“Waiting is a luxury we can no longer afford.”

by | Dec 19, 2025 | News & Activities

The journey through Kenya with Tekano was not just a passage across land, but a threshold into truth, a soulful reckoning that awakened me from the fog of complacency and entitlement. Beneath Africa’s pulse, I faced the raw power of presence: that change does not wait for perfect moments or abundant resources but begins here, with us, exactly as we are. Kenya, the heart of this vast continent, breathed life into the ancient ties that bind us, beyond borders carved by colonial hands rooted in stories of resilience, solidarity, and shared care.
René Sparks

Here, home was not a place of things, but of spirit. Too often, we seek salvation outside ourselves, yet the richest wealth lies in the people beside us, their wisdom, struggles, and courage to stand together. What I saw was clear community itself is our greatest resource, ripe and overflowing, waiting for our hands to build anew.

This truth broke open my own privilege, and questions hung heavy. Am I lifting others, or merely protecting comfort? Justice, healing, and freedom, these are not grand projects for distant donors but humbling daily acts of courage to dismantle the systems of patriarchy and capitalism that thrive on our division and distraction. Every story spoken, every presence committed, chips away at these walls of silence. The revolution lives in showing up, fully and fearlessly, in this shared moment.

African feminism whispered a fierce, sacred intelligence calls to break the silence with love and care, demanding dignity for all labour, especially the invisible. Liberation isn’t permission granted by the world; it is the reclaiming of sacred power women have always held. This is a call to every woman, every carrier of life and hope: your work is holy and worthy beyond measure.

Above all, this journey taught me the essence of Ubuntu, Botho, the ancient truth of interconnectedness where our humanity is woven together. Our liberation is collective; justice must be a circle of healing, not a ladder of punishment. The land and all its beings are kin, deserving reverence and tenderness.

Capitalism and patriarchy sow division through fear and scarcity, yet communities marginalised by these forces are vibrant worlds of generosity and mutual aid. A reminder that the economy of fairness and sharing is not lost, only waiting to be reborn. We are creators, not victims, builders of systems rooted in care and reciprocity.

So, here is the seed: waiting is a luxury we can no longer afford. The restoration of ourselves, communities, and earth begins in the ordinary places where we live, work, and gather. It calls us to show up, listen deeply, share boldly, and weave bonds of love fierce enough to heal the wounds of a fractured world.

Let complacency fall away. Let presence become our weapon and love our revolution. In every circle, every breath, every act, we carry the power to awaken, restore, and reclaim our collective dignity and humanity.

This is a testament, a pledge to the ongoing journey of African healing and uprising rooted in deep wisdom, spiritual resilience, and unwavering hope. It will not be easy, but standing brave at the edge of the unknown, we become the promise of justice and liberation.

Aluta continua! The struggle continues. Victory is ours when we show up without hesitation, without excuse, and without delay.

By Dr. Ntlotleng Mabena, public health clinician, an academic, and a social justice and social medicine activist.