BEING A WOMAN IN AFRICA

PRESS RELEASE

Hatfield, England

New novel exposes misogyny in patriarchal cultures

‘Being a Woman in Africa’ offers an insightful glimpse into the mistreatment of women

In her new book “Being a Woman in Africa” [published by AuthorHouse] author Ruth Pink draws on her childhood experience to craft a novel that exposes the horrible treatment of women in some African cultures.

The book follows the soulful tale of Rosewitta, a young African woman, born into a misogynistic society. Her tyrannical father is reluctant to send her to school, and behaves violently towards the family. As the protagonist's story unfolds, the reader follows the prejudices she encounters throughout her life, from the sexual harassment she suffers at work, as well as the setbacks she faces, such as her husband’s death. Pink's empowering text provides a message of hope for readers.

“My main goal is to create awareness about the problems that some women still face today – lack of education, domestic violence, sexual harassment, rape, poverty and poor health”, Pink states. “I want to motivate people around the world to take action and to think about the issues which come out of the story. Where possible – and after reading this book – readers should start making changes which help womenfolk, wherever they are in this world – big or small changes.”

“Being a Woman in Africa” by Ruth Pink

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 124 pages | ISBN 9781481798143

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 124 pages | ISBN 9781491879573

E-Book | 124 pages | ISBN 9781491879580

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Ruth Pink was born in Zimbabwe. She has a background in Social Science, staying current through reading and personal involvement. She has one daughter. She lives with her husband, Paul, in Hatfield, England.

For more information, visit www.ruthpink.blogspot.com

Book links:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Being-a-Woman-in-Africa-/291021986876?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BEING-A-WOMAN-IN-AFRICA-ebook/dp/B00FUYNF8A/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_t_2_G469

WHSmith link; http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/being-a-woman-in-africa/product/

MY SIGNATURE

GIGANTI GIGANTI PERFORMING

My signature

At seventeen, I entered High school,
I signed admittance documents.
At nineteen, I enrolled for a Psychology Degree at University,
I signed admittance documents.
At twenty three I graduated with a lower second degree class,
I signed for my certificate.

At twenty four, I became a clinical psychologist,
I signed my first employment contract.
At twenty five I had to sign my life
To a man I loved since childhood.
Our traditional wedding took place under a huge Msasa tree in Guruve communal lands,
On the 25th of April 1992.

I had made a vow to God.
To follow our traditional Shona culture of purity before marriage
So I did wed as a virgin
My in laws gave me a traditional white cloth for purity
And the church gave me a white bible.
Oh, how I remember these events so vividly.

Our wedding was like a royal rumble
Songsters sang sonorously
The grass and trees also sang along
We were greeted by a fanfare of people
Blowing traditional trumpets-  mbira and hosho
It was a real jamboree
Everyone had gathered to witness our signatures

“You may embrace the bride”
These words from the late Reverend Moyo fifteen years ago,
Always ululate in my mind as if it was fifteen days ago
My husband gave me these  handmade sandals as a wedding token.
I loved you Lawrence Marshal Moto.
Rest in peace my darling husband.

I signed almost every paper in my life
But my greatest signature,
Was when I signed the marriage papers on that day during the harvest season.
I reached the zenith of my bliss.
Quavering in disbelief.
For real I had married a romantic protagonist of my life.

With my signature, I lost my virginity happily
Inside our round hutted bedroom on top of a reed mat.
It was a dream come true.
I changed my name from Chiedza Adriana Mugove
To Chiedza Adriana Moto.
Oh, how beautiful it rhymed

Unfortunately, my greatest signature became my greatest snare.
I had signed my virginity to an HIV positive man.
I felt annihilated and cheated.
By a man I loved more than life itself.

After all the long wait my Lord
What I got was HIV
I lost the will to survive
Lawrence had lost it for the umpteenth time a long time ago
So he died five years later
On the eleventh day of the seven month 1997
He was buried on an anthill in Guruve communal lands
I signed for his death certificate.

I have forgiven you may husband.
Today I am coping well.
Though at times I feel lackadaisical.
But my rectitude keeps me going.
I turned forty last week.
Today it’s my fifteenth year living positively with HIV.

Our signatures were important.
They gave us a strong personality later in life.
It was not easy to accept my tragedy.
But I tell you, if it was not for your signature.
I would not have been this ascetic.
I would not have become a Systemic Family Therapist.
And I would not have saved people’s lives.
I became a living example to the hopeless.

At forty I am signing my life.
I will always sign it.
In remembrance of those great signatures.
We both scribbled many years ago.
I wish you could sign again.
For I know you were not a sadist.
Till we meet again
I leave you this, MY SIGNATURE.

