Online Reporter
Fadzayi Maposah
Correspondent
It is a long weekend for us again. I love long weekends. Some say that they prefer them after payday, not me.
The surprising thing is that you will see me up at my usual time; my body clock is still very active. When I was very young, I am told that I asked my grandmother if the cocks swallowed clocks or if they really knew the time.
I have no remembrance of that at all, my grandmother, VaMaMoyo, told me that. She would say that I had begun asking her questions from a very young age.
Then she would say; “Haa, iwe unobvunza hako. Chete wakabvira kare, ndiweka wekumbondibvunza kuti nhai Gogo, zvamunoti jongwe rinoziva nguva kuti kwayedza asi rakamedza wachi?” Loosely translated; You ask many questions, but then you are one who once asked me, Grandmother, since you say that the cock knows that it is a new day, did it swallow a watch?
I still love asking questions.
Back to the long weekend. The essence of this long weekend, Heroes and Defence Forces holidays, is to celebrate Zimbabwean heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives so that we could have the independence that we enjoy today.
Some are buried at the national shrine, and others in the various provincial and district shrines throughout the country.
Others are still with us; alive carrying the history of how this country gained its independence. There are some people also who have come to name their family burial sites, kuHeroes (Acre is silent, but all who hear understand).
The first time someone talked about kuHeroes when they meant the family burial site, I was lost.
At a funeral and seated with other women, a relative asked me; “Ko Heroes yekuno iri kupi?”
I responded that I did not know. When she got up to go and find out where it was, I just wondered why it was very important to know, since our deceased relative, as far as I knew, had not been declared a hero.
When she came back, she updated me that it was about 10 minutes’ walk away. I asked why it was important and she stared at me.
I then added that I had not heard that our relative had been declared a hero. She laughed and told me that “kuHeroes” meant was the communal burial ground.
There must be a musical instrument in each one of us as Zimbabweans or Africans. Remember my question to my grandmother about the cock swallowing a watch.
Ceremonies in Zimbabwe, and indeed in Africa, are always accompanied by music. It does not matter whether the ceremony is a happy or sad one.
We all have many relatives, gifted to play different instruments. There are some people who beat drums as if in a matter of seconds, the drum will have a hole, but the drum will last the duration of the ceremony with occasional visits to the fire to heat the skin.
When there is no drum, a bucket will suffice. Each region of our country has its own music and dances. The drum is found in all regions, it may differ in size and the beat it produces.
When the dancers take to the floor, some of us who are amateurs become spectators! If the music and dancing is outdoors (which is usually preferred), then they will be a lot of dust going up as people show their dance moves. There will be intermittent calls for buckets filled with water to help the dust settle down.
That can be a role for the spectators and the cheerleaders, but at times, because the dancers and drum beating crew have a lot of energy, you will see one who is very sweaty rushing to get the water!
There is something about the African drum. It beats together with our hearts. It is the African heartbeat. One cannot resist it. At times, it seems it is calling you to get up, get on your feet and show some dance moves.
Once my mother, Ma Ncube was dancing at some event in response to the drumbeat. As I watched, I could picture her younger version dancing. When she came away from the dance floor, I whispered that for a moment, I had thought that the one who usually complains of leg and back pain had forgotten about all the aches.
Holidays come with excitement. At times caution is not exercised. What the doctor said we should not do, we do telling ourselves that it is our holiday treat. Everything is in excess.
The long weekend is just a few days that can have a lifelong impact on our health. Appreciate the musical instrument that your body is and do not compare it with another.
Your body might be the guitar; each string requires proper care. If not, there is discord. You could be the rattle, you need shaking to make movement. What is inside the rattle and the shell itself are both important.
Maybe you are the drum that beats and booms out loudly, yet it is pronounced when the other instruments complement it. Moderation is key. There is no need to be there to try to outpace others.
When our bodies can no longer dance as they used to, maybe it is time to ask for the rattle and add to the music while seated. Better still ask for a place where you can watch and still enjoy.
Do not be fooled by people who say that it is only for one day and you put your health at risk. The cock will not stop crowing because it is a long weekend.
Take care of your health. Strive to be your body`s hero! #HeroesMonth
