The fall of angels

By Lethabo Makweya

Two humans become one Energies in sync Palm to Palm Cheek to cheek Chaos and calm A sacred act performed New life formed

A seed planted Genetics germinated into a feotus and then into a living, breathing being blooming in the womb. Whoo, haa, whoo, haa Push! Push! Aaaahhh! A flower of life, harvested from the womb The room filled with silence and then a cry. A cry which impregnates the room with joy. New life being birthed.

There is something overwhelmingly sacred about the act of being born This act which we have all been through.

So sacred, nothing but love congests the room. Quite similar to one’s final rest in the tomb. Innocence, ignorance, purity protected from harm. Protected from the world’s tyranny.

Life and death- the inevitable that connects me and you. Life. Death. The human condition we are all born into Humanness. Ubuntu.

What, who, why and when Thoughts that I ponder on More often now than then Existential threatExistence, threat. The threat of existence? All these questions remain unanswered I uphold the persistence.

Being born into a world Which entails so much meaning meaning which influences my world Our world And so, this pre-existing meaning Defines for us, who and what we are How we should be Which gender and sexuality we are meant to be Which religion to belong to...

Religion. What an interesting word. Re... re-analyze, re-write, re-do, As far as I’m concerned, “re” is a prefix, meaning again and again, and again This constant repetition begins to unfold an enemy of progress.

Black, white, male, female Christian, Muslim insignificantly significant titles Titles used to box people in Titles used to separate the fact that we are all human.

Ubuntu.

I remember when we were free, the churches were empty and we spoke to the gods directly. Our ancestors being one of those gods

A religious woman and a cultural, spiritual man fall in love and have offspring

Chaos

This child, experiencing conflict for so long Not knowing what is wrong Or what is right.

Growing up in a Christian home And then being educated about colonization. Learning that Christianity was taught and culture is experienced. Feeling feelings of attraction to the same sex Is this a sin? Am I a sin? What are sins? What is wrong and what is right?

Chaos. Mechanisation. Power-over. More Chaos

And yet, her light still shines bright Accepting her ancestors and her culture instead of demonizing it. Camagu (gratitude)

“Thokoza Gogo Dumi!” She yelled with Joy. (Greetings, ancestors) Embracing her spirituality through her entire essence, her being As a black, African woman.

Camagu.

WRITTEN & STYLED BY LETHABO MAKWEYA COURTESY OF NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2021