Category: human interest

Posted in human interest

Conquering the world, one rebut at a time

Posted on by ForYourInfo

Mbali Ngube

An avid speaker and debater, the tone of her voice is commanding, and her face draws you to each point she makes as Noluthando Honono speaks on her achievements in her world of debate.

“My name rings true to the person that I am, it encompasses aspects of my being that, through interaction, are easily discoverable; this because it has been made known that I seem less friendly and more unapproachable from a distance. I wear the name Noluthando like a badge of honour and use it to anchor the Honono family name,” Honono shares.

 The first of four children, she says she was born to a strong Xhosa woman in the heart of Cape Town and her father a Sotho man with a heart of gold. She describes her parent’s relationship as a cross ethnic telenovela.

 “I grew up living with my grandparents as an only child on the weekdays, a full family with my mom and siblings on the weekends and the occasional visit to my father. Having always been a loner, I spent much of my time reading, watching cartoons, and memorising adverts, a time I still treasure to this day. Resultant from that, I developed a love for music and writing which have been my destress mechanism for an entire lifetime,” she says.

Noluthando Honono

Education

She moved between schools for various reasons. The first school she attended was St Mary’s Primary School, this was because her family insisted on her studying her foundational years in a school that taught in isiXhosa. “It was only in 3rd grade that I moved to Observatory Junior School, a move that prompted many changes in me; the most important one being that I now had to take the English language seriously. Thank goodness for coming across Harry Potter; it was in that franchise that I was able to hide while I learned to navigate that space,” Honono added.

 She says she initially thought she would become a famous writer and entertained the dream that she would sing lead in the theatre production of Cinderella.  Reality began to set in at high school level, when she moved to Sans Souci Girls High School, which she describes as an extreme culture shock for someone who had relied on being one of the boys to survive because she was not immune to bullying.

“Being there meant that I had to rebrand, find a new identity that would carry me through the years that I would have to spend there. I was unnaturally shy but masked it in saying just enough to hold a conversation until a teacher caught on and forced me into debating, something I will always be grateful for,” she adds.

As much as she had found her calling, little did she know that it would lead her to greener and greater pastures.

“Debating has become a big part of who I am, from having been forced into it in 9th grade, to coaching school kids. I have seen various corners of the country, taken part in many competitions, won, and lost.”

Noluthando Honono

Varsity career

“Post matric has been a tough journey, riddled with financial constraints, loss of a parent, illness and other experiences that have shaped the person that I have become.

In my time at Nelson Mandela University, I intended to make my small space, the best it could be. This came in the form of being part of the executive of the Nelson Mandela University Debating Union, joining Toastmaster, student politics, and the Melodi Residence (now Sarah Baartman) House Committee,” she says.

In her time as the Academics officer at Melodi Residence, she championed the debate team from the first year’s orientation, and it continued throughout the year. One of the students who was part of her debate team Zizipho Dani said, “She was awesome. She was able to teach people without being condescending and had a lot of information to share which she gave freely and with that, encouraged growth.”

Noluthando Honono speaking at a debate conference

“My time in house committee was probably the most meaningful, though I did not care much for the administrative aspect of it, the personal connection I shared with the women in the residence was probably one of the best gifts I was granted. I made many lifetime friends and for some, became a safe space because my room was never locked which meant that sometimes I left for campus and returned to find someone sleeping or crying in bed. It was fulfilling,” Honono shares.

In her office of academia, she started a library within the residence where students would donate textbooks they no longer use, so others who cannot afford them can borrow them from the residence library.

“I wanted to start a project that would make it easier for students who lived at Melodi to succeed, I wanted it to be something that would continue overtime. It was unfortunate, that due to various reasons I had to leave, thus unable to get it to reach the point intended. It was inspired by understanding that being at a university is not enough, one needs to have support and ways to succeed for enrolment to matter,” she says.

She left Nelson Mandela University mid-year 2019 due to several reasons and is currently studying Information Systems at the University of Johannesburg.

Debate

After joining debate, she says she was thankful for not having to choose subjects because she was granted the opportunity to join the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology, she says “I knew it would be the best choice for me. It was there, that I discovered the thrill of learning the law through a moot court competition that I participated in.”

