AT nine years old, Wentworth’s Imari Kenya James took the stage alongside several notable African creatives at the Articulate Africa event at the Umnini Thusong Centre recently.

Also read: Brave girl (9) shares her medical journey with new colouring book

The young author was one of the speakers selected to share details on their creative journeys. Imari bravely spoke about her life’s battle with living with Hydrocephalus.

The Articulate Africa programme

The Articulate Africa initiative by eThekwini Municipality serves as a platform to highlight and honour the diverse local talent across various art forms, such as literature, design, film, sports, media, and music. 

Department of Recreation and Parks’ Dr Simphiwe Ndlovu said that the programme was conceived with several key objectives in mind: to deepen cultural understanding, to identify and cultivate local talent and to encourage the expansion of creative arts within the City.  

Becoming an ambassador

Iman James, Imari’s mother, said that for them speaking at this event was more than a display of the youngster’s creative work.

Also read: One of two things – ‘I will be a chef’

“Imari had been chosen specifically to discuss her life with Hydrocephalus, a decision that gave her a platform not only to raise awareness but also to convey her personal journey as a child learning to live with the condition,” said Iman. 

She added that Imari bravely spoke on themes of strength, inclusion, kindness and the importance of embracing differences. 

“Beyond that, her words helped others to see that children with medical conditions, despite their challenges, are still fundamentally children, full of dreams, unique personalities and immense potential,” said Iman. 

Overcoming the nerves

Despite her tender age, Imari approached the large crowd courageously. She said that speaking at the event was both exciting and nerve-racking, 

“Being so young, facing such a substantial audience demanded a great deal of courage. Yet, even with evident nerves, she managed herself with remarkable grace. To witness her utilise her voice to both educate and inspire others was an incredibly proud and deeply moving moment for me. It reminded me that the softest voices are capable of making a powerful impact,” said Iman. 

The James family were immensely grateful to have been given a platform to not only highlight Imari and her book, One thing about two things, but also advocate for children living with disabilities and medical conditions.

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