This Beadwork

Words by Dorcas Lungashi Kidaka

Just like a tree

Has its firm roots in earth

So do I have my roots

In my people.

I am my people

Everything I know, I learnt from them

They feed me

Just like water to a tree

My community

Is wisdom to my whole being

It has given me an identity

A sense of belonging

My community is the home of beadwork

My ancestors before me

Adorned themselves in artistic beads

These beads tell our stories

Of resilience and love

The beads on my neck , to remind me of my beauty

The beads on my head , represents the crown of self-love

The beads on my belly , to symbolize fertility

The beads on my thighs , to enhance my beauty

The beads on my legs , tell the story of courage

I have listened to my elders

As they told us the history of our people

Under the full moon, next to a bonfire

We roast corn and listen as they reminisce

To the days long gone

We dance around the bonfire

As we honour our ancestors

This beadwork tells our story

With different colors, that speaks our message

The birth of a newborn, is always marked

With special beadwork

They wear this beads until old age

That is how we connect, with those

Who went before us

This beadwork tells our story

I wear them with courage

Different rites of passage

Adds to my beadwork, on my long neck

I find my being with my people

As they are

So am I

My loyalty is with my people

and our beadwork

This beadwork is my being