Achievements

She has become a celebrity in her own right in the field of debate. She has travelled around the world and earned the name adjudicator. She has appeared on several Chief Adjudication Panels including the Southern African Debating Circuit (SADC) Womxn’s Open in 2019. She also made it to the Southern African National Universities Debate Championships (SANUDC) top 10 adjudicators list for 2 consecutive years and won best adjudicator at the Winter Open.

“I am a part of the Lead Magis Africa Power Panel, working on a campaign to get girls back in school post the Covid-19 pandemic, with a focus on communities that have found that aspect to be something that isn’t important,” Honono shares.

She was also one of the top 3 Pan-African University Debate Championships (PAUDC) 2020 Deputy Chief Adjudicators.

Honono won the Pretoria Parley Invitational in 2019 and featured in the Free State Open in 2018 and 2019.   

“My biggest achievement is being appointed as one of the Deputy Chief Adjudicators for the World University Debate Championships happening in Belgrade in 2022. I hope to coach many aspirant debaters and to make the sport even more accessible,” she adds.

Philanthropy

Honono is also the founder and director of a non-profit organisation called Black Speaks Academy, which focuses on nurturing the talents of young black writers that are still in school. The organisation helps these young writers pursue their talents through training

An inspiration to many, Noluthando Honono is a phenominally phenomal woman, whose story need no alterations as her work speaks for itself.

Posted in human interest, Profile Feature

One face, many phases.

Posted on by ForYourInfo

Mbali Ngube

He sits in an open space office with a red couch on the left side of the room, each side of the couch has framed pictures of the former house committee members from the years 2010 and 2012. Wearing a navy sweater shirt, with uncombed hair and spectacles, nervous Lwandile Msimanga fidgets with his hands and the multi coloured highlighters that sit arranged in a straight line. “This is truly nerve wrecking, my first personal interview,” he says.

Lwandile Msimanga did not grow up under normal conditions, with a mother, father, and siblings, under a perfectly built home and fair education. Out of the poverty he found himself growing up in, he made a name for himself at a very young age and that has taken him as far as he is now, chairperson of the Black Lawyers Association at Nelson Mandela University.

The last born of 4, which changed over time after his aunt died and his mother took in his cousins, he regards himself as the second last of 7. He does not relate much with 2 of his eldest siblings, he says they do not talk much. He is closest with number 4, Soso, whom he does not want to call a favourite but knows deep down she is.

Msimanga attributes his life and the person he has become generally and academically to women. “When my parents marriage disintegrated, my mother had to go home in Umzimkhulu, and I will forever be grateful to my maternal grandparents for their earnest contributions in that regard,” he said with his right hand on his chest as a sign of gratitude.

“I do not have grade R, so I went straight to grade 1 and I was taught by my aunt (the one who passed away) in grade 2. She had to go on maternity leave with the last born of my siblings and upon her return she found that I could not read or write but I could answer questions in class.

With that, she decided that I repeat grade 2, and I was bitter because my friends were ahead of me. Besides all that, I was a sick baby and suffered from tonsilitis, so the illness worked in my favour in terms of remaining behind,” he says.

Lwandile begins

Lwandile shows distinctness in grade 4, the hype behind who he is and what he is capable of is discovered then. “Being unique and showing different characteristics starts in grade 4. I grew up different in the context that what aroused me as a kid was different,” he said.

Animated, he describes how he felt he was different from other kids his age. “Since I grew up very close to my mother, I never found sporty things interesting. Everything that excited me was news orientated. I developed passion for the news, what was happening in the country. I knew former President Mbeki’s administration by heart and had those Sukuma Sakhe posters that would describe him,” Msimanga said.

He joined a USAID sponsored program as a peer educator and had to serve the students of his then primary school, Dutch Reformed Church Junior Secondary School.  “The program was vital in the 2000’s, with the aim of educating society about prevalent social issues; HIV and AIDS, STD’s, and teenage pregnancy to mention the least. I stayed in this program grade 4 to grade 9, the former being the grade in which I finished my Junior secondary days, commonly known as Primary,” Msimanga added.

Msimanga was a part of the school governing body in primary, he comically added that where he comes from, primary school ends at grade 9. He laughs out loud and says, “I guess it’s the perks of coming from a quintile 1 school. Remembering that quintile 1 is for the previously disadvantaged, so it’s important I add that I only started learning the use of a PC in varsity”.

