Boss Lady … this is the shirt that Clare decided to wear during the Women’s Race. Boss Lady … 28 years old, but she is not really sure … She is from Southern Province and stopped going to school in third grade, when you ask her why she replies “Khaya” – I don’t know – shrugging with a resigned smile … at some point her parents stopped sending her to school … “Khaya” … She speaks only Tonga, but always laughs and smiles, she is interested in many things … I think she would have been a brilliant student.
This ninth edition of the Women’s Race started off great! Many, many participants … absolute record this year despite the principal of the Chakwela Makumbi School being worried because the Adventist church under the school had established a prayers day precisely for March 8th.
An attempt to sabotage the freedom that the Women’s Race offers?
Let’s hope not… however our women didn’t bat an eye and ran freer than ever!
Winnie this year took charge of organizing the race, head of the organizing committee. She returned just in time from Dar Es Salaam where she is studying to become a starred chef by the Indian Ocean … Don’t worry we will let you know as soon as she opens her own restaurant!
The first race was that of the under 25 girls, the longest race but by far the most scenic among the green hills between Mapompo and Mukwamba Village with a light that made the maize leaves shine in the fields. This is my favorite season, the colors that Zambia offers in this period are spectacular: the intense green of the leaves, the pure blue of the sky after the rain, the rainbows.
Many known faces in the under 25 race, many champions of past years and not only of the Women’s Race but also champions of the Lusaka Marathon and Victoria Falls Marathon. Among all, Mercy Kapempe again this year on time for our appointment always with her perfect run that you would recognize among a thousand.
The junior under 12 race is like a river in full flow, a force that the edges of the dirt road struggles to contain. Like the river which again this year destroyed the small bridge that reaches the village, for months no vehicle was able to pass. Sport2build gave the cement and the village the manpower and for the Women’s Race we passed it.
The under 12 are many, and many are really small, even just 5 years old. Next year we should introduce a new under 8 category.
All without shoes … the few who start off with shoes on their feet soon take them off and run holding them in their hands. It must be something in Africa, even Abraham, our son, ran barefoot at the school cross-country race a month ago…he finished fourth…without shoes! Giuditta, on the other hand, kept her shoes, and halfway through the race she was running holding the hand of a younger girl … “she was crying” she told me …
As the last juniors clambered up the school hill, a group of women walk out of the Adventist church. They all were wearing the blue church uniform. They ask me if it is the turn of the ‘Ngalamba’ – literally the old ones but they mean women over 25 … it’s all relative … To my yes, in a moment they take off their blue dress and underneath they are already ready with the their racing outfit (nothing technical, a skirt with cyclists underneath and a t-shirt, all rigorously covered by the chitenge). Off to registration and we are ready to go.
Two veterans of the Women’s Race approach me, they wear the chitenge up on the waste typical of those expecting a child. They tell me they would like to participate, unsure of my answer … “Of course” and for the first time at the Women’s Race two pregnant women took part in the race, both almost eight months along. They finished last with a winner’s smile, with a final sprint between the two amidst the enthusiasm of the spectators.
The awards ceremony was held among a particularly enthusiastic audience, this year it included our now classic Sport2build – Associazione Progetto Jacaranda Jacaranda ONLUS t-shirts, which once again made this day of sport and celebration possible, then pots, oil, detergents, water bottles, school sets. Also this year the sanitary pads of the race pack are the most appreciated gift.
A few days ago I explained to Winnie and Precious the difference between “equity” and “equality” … and asked them if we shouldn’t fight more for equality and make sure that everyone has equal opportunities rather than taking into account the different opportunities for each. But in social realities like those of Mukwamba Village, where a pack of sanitary pads is a magnificent gift for a woman, I realize that we all need to #EmbraceEquity now more than ever!
(When Matteo read my piece from Cameroon he said no equity and equality must not be alternative…)