There are somethings that are so unbelievable that you have to either witness or experience them yourself in order to believe. The situation I am about to describe is one of those things, that should ideally not happen to anyone.
I have just returned from a conference in Tripoli. The conference considered the issue of African migration specifically to Europe and a key point for discussion was the circumstances in which we live in are dignified enough and if not is it time we returned to our home countries.
The speakers were of a very high caliber drawn from all over the world, there were African Americans, folk from the Caribbean, African Kings and Queens, politicians, and descendants of Malcolm X, Nkrumah, Lumumba, the AU commission, European parliamentarians of African decent and yours truly! 
My remit was to talk about my work with East African women involved in textile and handicraft production and the key challenges faced by women in diaspora. I spoke about the Women of Kireka, Gahaya Links in Rwanda as well as the search for clean water in Ruhanga
At the end of my talk several people came to speak to me but one woman left me so shaken that I haven’t recovered from the shock nearly 4 days after the event.
Her beef with me was made up of several issues, She was angry that
- I used the Women of Kireka as an example of why civil war is bad as it displaces innocent women and children such as these women
- As far as she was concerned I was using these women for personal financial gain and
- as woman from Western Uganda (in her opinion) I had no right to do so and
- I was there as a spy for Uganda’s president Museveni
- I was so insensitive to their plight as people from Northern Uganda who had endured 20 odd years of the LRA war which she said had been designed by the government of Uganda and I as Museveni’s agent, that is
- why I was dressed in yellow
- I should have been speaking about something else not my work and
- I was being individualistic and yet
- I was meant to be representing all women
When I protested that I am not from Western Ugandan nor a spy for the government she asked me then WHY ARE YOU ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE THAT?
I cannot begin to tell you how gutted I was at this and at this point I shut up and just let her have her say, other people standing by tried to stop her but I stopped them as I felt it was important that she got stuff off her chest. Unfortunately when she was done, she was not so keen on the response I had to give as she walked off.
She had a friend with her who stayed and listened to what I had to say which was that I wish they had asked me as to how I came across these women and why I am involved with them then we could have had a more civilsed discussion.
I had the chance to give her some background of what I do, my parentage and the fact that I had bought the dress I was wearing for my cousin’s wedding in Uganda and it had nothing to do with the politics of Uganda. I also told her that I can’t truly appreciate the magnitude of the suffering folk from Northern Ugandan had endured during those 20 years however that my skills are limited to what I am doing with grass root women’s groups so I cannot take on the politicians.
Ida Horner
A day later and I receive a snide comment from a man from the same tribe. At this stage i have had enough so I fight back. I asked him if his dressing in a suit made him a white English man since that isn’t traditional African dress and this saw him off. I felt terrible for having to resort to this type of behaviour!
All of that aside I felt a great sense of disappointment as I realised the implications of all of this.
Here we were at an International conference discussing African Unity and I was being challenged by folk from my country of origin about the right to represent and the tell the story of women that are not from my tribe!
I mean should my tribe or dress matter when it comes to helping those that are least able to help themselves? And I mean Really? The way I see it the continent has one or two challenges that need solutions but are we going to waste our skills and knowledge on working out which tribe is entitled to help which tribe and discussing people’s dress sense?
As Jim Rohn used to say I AIN’T SIGNING UP FOR THAT CLASS
The continent’s most “intellectual” come together to dicuss African Unity only to resort to plain high school attitudes about dress sense? I am fashionably stunned! Shame on that woman! Having said that, Ida, you look very good in your outfit, and how wonderful that you choose to represent in African attire. When I read the title, I assumed you were going to write about someone from out of Africa, Western, who would not have understood or gotten the fashion sense of African attire. But this “attack” from a woman from your own country. My goodness! Having said that, what is your mojo, you looking good, and very young!
Many thanks for the vote of confidence. My work is about show casing African styles and over the duration of the conference I changed from West to East Africa. But to think that an African woman took offence to that beggars belief. I can’t help but wonder whether these people were at the right conference to be honest. What this highlighted too is the amount of work we as Africans have to do if we still have people that think this way.
