exhibition. Art is a job and it should be taken seriously as it sustains livelihoods,” she said.
Naume said she gets her inspiration from societal settings. “I draw what I see and I am my own role model. I always move around with my brushes in my purse,” she said.
She went to St Giles School up to primary level and didn’t want to talk much about higher education because of some circumstances she didn’t want to reveal.
Online Reporter