Imbali- The Story Behind the Name

The name Imbali comes from the Zulu language and it means a flower and also to blossom. It is a common name among girls and I had the privilege of meeting one with such a name in 2000, when by God’s grace I had to live and work among Zulu women and children in a squatter camp in Kwazulu Natal. The year I spent living in a one room which served as my bathroom, kitchen, bedroom and living room taught me many lessons and gave me a great appreciation of what I had. I lived among the poorest of the poor, single women who had children and were trying to raise their children the best way they knew. Among these women was an old lady who lived behind my shanty, as I used to call it then, who was raising her six-year old granddaughter, Imbali. I had no idea about the whereabouts of Mbali’s mum as we would call her and it was tough for this old woman but she cared like many grandmothers on the continent of Africa who have had to raise their grandchildren while their children have left home for greener pastures somewhere else. Mbali’s case was different because I never heard of the mother neither the grandmother receive any help from either parent. My heart was moved for Mbali and I started helping this grandmother with some basic items to help with Mbali and thereby develop a friendship with her and Mbali and Mbali became like my own child because I knew that she was vulnerable and needed protection especially as she lived in such an environment surrounded by witchcraft and people who had a very different worldview to mine.

In this squatter camp I would gather women and teach them sewing as a way to improve on their sewing skills for those who already knew how to sew and then for others it was a new skill to learn. It also provided an opportunity for me to connect with these women and encourage them as they tried to figure out life as single parents.

I got to love Mbali with my whole heart and a few months later my heart was broken and grieved to learn that this precious six year old had been sexually abused by an older man in the area. It was very sad because in those days men had the belief that if someone was HIV positive having a sexual contact with a young virgin with would cure you of the Virus. So those were thoughts and fears I had to deal with while helping to make sure Mbali got the medical attention and care she needed and that the perpetrators would be brought to book. After tests were done I was blessed to learn that she had tested negative for the AIDS virus. As a result of the abuse Mbali was moved to a safe place to be taken care of by another relative and I never saw her again. It was very hard for me but I knew it was the right and proper move for the sake of Mbali. When I think of her and how that connects to my current state in life weaving I see her as a thread in the weaving of my life that started somewhere and was cut off but it is still quite visible on the tapestry of my life. I am reminded of Mbali and many other women whose life stories are so entwined with mine that I will be sharing in these blogs, women who I have met in Africa, Central Asia, South America, North America and now in Europe. For many of these women I have watched them blossom into these beautiful flowers as I have created spaces for them to be. I have watched women grow from a place where they walk with their heads bowed down in shame to a place where they walk with their heads held high with a new sense of value, dignity, purpose and courage. Mbali is one flower in this bouquet of life and I am grateful I could add her to it and she is one of the many threads that decorate the tapestry of my life.

Mbali’s story reminds me of many women and girls I have met in life whose innocence has been stolen, women and girls who had their dreams crushed, snatched and never given an opportunity to dream beyond what was prescribed for them. I have served many that I have lost count but I am going to be sharing about some of them as their stories are part of the tapestry of my own life.

This post and the many following are dedicated to many women and girls whether in South Africa, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Tunisia, Morocco, Mozambique, Egypy or Greece.

Welcome to Imbali.