In high school at Clydesdale Secondary school, he became President of the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) for a year , RCL for 2 years and was denied a 3rd term by his teachers who said its undemocratic he needed a break and a chance to focus on his schooling. “I have always been personable person with people wanting me to lead them, and I never got the chance to say no,” he said. He studied Science and wanted to be a teacher of literature and life sciences, but his teachers advised him others saying, “he can do better”.

He says his decision to be a servant also comes from church. “My favourite verse in the bible is Psalm 20v7; Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. It is this verse that gives me hope for the future I desire.”

Claude Qavane House Committee 2020

University life

His life post high school did not take the course he wanted, it however led him to what he now regards as the love of his life. Before coming to NMU, he had applied at Walter Sisulu University, but his application was lost. He then applied and was accepted for the LLB extended program at NMU which he is currently pursuing.

The motto I live by is, “If you can’t change it, let it be.” I believe I have long of a life ahead of me than to remain worried about thing I cannot change.

Lwandile Msimanga

“Coming to University I have had the honour of serving students within the formerly Xanadu Residence now Claude Qavane Residence, in both my capacity as HK Secretary and HK Prim. The two years have been an experience which I would trade with nothing. I have been shattered and built at the same time; cried and laughed; wanted to quit and stay.

Claude Qavane House Committee 2019

These conflicting experiences have been the norm of my two years in service as a resident student leader. At no point can I deny the fact that such experiences have taught me more about life compared to leadership. Servanthood as an achievement for my personality aspirations stands supreme from many tangible things I have achieved as either Secretary or Prim of the residence,” he said.

Black Lawyers Association

In 2020 Msimanga was elected as the Chairperson of the Black Lawyers Association. He says he joined it because it is an opportunity to be a voice for the minority in the faculty of law.  

The organisation has granted Msimanga an opportunity to represent students in committee’s where he gets to represent those who did not do well academically, helping them get a second chance this giving him the chance to fulfil his purpose.

“BLAsc has been nothing but an organisation that has developed my critical thinking. Need I mention, I have had to sit in faculty committees representing students. it is in those committees that I have learnt the art of engagement and having a skill as a leader to clearly put a point across in a manner that does not cause tantrums and discord to rise.

Black Lawyers Association committee 2020

I learnt in the battle between Faculty Management (FMC) and us student leaders are students who need their problems to be solved; prudence at that point is a necessity I must say. Through BLAsc I have learnt the ability to debate management without fear or favour but in a manner according respect and dignity to the next person. Leading BLAsc is the pinnacle of my achievements in the university so far,” he said.

The advice he gives to students is that, “Have people around you that speak directly to what you want to be, they will take you far.”

Posted in human interest, Profile Feature

Consciously celebrate Black history

Posted on by ForYourInfo

Mbali Ngube

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey, but spiritual beings on a human journey”, these are the words that kept coming up in conversation as he spoke about himself.  

A third born of a single Mother, who had four Children before cancer of the cervix claimed her life, Lindokuhle Ace Mbuli, two siblings and an uncle were raised by their grandmother who according to him did not earn a middle-class income or a fixed income for most of their childhood.

“Consciousness is the ‘c’ in Ace. I mean ‘see’, see what I mean? Consciousness is awareness, basically the soul seeing itself and observing one’s existence in this material world”, he said.

Lindokuhle Mbuli said he is a conscious person and has tapped into a spiritual understanding that is simple and complex. According to him observing the flow of energy through humans, emotions, food, words, sex, music, love and fear. He added that is a different world and it transcends religions, but seeks heaven/nirvana as well.

Lindokuhle Mbuli

Born at Zola Hospital Soweto in 1993, they lived at Jabulani Koma Road for some time until family politics disturbed their livelihood and moved to Protea South informal settlements.

“This part of my life was sad, life was not great, but we were together and used to sit around the fire till the stars looked like they are paying attention to us as well. There were many things that we experienced and observed in Protea South. I thank my grandmother’s strength for choosing survival over pride” he said.

They moved to Meadowlands Zone 5, another suburb in Soweto for a while before permanently moving to Mpumalanga. “Growing up I was best friends with my curiosity we went everywhere except jail, but it was close. I stole, made break-ins, overdosed pills, did not do Grade R, was usually the centre of attention not because of material possession but because of art which was and is my forte”, Mbuli added.

