The Sisterhood of the Travelling Fins

Apr 22

Written By NEWF

Vividly, I remember the night before April 8th 2021. My stomach was in knots and my teeth were locked in anxiety - too wound up to sleep but too exhausted to engage with anything but my thoughts. April 8th would mark the day I would meet 9 phenomenal women from around the continent who themselves had struggled with mixed feelings the night before. “I remember thinking, I can't believe I'm actually doing this”, shares Kimerudi Motswai.

The divine comedy is that before we had in common the journey we were embarking on, we all had uncertainties that made us approach the 8th of April with caution. Cautious because we had no idea who and what lied ahead. Cautious while navigating that complex within yourself that convinces you your personality is flawed and the next three months are doomed.

The moon ebbs away making way for the sun, and suddenly it's mismatched socks being pulled over feet and stuffed into shoes - rushing to King Shaka International Airport. Warm hugs and conservative looks are shared amongst the ladies... and so the journey begins to Sodwana Bay, iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

First of its kind, the NEWF Decade Divemaster Storytelling Lab is underway. Tentatively, we ease into each other's presence, listening and learning as much as we can. Marine scientists, ecologists, marine biologists, oceanographers, storytellers and filmmakers, are all gathered to be part of the narrative around the conservation of marine life and ecosystems.

Throughout all the conversations, one recurring theme is present - how do we bridge the gap between storytelling, restoring and reclaiming the Earth and all her entities, and bringing scientific knowledge to communities around our coastal plane.

Nancy Iraba, a passionate and fierce Tanzanian Marine scientist, after her first dive and first experience of life below water was brought to tears when she spoke about experiencing and seeing the wonders of the ocean she advocates for on a daily basis.

Leading up to our first ocean dive, we were pushed beyond limits we never knew existed. Have you ever felt your mind bend and shift to your will? Nine solid hours in a pool, training for open water skills can do that to you. You dig deep within yourself and try to remember all the reasons why you're doing this. One of the requirements for the Lab was being able to swim 200 m and float for 10 minutes.

Many of us ticked that box eagerly, not because we were certain we'd complete said tasks, but because we'd hoped we would be able too. To inspire and to motivate nappy-haired girls around the continent to find courage within themselves. Courage to do the things they were repetitively told they could not. Courage to reclaim stories that have always been ours. Courage to be part of scientific conversations because science runs through our blood.

So, when you see Zandile Ndlovu's dark blue braids underwater illuminated by the sun, bright and angry - know that the storyteller is evolving to be better equipped at telling the tales that run through the soil, the fire, the wind and the earth.

Mayibuy' iAfrika. Happy Earth Day!