Last year I spoke at an event for members of a certain West African country. I told them that I was actually from the Caribbean but had an affinity for leadership development in sub saharan Africa. Having explained this someone still came to me and asked me what tribe I was from and then refused to speak to me as my adopted name from a friend in that country wasn’t her tribe. I cannot begin to stress how sorry I feel for people who think this way, and like the lady who you spoke to will not stand around to listen to other side of the argument.
It is mind boggling indeed that whilst there are some serious issues to address out there people get fixated on tribe lines. But there is no reasoning with such folk, you just have to let them go, they are irrational and bitter and in the end they wear you out
I could just scream Ida, that’s the sort of ignorant comment that is made from kids in need of an explanation, not a grown woman trying to further the growth of her country.
Snappy retort to the other guy, he deserved it.
The dress looks glorious, just because I wear red it doesn’t mean I vote Labour. If wearing black means I have just come from a funeral I must be in permanent mourning, as I have barely changed colors for the last 20 years (except to wear red
). I’d like to say its ridiculous but I am sure her comments made sense to her… just hear what she has to say but dont act on it, you looked fab in that outfit.
Thank you Sarah. I can’t remember the last time I was this angry! It is the pettiness of the whole situation that makes me sad. It also transpired that she and her chums were angry that I had been selected to speak.
The guy especially made me mad as he is a Phd and could put that academic muscle to better use but there you go…
I could just scream Ida, that’s the sort of ignorant comment that is made from kids in need of an explanation, not a grown woman trying to further the growth of her country.
Snappy retort to the other guy, he deserved it.
The dress looks glorious, just because I wear red it doesn’t mean I vote Labour. If wearing black means I have just come from a funeral I must be in permanent mourning, as I have barely changed colors for the last 20 years (except to wear red
). I’d like to say its ridiculous but I am sure her comments made sense to her… just hear what she has to say but dont act on it, you looked fab in that outfit.
I felt mad reading that. I think that people expressing ‘opinions’ that have no foundation or are poorly researched are the people who are TRULY responsible for the troubles of not just Africa, but the whole word. Her divisive rhetoric would set any one off kilter and you shouldn’t be disheartened – your work is valuable and is raising the profile of those you are working with.
I regularly get told that my love of Africa and compassion for the people I have met in Kabale, Uganda makes me some kind of mad mzungu colonialist by my workmates in London and it upsets me the same way this woman has upset you.
What I can’t understand about folk like this is they cannot get of their backsides to help anyone in need be it an old lady that lives in the same street as they do and needs help with shopping or simply someone to have a conversation with everyone now and again. They find it easier to pick on those that are doing something..by distracting them with this kind of tosh!
BTW we are so looking forward to your guest blog here
Twitter: tsoceallaigh
says:
Thank you. I am sorry to keep you waiting for it. I am currently completing the write-up of my diary from Uganda last year on my personal blog. I am also currently working on my focus for my visit this year in April to Kabale… Mid-February I will have my thoughts together to contribute here!
Keep up the hard work Ida. The Africa and the world needs more people like you.
This is the kind of thing that halts development and unity in Africa. Enough is enough! Sorry you had to go through this.
Without a doubt and hopefully those amongst us with better vision can say NO to such sentiments as they have no place in any society
I’m just shaking my head in astonishment at this Ida.
Welcome to the discussion Kim, indeed this leaves one lsot for words
Twitter: mmagero
says:
I’m sorry you had to deal with unfounded accusations, Ida. Just “shake them haters off” and keep blazing the trail.
Shaking them off is the only choice I have, they are so irrational it is incredible!
OMG! I’ve only just come to read this and I have to say – priceless. That’s all.
Grace you would absolutely understand how I felt as you have been there with me right from the start and seen the blood and sweat
First of all you looked fantastic in yellow attire.In Uganda ,a lot things are politically taken which is quite sad.The tribe your from describes who you are.The way you dress says who are and in your case your intentions.Certain Ugandans need to get over their ignorance because its pathetic.I’m glad you stood your ground.:)
I think some amongst us have got their priorities all wrong-