He said academically he was average, with a very healthy social life which he is harvesting from till today. “Ironically, all my schooling days happened in 3 Schools that are neighbours. And I gave them 4 years each of my time and mind, and they moulded me” Mbuli said.   

“ I did not receive career guidance ‘tailor made’, so at first I wanted to be a Pilot, found out that I needed to be ‘good in Maths’ so I boarded off that dream. Grade 9 and 10, I realize that I actually like advocating for people. So I wanted to become a Lawyer, and also how to get people out of jail was another motivating factor. So, I pursued Law and got the degree”, Mbuli added.

In 2011 he did his Matric and left the comfort of his home to live alone at age 17. “My best friend joined me. I was typing forms, documents and capturing marks for income. We had a fridge, stove, and furniture in my old home where I went to live whilst doing Matric. An experience that ignited a certain sense of maturity that would carry me out through varsity” he added.  

He said the biggest mentor in his life is music and the emotions it pushed him to travel. He added that through music he connected with his older brother, friends, and family. “Some memories in my mind are recorded with the songs we cherish”, he added.  

Years after he graduated with an LLB qualification he struggled to find work, and so to pass time he went for another passion of his which was helping people. He and several associates started an organisation called Ebhodweni Chess club. The club was not only for the teaching of chess, but also to enrich the children that attended with life skills such as gardening, painting, and debate.

The club unfortunately did not go as far as they had anticipated due to financial constraints, and Mbuli continued his job search until he landed himself a job as an assistant in one of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department offices in Johannesburg. He added that this was also a part of his journey of helping and serving people.  

Snippet from the book The Black Calendar.

With his love for helping others and teaching, he decided to write a book on black history called The Black Calendar.

“The Black Calendar is a ‘doubled edged sword’. It seeks to celebrate many shades of Black Excellence around the world and on the same breath expose how ‘Black Lives Matter’ conditionally because we are not recording or celebrating each other more”, Mbuli explained.

He said the mission is to make Black people love each other more, write and read about each other and finally understand how can Africans embrace unity consciousness that is not parasitic, “ basically the calm after this race row that has divided the world”, said Mbuli.

“Find something worth dying for; and live for it.” In life not all will be given to us and people we love will be taken from us. But as long as there’s breath in your body try harder not to complain but remember your mission and focus your energy on it.

Lindokuhle Mbuli

Mbuli said that in 2019 the first version of  #TheBlackCalendar came out in 12 pages, those 12 pages gave them 365 more pages for the second version of the #TheBlackCalendar published 2020/21.

“What started as a hobby now needs founding documents and many other things. So we are slowing down and focusing on the main things. We kept saying ‘let it take its form’, we will continue to say so”, Mbuli explained.

The Black Calendar book council.

They collaborated with multiple individuals and bought close to 100, R10 worth of airtime to give away for a competition they had on Twitter for the late Winnie Mandela’s birthday. “We got great insight, commentary from people on the ground, ideas kept on coming and it was a wonderful experience”, he expressed.

He said they collaborate mostly with freelance artists, graphic designers, photographers, models, poets and editors.  

“We plan on finishing these 365 pages and taking it from there. We do not want to give too much. Again before jinxing it, we understood that ‘adaptation’ is key. So if our plans are public information and they change and depending on the nature of the relationship between us and the public, then an apology or statement might need to be issued”, Mbuli added.

For more details about the book and its content, follow them on Instagram @theblackcalendar.

Posted in human interest, Profile Feature

Love at first whisk

Posted on by ForYourInfo

Mbali Ngube

With a smile on her face, a bottle of original flavoured Lucozade, boxes of scones, muffins and decorated tier cakes on her table, she sits to talk via a Zoom meeting.

An exhausted look on her face, regardless of the smile she gives is proof of the amount of work she puts to create a successful bakery. 21-year-old Sanele Sangweni, founder of Nele Bakes bakery, has made a name for herself with her baked goods.

Nele Bakes owner Sanele Sangweni
Sanele Sangweni during her first gig

Sanele Sangweni, commonly known as Mimi by her family while everyone else knows her as Nele was born and bred in Meadowlands East Zone 2, a historical suburb in the township of Soweto in Johannesburg with 2 older siblings and is the last born out of three. She expresses how the place groomed her introverted character saying, “it is a busy and vibrant place, a lot of people will tell you they don’t know me, I am a home body, so I never had friends growing up.”

