TO INVISIBLE WOMEN

By: Beni Dya Mbaxi

Angola – Luanda

It was Saturday, the day woke everyone up with an infernal sun, at least that´s how we always wake up in Luanda, and that day was no different, each one marched in their own way, some worried about classes, others with work, and others without doing nothing and most of them waiting for Luanda to do whatever they wanted.

In Luanda, people have no idea what tomorrow will be like, this land is a true mystery, there are thousands here who are waiting for their lives to end, and nobody knows what Luanda has in store for us.

On that day, I was walking calmly, even with the burning sun, many looked at me, and questioned my serenity, it was as if I have embraced Luanda with my feet, the day was very hot, I could see thousands settling in the little shade that the roofs offered, faces were their translators, I understood everything with my quick glance.

I was sweating, Luanda is a very hot city, a welcoming city, everyone is here, everyone, I said everyone. I remember coming across Malians, Portuguese, Brazilians, Senegalese and others…My steps were still slow, that was my way of embracing Luanda.

I saw in a corner, an old woman tired of life, she appeared to be about 60 years old, she was sitting with her head against the wall, she  held out an empty bag, and placed loads of mangoes, each pile had five mangoes, some green and others very little yellow ones, she was selling a hundred kwanzas each lot, the old woman was sleeping, she seemed tired, but I don´t know if it was from life or from Luanda, she is one of the women I passed on that walk, Luanda has several women giving themselves to her many selling to continue in it, and others waiting to get rid of it.

Once, a lady said she was tired of hugging Luanda and wanted to go to another city; Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro, Paris or one other than Luanda. The mystery of Luanda worries several women, many say that there is no future here, life is difficult and others shout from  all sides that Luanda makes a woman invisible.