Nipe Nafasi (Mzamane Nhlapio) Summary
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WHAT HAPPENED, IN 50 WORDS:
"Nipe Nafasi" begins as Mama Kazili and her children travel from Habelo to Makongeni seeking aid after her husband's desertion; a journey with fatal consequences for her child, Mkhathini. Despite her grief and dismal circumstances, Mama Kazili boldly challenges traditional gender norms, beginning her fight for a better life.
FULL SUMMARY:
In the short story "Nipe Nafasi," by Mzamane Nhlapo, a desperate mother leaves her home in Habelo, Lesotho, to seek help from her husband's family in Makongeni. Her husband has abandoned them, leaving her to raise their children single-handedly without financial support. She suspects that her husband has taken another wife near the mines where he works in South Africa. His income, instead of supporting his original family, has been primarily shared with his parents, leaving her and her children in severe poverty. During the journey, harsh winter conditions cause the death of one of her children, Mkhathini. Later, they arrive at Makongeni, and the welcoming expressions of the relatives change to ones of concern seeing Mkhathini's lifeless body in her arms. In spite of the visible grief, the mother remains resilient. The relatives, shocked by their nephew's death, also question the mother's decision of coming without her husband's permission. They hold a meeting, known as a Kraal, to discuss the matter. Here, the mother stands her ground, addressing the general mistreatment and dismissal of women in their community. She intends to find a job and improve their living situation while they stay with the relatives. As she speaks up about the social norms, the men in the family leave one by one, leaving her and the children to their meal. This is how she begins her fight against her circumstances and the traditionally accepted roles of women in society to save herself and her children from starvation. The story is titled "Nipe Nafasi," translating to "Give Me A Chance," exemplifying the mother's plea for an opportunity to change their dire predicament. In the second part of the story "Nipe Nafasi," a dinner is served consisting of pap, wild vegetables, and lamb. For the first time in two years, the main character indulges in meat. The situation then intensifies with the return of the male members of the family from their meeting. The house descends into silence; they sit ominously, as their wives remained seated on the floor. One of the men, Matweba, takes charge of the gathering. The decision from the Kraal meeting is announced: the mother, referred to as Mama Kazili, and her children would be allowed to stay for one or two weeks due to harsh weather. After that, Mama Kazili and her children will be returned to their home in Habelo, carrying the body of her deceased son Mkhathini. This decision is driven by a fear of disrupting traditional family structures, and their perceived need to maintain their authority over their wives. Strong and defiant, Mama Kazili responds, asserting that she must exist not only as a wife, but also as an individual, with individual duties towards herself and her children's lives. She collapses before finishing her sentence, however. Her children lament, fearing her death. Later, against all odds and without any approval, Mama Kazili achieves her dream by becoming a primary school teacher. She manages to send her children to school with her meager salary, hence improving their life and securing a daily meal for them. This sums up the desperate yet courageous struggle of a mother in a patriarchal society, underlining the poignant plea encapsulated in the title “Nipe Nafasi” - Give Me A Chance.
WHAT HAPPENED, IN 50 WORDS:
"Hadithi ''Nipe Nafasi'' yahusu mama jasiri aliyepeleka familia yake Lesotho hadi Makongeni kuwatafutia maisha bora. Licha ya pingamizi kutoka kwa familia ya baba, mama azumgumzia unyanyasaji wa kijinsia na ahidi kuimarisisha hali ya familia yake. Yeye ni shujaa, licha ya vikwazo na hasara."
FULL SUMMARY:
"Nipe Nafasi" ni hadithi fupi ikisimulia kuhusu mama na familia yake walioishi Lesotho. Mama huyo, baada ya kuishi bila msaada kutoka kwa baba wa watoto, anaamua kwa ujasiri kwenda kwenye familia ya baba upande wa Makogeni, takribani kilomita arobaini kutoka kwao. Safari yao hadi Makongeni ilikuwa ngumu haswa, wakipitia malima, baridi kali na theluji. Kwa bahati mbaya, walipoteza mmoja wa watoto bara-barani, Mkhathini na wakawasili Makongeni wakiwa wamechoka na naogopa. Familia ya baba iliwakaribisha kwa hisia za furaha na huzuni. Hata hivyo, mama huyo alipambana na hasira kutoka kwa wanaume waliomweleza kuwa alifaa kuwa mnyenyekevu, na hata kudai kuwa alimkosea heshima mumewe na familia yake kwa kuondoka bila ruhusa. Mama huyo alichukua nafasi hiyo kuzungumzia unyanyasaji dhidi ya wanawake katika jamii yake, akisisitiza kwamba haitaji ruhusa ya mtu yeyote kuwasaidia watoto wake. Wakati wanaume wa familia walipokutana baadaye kutoa uamuzi wa hatma ya mama huyo na watoto wake, chakula kilileletwa na walianza kula. Mama huyo alifanikisha kitu muhimu: kuleta watoto wake mahali ambapo wangeweza kula na kuwa salama, hata kwa muda mfupi. Maneno ya mwisho ya hadithi hii hayashindiki: Hilo ndilo jambo alilotuletea Makongeni mama. Hadithi ya "Nipe Nafasi" inaendelea kuelezea ndani ya nyumba ya familia ya baba. Chakula cha kondoo na mboga kitamu hutumika, na hadithi pekee ya Richman, alias ya mama, inayotokana na aliyekuwa mfugaji kondoo katika familia ya Belo huko Makongeni. Hisia zimegawanyika kuhusu maneno ya ujasiri ya mama kwa wanaume, na wanawake wa umri wa kati wanaunga mkono ukweli wake na hamu ya kusimama kwa haki zao. Wanaume waliporudi kutoka Kraal, walianza kuketi kwa utulivu. Matweba, ndugu mkubwa wa baba wa watoto, anachukua udhibiti na anatoa hukumu. Familia ya Belo inakubali kukaa na watoto kwa wiki moja au mbili kutokana na hali ya hewa. Watakaporudi Habelo, watoto watapelekwa mama. Matweba inasisitiza kuwa hawatakubali kutendewa dharau na mama na wanawake wengine na kusambaratisha familia ya Belo. Baada ya hukumu, kifurushi kinawasilishwa ambacho ndani yake ni mwili wa Mkhathini, ndugu yao aliyekufa safarini. Wakati mama anasimama kujibu, anapoteza fahamu na akaanguka, kama vile ilivyotokea wakati akimbeba Mkhathini. Baada ya taharuki na kuzirai, mama anapelekwa kwenye nyumba nyingine kufufuka na kumwagiliwa maji kichwani. Hadithi inakamilika na kutafakari juu ya ahadi ya mama kuwaboresha maisha yao kabla ya kifo chake, na mafanikio yake baadaye akawa mwalimu wa shule ya msingi.