Her formative schooling years started in Norwood Primary, with a wide smile and a gleam in her eyes, she tells a story of how it was one of her best experiences as a child saying that although she never had friends at home, everyone at school was her friend. “In primary I ranged widely in what I wanted to be when I grew up. I liked everything, from teacher, chartered accountant, to even a microbiologist”, she said.

“Growing up I’ve always been a curious child, I asked questions, and got answers. Some would land me in trouble however, I would continue to ask anyway. I am still as curious, such that my parents never thought I would end up where I am as my grandmother thought I would be a nurse, my dad an engineer, and my mum an accountant. See I was just everywhere, I liked everything, but I loved the kitchen and so I followed my heart”, Sangweni said.

Having already been the chef in the house from the age of 10, she says she never thought of it as a career until she was 13 years old. Her high school years were completed at Waverley Girls High school, and it was in grade 9 when she made the decision for her to go into Consumer Studies as part of her elective subjects during her FET phase. “I knew I liked cooking and baking and I also wanted to know a bit more. From there things just took their natural course and it was during that time that I also actually started selling my work” she added.

‘Take it easy’ is the catch phrase at home, started by my dad and it’s been something I live by as life moves a lot and at a fast pace. We forget to take in and be present in everything because we’re all caught up in the hustle and bustle, but when you breathe and take it easy you’re at least able to remember that you’re an aunt to kids, all their names and their ages

Sanele Sangweni

Post high school she applied at a culinary school and as she awaited a response, she got a job at a call centre. “I am the type of person who, while doing something I give it my all, my absolute best, whether I like something or I don’t, I’ll make sure that I deliver my everything in whatever I am set to do. I hated the office. It was not my thing, I felt boxed in, it was too much of a routine” Sangweni said.

She enrolled for the Traineeship in Professional Cookery at the International Hotel School. The course was for 2 years and she dropped out after a year due to financial issues. “Culinary school is crazy expensive, after dropping out I carried on working within the industry and had amazing experiences and learnt a whole lot on the go” she said.

Image source; Nele Bakes faceboook page

Nele Bakes essentially started as a school project in Consumer Studies but at that time she thought of calling it ‘Nele’s’. She expressed how life post high school was stressful and so baking became her escape and where she found her peace and it has remained so to date. “I run away and shut it all off and focus on my ingredients”, she said.

She started charging for her services even though she was baking part time and that is how she built her customer base and how Nele Bakes was born.

“I’m an open book though there’s certain cards I love to play to my chest but, just to give a hint, we’re working on bridging the unemployment gap that people have as well as maybe support with an additional income to those that truly need”, Sangweni explained with a smirk as she introduced what the vision and mission of Nele Bakes is.

Sangweni says the mission of Nele Bakes is to curb youth unemployment.” I’m young and I really do understand the struggles of not making ends meet, so as a company our main aim is to empower the youth to not only follow their passions but to also aid where possible to give tools and skills to do so.

Sangweni has an initiative that brings children ages 7-15 together one Sunday a month to bake whatever it is they want, under her supervision. She said that maybe it’ll spark the love for them to bake just like it did for her when she was their age.

She also makes use of local entrepreneurs to work with her on her business, from delivery, to her website, her logo and even her blog page. “ No one must be left behind as long as I am still alive” Sangweni said.

The vision for Nele Bakes is to be the gift that keeps on giving” she added. Sangweni said that there may be new collaborations coming through in 2021 with other bakeries around Soweto. She is currently working on a Christmas Giveaway with the owner of Chef Zondi & Co. Simphiwe Zondi.

Posted in Feature, Health, human interest

Anxiety in African Homes

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Mental illness is a taboo subject that attracts stigma in much of Africa. The social environment in many African countries does not nurture good mental health, mainly due to the myriad conflicts and post conflict situations. War and other major disasters have a large impact on the mental health and psychosocial well-being of people (Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, 2013). The stigma behind mental health illness in African countries can be attributed to fear, lack of education, general prejudice or religious reasons.

What is General Anxiety Disorder?

General Anxiety Disorder according to the National Institute of Mental Health is feeling extremely worried or feel nervous about things, such as money, health. Family problems—even when there is little or no reason to worry about them. In African families, this may be just over stressing, lacking accountability towards one’s feelings or even being moody.  

