The Premise? Hmm - You like it Bindu? Well, where are you dear Mama Delhi?
Didier, I am not sure why you could not smell the beautiful flower – try closing your eyes; then inhale very hard; it’s in the air – I Can smell it!!! It’s all there – it’s great.
On the 8th of March, Women around the World will celebrate International Women’s Day. In Cameroon, this will be a National Public Holiday in honour of the Woman! On March 8th, Women will come out in their numbers to celebrate who they are, their strength, resilience, courage beauty and achievements and much more. For many Women, it’s one of the special days in their lives when they strongly believe that it’s Nice to be a Woman, rather than it’s Hard to be a Woman. There’s laughter in the air, there’s ‘sunshine’ and merriment, their voices can be heard; they will sing, they will dance, parade, drink, gossip, dress up in colourful clothes; men watch in amazement and envy! They too join in the celebrations. Women share, connect, network, perform, exchange stories, gossip again and again mostly about men even though men are watching (ha ha!) - don’t worry, I’m sensitive to how men feel at this time in Cameroon…
Some will walk tall and proud!!! Oh, and many will lose themselves in the activities of the day because this experience provides them with something New & Different –something that helps them to see their other ‘self’ which they will lose by the end of the day. But they will live in Hope and Anticipation for another 8th March where and when they will find another new space, and territory, new friendships and the time to be joyous again on such a large scale.
8th March is momentous in demonstrating a small part of their identity; even if it’s short-lived because by the next morning, it’s the dawn of a new reality where maybe the masks of day-to-day survival come on while they await another Women’s Day for those special moments that will come and go in a flash; moments that though flitting or brief clearly bring out another way of seeing women’s lives and experiences.
Well, dear New Friends Bindu & Didier – without wanting to completely turn the table upside down in our calm process of researching and developing ideas, this is a wonderful space to explore New Space - to see a small part of what makes some women ‘tick’. Some [Cameroonian] Women leave the UK to be part of these passionate moments of exuberance!
How is it in India, dear Bindu? And Didier, have you watched women on this day in Cameroon? I wish I could be there to capture those special passionate moments - I am a gleaner of all things bright and beautiful about women!!!
There’s just so much to say and do in the world through our various arts; how do we do it in our various ways?
Warm greetings as I prepare to settle down to watch a film, eat lots of pop corn and chocolate - decadence?
Florence