Reproduced with Lance Muteyo's permission and taken from the blog giftsinopenhands.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/99-days-of-pentecost-two-weddngs-in-zimbabwe/. I cannot wait for the poetry compilation.

Please visit www.charityhope.org.uk/for more of Lance's work.

One way, among many,  to support this charity's work is by buying my new book via this link  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Being-a-Woman-in-Africa-/291021986876? your views will never be the same again after reading this book.

********

It's my daughter's 25th birthday today. Ebenezer!

Pink Rose xxx

TRAGEDY OF THE OUTCAST

A POEM FROM ZIMBABWE

This is a touching poem from Zimbabwe and it's self explanatory. Over the past few years and at the time I worked with women and children and now, I have met with amazing and very spirited men who are determined to tackle gender equality, poverty, domestic violence, sexual abuse, rape, education (or lack of it) and disease. Lance is one of these amazing men and his work in Zimbabwe is inspirational. Thank you all men of valor out there - too numerous to mention.

Tragedy of the outcast – by Lancelot Muteyo, Harare, Zimbabwe

Like any infant she was born
Healthy and gorgeous
Somewhere through the fateful eyes of history
Her parents were caught with their pants down

Unaware, the Human Immuno – Deficiency Virus infiltrated their veins
Residing in a dilapidated squatter camp they quickly developed AIDS
A squatter camp called Tariro meaning hope
Yet with no ray of hope inside that community.
A squatter camp that had no street names
Her parents sadly succumbed to the pandemic and died

Rudo, their daughter was left vulnerable in Tariro.
Though adolescent, she became a pauper
A static of HIV and AIDS orphaned children in the AIDS on line resources.
With nowhere to go within the dusty roads of the camp.

She found spiritual support within the church
A church constructed by cardboard boxes.
Inside the haven of comfort
Pastors sexually abused her inside the holy baptistery
Male teachers terrorised  behind the library stacks.
Uncle Taka converted her into a sex machine in exchange for food and shelter.

Already vulnerable!
Consequently, vulnerable to vulnerability!
Pathetically, an AIDS orphan became an AIDS victim
An AIDS survivor – not victim rather
Honestly history gave her an unfair destiny

World AIDS DAY 2013 Celebrations Zimbabwe
Lancelot Muteyo

First published by Maren Tirabassi on http://giftsinopenhands.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/for-world-aids-day-poem-from-zimbabwe-prayer-from-the-united-states/

Reproduced with Lance Muteyo's permission.

The video below sums it all up. 

AFRICAN WOMEN VIDEO

2014 CHALLENGE: RESTORING HOPE

This year I will be working with the following organizations in my own small way.

1. Charityhope Trust – 

I have worked with this charity from day one. Please donate towards improving education in Africa via their website www.charityhope.org.uk/. My own passion is for a school called Madimutsa School, located in a remote part of Zimbabwe.It's school buildings are like this 33 years after Zimbabwe became independent. Nothing much has changed (see pictures below)

We need more donations like this

We would like more books, footballs and net balls, sports kits, money to pay tuition fees- it's $5 a term for one child. Some children do not afford $5 a term so drop out of school - every little helps. Please check out ways to donate on the Charityhope Trust website.

2. Adonai Baptist Church, based in Marondera Zimbabwe. This is a growing Baptist congregation based in a small town called Marondera in Zimbabwe. They work with ordinary people in the community and come face to face with people affected by poverty, disease, HIV/AIDS, illiteracy and dropping out of school, domestic violence, child marriages, sexual abuse and rape. I'll be bringing you reports of actual cases from his community.
   Special appeal;
   The immediate need for the young and energetic Adonai Baptist Church Pastor is a laptop. If any of you readers from around the world would like to help with a laptop for our Pastor in Zimbabwe, please drop us a line on this e-mail address adonaiorg95@gmail.com. Adonai desperately needs that laptop for their work at Nyameni, Marondera, Zimbabwe.
   Partnership
   Would you like to visit Zimbabwe, partner with them and and help them spread the word of God in any way? Do you have Bibles to spare in your local Church? Do you have anything else suitable for this growing Church? Please get in touch.
   Individuals, Churches and organizations are welcome to donate.
   Please get in touch if you are up for this! Contact details are Adonai BaptistZim's facebook page, be a friend, be a partner. OR write them an e-mail on adonaiorg95@gmail.com, or visit their blog page on adonaiorg95.blogspot.co.uk.

My book is still available on http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Being-a-Woman-in-Africa-/291021986876? Proceeds from this will support the above organizations.

