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Fadzayi Maposah Herald Correspondent
There is a Shona proverb that: Kutsva kwendebvu varume vanodzimurana.
Loosely translated it means that when a man’s beard catches fire, other men will come to his rescue and put out the fire.
If you think about it literally, all kinds of pictures come to mind. Imagine a man’s beard on fire and men around him doing their best to put out the fire.
Now imagine what would they be using?
What will be used will depend on where this burning of the beard will have occurred.
In a sports club, caps are bound to reign supreme.
Men, what is it with going to watch sports indoors and wearing caps? A cap is part of the ‘kit’ for watching sport I guess.
Then if the beard caught fire at a braai and drinking spot, anything would be used to put out the fire.
Ranging from water, caps and empty plates or quickly the plates would be emptied of the braai meat so as to save one of their own. So much drama.
What this proverb simply means is that men should rescue one another in times of trouble.
Imagine the torture of a beard on fire and no-one comes to rescue. The reason the proverb says men will put out the fire of another man’s beard is because men can relate to having a beard…
Also it is very important to know how to handle putting out the fire, as it is complex.
How many times have you winced at the pain of cutting yourself as you shave?
Just one small cut while shaving an armpit can result in one almost jumping out of their skin when applying a roll on deodorant.
It is even worse when you spray a deodorant on that armpit. Ouch!
So in what instances can men put out beards that would have caught fire.
One instance that I have observed is that when men go out for braais and drinks, as long as one is within the correct circle and has not gate crashed, even if the wallet is low on notes, they are bound to leave the place, full and merry!
They cover up for each other’s shortcomings. These men could be friends or even siblings. Men rarely want to expose their kith and kin’s shortcomings.
Those men who are Christians and have a church they attend help each by encouragement and pleading with one to hold on to the faith.
One is constantly checked on so just that they do not burn alone.
All means possible are employed so that the beard’s fire does not get out of hand and burn other parts of the face.
Who does not want someone who checks on them and provides the necessary support? We all do. Humans are social beings.
Men naturally have a poor health seeking behaviour. They rarely go to a health facility unless they really have to. They seem to have some phobia regarding medical facilities and they shun these places like leprosy.
Kutsva kwendebvu varume vanodzimurana. This needs to be applied in all aspects so that it is meaningful.
I was reading somewhere that in the month of November, men are being encouraged to grow a beard or moustache as a way to mobilise one another to take care of their physical and mental health.
It is one way of mobilising men and it is being called Menvember! Men like hearing “important issues” from other men. It adds “ka that” as the young people say these days.
I had an opportunity to be part of a team that organised a male clinic.
It was mooted as a way of reaching and providing clinical services for men so that the ones who were the pioneers clients could then spread the word and mobilise other males. The day of the clinic arrived.
Much work had gone into preparing for the day. Messages had been shared through various social media channels. The team was ready.
Medical sundries were available. Male colleagues were to be in the forefront. Services for males by male service providers.
The clinic had been planned in such a way that a male client would interface with males only from entry until exit.
The male clients loved it. The set up was such that females had their own “wing” where they were attended, interfacing with female service provider.
By tea break the number of male clients was disappointing. It did not tally with the amount of work that had gone into preparing for the day.
The team members encouraged each other, there was still time.
Then just before lunch the men started coming in large numbers.
It was like they had been at some function and were directed to the male clinic.
But no, the males did not know one another. They started interacting with one another at the clinic.
From inside the clinic, one would think that a male choir was getting ready for practice!
There were so many male voices in the clinic that I am sure the walls and windows wondered if the facility had changed to a sports bar!
One thing that I learnt about men from this experience is that males value their health; they have questions that need answers.
They long to be accommodated and never judged for their behaviour.
Some are not able to explain their behaviour, it is part of their habits. As an advocate for males mobilising males, be encouraged my male relatives.
Start now. Go for the necessary checks. Ask questions. Seek information. Do not let the beard catch fire. If it does, do not panic when you see me among those coming to put out the fire!
I am just a MenVember cheerleader!
Online Reporter