Ethno spiritual singer, Nyago known for drawing her inspiration from a traditional dance called Vimbuza has written a book which is taking readers on a journey to learn a thing or two about life. Titled “Enough”, Nyago has poured her heart out to unveil her innermost shadows which include the struggles, the come-ups, the battles and the wins she has encountered.
The book first takes us through her childhood which was marred by struggles and mental torture. Some of the most touching struggles include defilement and child labour, which she later accepted as the way of life. Nyago explains how she was rescued from the abuse and sent to an orphanage alongside her siblings and rigorous processes were undertaken for them to return back to Malawi. All this was happening despite both her parents being alive.
She then resorted to alcoholism as a cure to all the torture she had experienced even when she returned home. The first chapter of the book concludes with explaining how these experiences connected her to Vimbuza which she views at as a spiritual calling, her return to school and her desire to fight. In an interview, Nyago who’s real name is Lucy Gondwe said the book is about her real life experiences and the deep pain that has engulfed inspired her to write it.
She added that she hopes many people will avoid traumatic situations, suicidal thoughts and abuse but rather stay strong for themselves no matter the circumstances. “The deep pain I had experienced inspired me to write the book. I had no one to talk to. I started writing in 2013 and it is my first book but each time I was writing, I was reminded of the trauma I went through and I almost gave up many times,” she said. The book has 18 chapters which are exploring her journey to freedom.
Nyago’s story is not new. On daily basis, cases of child abuse are recorded in Malawi and the world at large and there have been several efforts by both the public and private sectors to curb the malpractice which seems to be reoccurring nonetheless. A report by Unicef indicated that one in five girls and one in seven boys experience sexual violence in Malawi and most children who are sexually abused experience it on multiple occasions.
Child rights activist, Memory Ngosi Chisenga said there is a need to address abuse cases from household level aside from arresting perpetrators since those abusing children are mostly people that are supposed to protect them. Chisenga added that there is a need for imparting skills in children on how to get away from abusers.
“Recently, people have become enlightened because of sensitisation about what abuse is but as a country we have had a reactive approach towards issues of abuse as we only react after things have happened,” she said. Perhaps, there is still hope for abuse survivors like Nyago who have experienced various forms of abuse from a tender age, some of which have not been included in this write up. We urge you to fight on, aluta continua, vitoria ascerta.