SEEKING INNER VERSUS OUTER BEAUTY

I hear that there is a certain group of men from a certain region in Africa – who are at it again - denigrating women from a certain African nation (about the way the women look). Fellow sisters out there be aware and be alert! I think this particular group feels threatened by our collective action and voices. And we are not stopping! (and get me right, it's a certain group of men not all of them)

If you get a chance, any chance to empower yourself, do it. From what these men are saying and doing, it is clear that no-one is going to do it for us. None but ourselves. Without saying a lot, and moving forward here is a 10-point plan to get us going in 2014 – I have a 21-point plan in my forthcoming book;

1. If your life seems complex and you want to understand what's going on, stop and think, then break it down into phases. A solution might come out of that.
2. Seek help if you can.
3. Learn from your mistakes.
4. Learn something new – a skill, language, a certain subject - be informed. Take a step.
5. Change for the better – everyday - Make small manageable changes.
6. Use your potential – start with what you have.
7. A form of faith does help sometimes.
8. Know that culture – any culture - is dynamic (we are no longer in the stone age!)
9. Teach your child /ren - if you have any – from a tender age. Don't wait till its too late.
10. Count your blessings – do not moan all the time.

With the response I have had so far - the dialogue, more enquiries about the book 'Being A Woman In Africa,' and about my story, book purchases, donations to charity etc - I am one happy African woman! I'm glad the message of EMPOWERMENT is spreading like veld-fire, thousands from all over the world have read or are reading my book - thank you readers in the USA, UK, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Brazil, China, Taiwan, South Africa, Kenya, India, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Australia, France, Taiwan, Zimbabwe and in new territories. Thanks to Writers' and Readers' groups who are spreading the message. Couldn't be happier!

************

Through this post I am making a special appeal to African women wherever you read my posts from - women who are feeling trapped in one way or the other, please seek help as soon as possible. I'm not a counsellor but if there is anything bothering you related to domestic violence, rape, sexual abuse, physical, emotional, psychological or economic abuse, child marriage etc PLEASE SEEK HELP.

Wherever you are, if you suspect that such things are happening to someone you know please help the person concerned. Speak with them or report the case.

Here are a few organizations in Zimbabwe which could be of some help;

• Your local Church Pastor - if he / she understands such issues – not that infamous one with 11 wives!!!!!!!
• New Start Centres in Zimbabwe
• Musasa Project in Harare – and other centres were you can just walk in to look for information or for a chat
• If anyone knows of any similar organizations, please drop me a line or pass on the information to the person concerned

************

Please do get in touch if you need further information - on my twitter account, facebook page or via the Charityhope Trust website, or on about.me/ruth.pink. Thanks to all men (and women) who are reading and are dying to read my book. More info. is on the above sites.

I will be looking for INNER rather than OUTER beauty in 2014 and beyond. Let's count all our blessings - especially 2013 blessings! In the meantime enjoy the remaining festive season to the max.

Ruth Pink xx

BEING A WOMAN IN AFRICA

'KWA MARABU'

If something really traumatic happens in your life, small problems will not shake you, take it from me. As I speak today, small things do not shake me. That is who I am today, I get inspiration from positive-thinking people and out of every situation I dig deep for something positive from it.

I wrote about some of the traumatic things I experienced (in the book 'Being A Woman in Africa). If you follow Rosewitta closely, maybe you will learn more about the real life 'me.'

It doesn't matter who you are – educated, uneducated, rich, poor, high or middle class (this class thing is an English thing. I strongly subscribe to the fact that class structures are social constructs. So to me classes do not exist, but exist in people's minds). Some life experiences can take you to the rubbish dump. We call it 'kwaMarabu,' in Zim lingo. So at one time, I was there, 'kwaMarabu,' scavenging - in a figurative sense. I saw that I was going downhill – 'kumawere.' I had to dig deep to salvage myself. I sought inspiration from anyone and anything – young boys and girls, from the good Pastor, from nature – from anything. I read the Bible from cover to cover, I became what they call 'a Bible-basher.' The recovery was slow and painful, but somehow my self-taught methods worked.

After all this, I'm glad to say my life has completely changed after realizing that “life is short,” to be negative - see page 112 of 'Being A Woman in Africa.' This is one good lesson that life threw at me and a message contained in my book.

********

With the response I have had so far - the dialogue, more enquiries about the book and deeper questions about my life story, book purchases, donations to charity etc - I am one happy African woman!

Please do get in touch if you need further information - on my twitter account, facebook page or via the Charityhope Trust website., or on about.me/ruth.pink. My book is available on this e-bay for charity link:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=291010233402 

I will probably have one more post before the end of year. Let's count all our 2013 blessings! In the meantime enjoy the festive season to the max. Don't drink and drive!

Ruth Pink xx