Why We Love Our Mamas in Africa

This wonderful photo by @photo_in_moz is worthy of being a @time person of the year cover.

The Swahili statement, "nani kama mama?" means "who is like mum?" in Kiswahili. Indeed, it has been put to a popular song by a famous Swahili Hip Hop (Bongo Flava) artist, Christian Bella.

The Guardian captures the sentiment of this rhetorical question, 'nani kama mama,' beautifully here:

"African women don't waste much time feeling guilty about the inevitable imperfect situations that come with being a working mother. Instead, motherhood is a celebrated part of prominent women's credentials. When Joyce Banda, now Africa's second female president, was appointed in Malawi, the Ugandan Monitor described her as "motherly and resplendent in rich African colours" and said she "came across as the perfect embodiment of African feminine grace".

I love the ease with which powerful women across the continent are simultaneously seen as mothers, daughters or wives and as presidents, chief prosecutors or chairs of the African Union – all recent examples of new titles taken on by African women."

We love our mamas in Africa for, surely, mothers hold up a big chunk of the sky.

What do you think?

Do you agree with our Swahili children's book insight?