Umzala
Umzala
By Elaine Maane, ©2009
"I feel excited writing this book. The process has been a daunting exercise but a beautiful one. Beautiful because it’s my first attempt at writing a book and daunting because of the personal experiences that I share in this book.
I have chosen to write this book to heal myself and to bring closure to accepting my journey. I'm also doing it for many others that might not have had the courage to share their own stories. So this book is for us – you and me.
It is my life story. A woman's story of love, betrayal, loss, joy and laughter. It's also my story of being a single mother, a lover, a friend and a colleague.
Central to my story is my walk with Umzala – another name for HIV that my friends and I came up with. Mzala means cousin in isiZulu, and I'll be sharing with you my ups and downs of living well with Umzala wami (my cousin).
Each passing day of writing has been filled with anxiety and sometimes tears because some past experiences are not easy to relive and write about.
My hope is that you find your own truths in sharing this journey with me. I wish you strength if you are going through valley experiences in your life.
Any journey embarked upon has its own expectations and sometimes they are not met. I haven’t yet met some of mine but I carry on anyhow – life is too beautiful not to.
I invite you to read this journey of mine with an open mind – open to my mistakes, my fears, and my joys and lessons too. I hope that you may learn and maybe use my experiences to curve your own journey.
Our Openly Positive series of stories aims to promote openness around HIV and AIDS, yet I have felt the need to change some names and places to protect the privacy of individuals.
I have dreamed of making Umzala worth the reading and I sincerely hope that my story touches you."
"Living with Umzala, or whatever you choose to call the HIV within you, is a lot easier than working against 'your cousin'. Learn to accept Umzala and move on with your life."
Elaine Maane, Umzala, 2009
About the author
Elaine Maane was born on 24 May 1971 as a long-awaited baby girl after two brothers. She grew up and went to school in Lusaka, Zambia. Today she lives in Retreat on the south side of Cape Town, South Africa, with her son Skhumbuzo.
After marrying at the tender age of 19, Elaine left Lusaka to settle with her exiled South African husband, Collin, in his hometown, Durban. While raising Skhumbuzo and being a home manager, she completed a course in fashion designing and garment construction.
After the family moved to Cape Town, Collin passed away. Elaine has since raised their son single-handedly. After finding out about her HIV status, she gradually became involved in supporting other mothers living with HIV. The anguish she felt about the secrecy surrounding HIV and the fact that most women felt unable to speak out, gave her the courage to disclose publicly. Before long, Elaine became an HIV/AIDS community educator and an advocate of positive living.
In 2003, Elaine was selected as one of the finalists in the Shoprite Checkers / SABC 2 Woman of the Year award for her work with the Mothers-to-Mothers-to-Be Programme. She is a founding trustee of The Openly Positive Trust and is currently working for STEPS Southern Africa, a regional project using film to communicate social issues around HIV/AIDS.
Where to buy?
From 25 February 2009 onwards, Umzala is available nationally at a wide range of South African bookstores.
Books will also become available at selected bookshops internationally.
If you would like to buy Umzala online, please visit kalahari.net to place your order and your book will be delivered to you.
Umzala at a glance:
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ISBN number |
978-0-620-42775-3 |
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Number of pages |
224 |
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Format |
Square (210mm x 210mm) with soft cover and fold-in bookmarker flaps |
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Content |
44 short chapters dealing with issues such as relationships, being a single mom, disclosure, loss, access to treatment and self-expression |
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Visuals |
Wide range of personal photos, Zapiro cartoons, pamphlets, magazine articles and news clippings |
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Author |
Elaine Maane |
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Publisher |
The Openly Positive Trust |
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Design |
designs4development |
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Distribution |
Stephan Phillips |
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Availability |
From February 2009 |
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Website |
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Learning tools
Umzala ends with these learning tools and reader aids
- Lessons and questions for discussion
- A glossary of terms, abbreviations and acronyms
- References and useful reading.
The idea is to use the lessons and questions for discussion, together with the positive language guidelines, on your own, in awareness workshops or in support groups. The glossary will aid understanding, particularly of medical and foreign words, while the references will help with further reading, information and getting help.
Lessons and questions for discussion
Based on Elaine's story in Umzala, these are summarised under 8 topics:
- Stigma and denial
- Acceptance and disclosure
- Condoms and safer sex
- Relationships
- Coping as a woman and a single mother
- Taking ARVs and handling side effects
- Dealing with loss
- Having a positive attitude.