GAD develops slowly. It often starts during the teen years or young adulthood. People with GAD may: 

•  Worry very much about everyday things 

•  Have trouble controlling their worries or feelings of nervousness 

•  Know that they worry much more than they should 

•  Feel restless and have trouble relaxing 

•  Have a hard time concentrating 

•  Be easily startled 

•  Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep 

• Feel easily tired or tired all the time 

• Have headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches, or unexplained pains

In an interview with Medical Social worker Simphiwe Myeza, Bachelor of psychology graduate from the University of Johannesburg, specialising in psychiatry and has been working for over 12 years and Psychologist Vanessa Seleka as they help answer a few questions on anxiety in African homes.

Is culture a reason why African families find it hard to believe that anxiety is real?  

•  (Simphiwe) Yes, culture is a contributing factor.  However, it is not just culture but also socialisation of our African families. Your typical African family is not socialised to talk freely about mental health issues. If you were take it from the olden days, African families were communal people whereby a child is not raised by just the parents but by the whole community, which brough a sense of being close-knit and the ability to share one another’s burdens. So, to that generation, the idea of being depressed for example is weird because ‘why are you depressed when there are so many people you can talk to?’.  

• (Vanessa) One cannot dispute or even disregard the extent in which culture plays a role in one’s beliefs and mental structure. In most African families and communities, mental illness is attributable to other practices such as witchcraft or even the urgent need for one to pursue a spiritual or prophetic journey called upon by one’s ancestors. This is means that in most African cultures, mental illness is the result of external factors (someone bewitching you, and/or ancestors), as opposed by those biological, psychosocial, mental and inherent in nature as depicted in Westernised communities. 

A recent Twitter thread showed how African parents act differently once they find out that part of the reason why a child has GAD is because of their home, why do you think that is? (https://twitter.com/aisha_mbali/status/1280448621364875264?s=21 )  

• (Simphiwe) To them it is a new phenomenon, and other parents may feel attacked. It will be as though you are undermining their parenting skills and are rendering them powerless. Therapy sessions in the African community were not easily introduced, remembering that during the apartheid era, one needs to ask themselves what parents knew about therapy. To parents, growing up in that kind of time and being communal, the only ‘formal’ kind therapy you could possibly get would be from your pastor, because that is how they have been cultured.

• (Vanessa) To have any meaningful conversation, there needs to be a certain level of comprehension and interest in the subject spoken about. The same applies to mental health. Parents and families need to sufficiently be educated on its existence, what is it and how to maintain it. This can be done through reading and consulting psychologists. Not only do they (psychologists) assist in dealing with existing presenting problems, but also help parents in need of information regarding the provision of sufficient emotional support to their children. 

There seems to be a pattern of “broken parents raising broken kids”, how do we deal with getting parents to deal with their issues, so they raise their children better?  

• (Simphiwe) African parents may not see themselves as broken because they believe that how they were raised is the way the should their own children, and they were able to deal with what they are now doing to you and as such you should be able to deal with it too. The process of learning and unlearning which may be a slow process can be one way to get parents to understand that it is not always necessary to raise their children the way they were raised.

What can be done to get parents to have a conversation about anxiety?  

• (Simphiwe) Education and trying to socialise our parents differently. Its unfortunate that in African families, talking about your emotions has never been a norm or rather be free about, and so changing the older generation it will be a tad bit difficult to change their perspective because it is now engraved in them. The younger generation however still have a chance to be taught on how to at least, listen and engage.

What exercises would you suggest parents and children do to mend the fence?  

● Quality time: Doing an activity that will get both the parent and child engaged and having fun together. This can be watching movies together, baking, gardening, playing soccer to name a few. 

● Discussing expectations: Both the parent and child need to have honest and non-judgmental conversations about what they each expect from the other in order to make the relationship work moving forward. 

● Teaching: Both the parent and the child need to teach certain things they feel the other should know to enhance their relationship. For example, the child could teach their parents what signs to look out for when they are feeling sad or anxious. 

● Therapy: Both the parent and the child could attend therapy for healing and rebuilding. 

The idea behind mending fences between African parents and their children is not far fetched and yet it is not easy either as conversations on anxiety need to become more frequent. Parents need to be guided and taught that if they have issues of their own, they can seek help.