Deaf beauty with brains
“People should not doubt my beauty on the grounds that I am disabled, I am deaf but I know I am beautiful,” said the Miss Deaf Africa First Princess Kuda Mapeture.
SHE is also the Miss Deaf Africa Photogenic Winner. This article is part of the deaf series which acknowledges this month’s international theme of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) - “With Sign Language, I am Equal”.
Lucky duo
Her speech and hearing impairment is congenital (present from birth).
She was born and raised by her parents in Norton, Zimbabwe, in a family of five (two sisters and three brothers). Her sister is also deaf.
She considers herself and her sister to be “lucky” disabled women who have loving, understanding and supportive families that seek to ensure that disabled girls and women reach their maximum potential in all aspects of life.
Defying the odds
There is evidence that Kuda’s family falls within a constructive umbrella, given that within most African contexts, including in Zimbabwe, contextual research (Peta 2016) has indicated that when a child is born with disability, it is common for a husband to abandon his wife on the grounds that she has given birth to a disabled child.
The traditional fallacious belief is that such an occurrence is indicative of problems of a spiritual or ancestral nature in the wife’s maiden family, hence blame is often apportioned squarely on her.
Reluctant to contribute towards the development of a child who may have unique needs that are associated with disability, most husbands often opt out of the marriage.
However, such is not the case in Kuda’s family, where her father, a farmer, has gone to great lengths to ensure that all his children, including his two deaf daughters, reach their maximum potential in all aspects of life.
“My father pushes for the betterment of my future, he tries to pay for all he can afford, and in some instances he makes difficult sacrifices to enable me to achieve my goals.
“He has done the same for my deaf sister who is now married and has two children. My brother also sup- ports me.”
The beauty queen
For her primary education, Kuda attended Dudley Hall School in Norton and thereafter she enrolled at Emerald Hill School for the Deaf for high school education.
In 2011, one of her teachers nominated her to participate in the Miss Disability Zimbabwe contest, which was being organised by Leonard Cheshire Disability.
Out of the 19 models who participated in the pageant after some mentoring by a modelling consultant, Kuda finished fifth.
“At number five, I realised that I have potential and I decided to compete again and I was crowned Miss Disability Zimbabwe 2012.
Thereafter, no other pageants of a similar nature where held due to lack of funding.
I then decided to enter the Miss Deaf World contest in the Czech Republic in 2013, and my family and friends supported me. We were 52 contestants from different countries and I made it to the 10th place.”
The outcome of her participation in the Miss Deaf World 2013 contest motivated her to pursue modelling.
“I continued to practice modelling on my own at home, and with the help of family and friends I recently contested at the Miss Deaf Africa pageant, which kicked off on July 31, 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa.”
The Miss Deaf Africa pageant drew contestants from 10 countries.
Representing Zimbabwe, Kuda was crowned first princess. She also won the Miss Deaf Africa Photogenic award. The contestant from South Africa was crowned Miss Deaf Africa whilst Miss Deaf Botswana was the second princess.
Sign language
Kuda and her sister have taught all their family members to speak sign language.
“Sign language is very important, if you learn sign language you can communicate with all people, including deaf people. Some people say there are no secrets in sign language because everyone sees what you are talking about, but you see, just like other people, we also choose what to say or what not to say in public . . .”
Academic ambitions
Kuda holds a Diploma in Early Childhood Development (ECD), which she combines with her sign language skills to work as programme officer for sign language training at Deaf Zimbabwe Trust.
However, Kuda also aspires to obtain a Diploma in Social Work, but she has faced some challenges in enrolling for the programme.
Although she passed other “O” level subjects, the English language is an entry requirement for the programme.
“I am appealing to colleges that offer a Diploma in Social Work to assist me by enrolling me on the programme, whilst I make an effort to sit for the English exam.”
Why social work?
Kuda’s desire to obtain a Diploma in Social Work is motivated by her realisation that deaf people and in particular girls and women are more susceptible to sexual abuse, as disability adds another layer to the rung of vulnerability.
“Many deaf girls and women are sexually abused and they are unable to seek help due to communication problems. A Diploma in Social Work will help me to work as a sign language social worker, who serves deaf people who may be in need.”
Kuda’s perspective and academic aspiration is commendable. Existing literature illuminates that deaf peo- ple are more vulnerable to sexual abuse as they are unable to scream for assistance. They may also encounter communication barriers when they approach health and criminal justice officials for assistance (Hanass-Hancock, 2009a; Groce & Trasi, 2004).
In a large number of nations from across the world, disabled people are not allowed to make reports to the police, to take oath or to testify in courts of law (Groce & Trasi, 2004). The reason is that officials usually assume that disabled people are either confused or they could be part of some mix-up (Sobsey cited in Groce & Trasi, 2004).
To my knowledge, disabled people in Zimbabwe are not prohibited from making police reports, but what is evident is that perhaps there is need to boost the knowledge and skills of relevant stakeholders so that they may be able to effectively handle cases of people with a diverse range of disabilities.
Beauty and potential
Kuda asserts her beauty and potential by saying, “People should not doubt my beauty on the grounds that I am disabled, I am deaf but I know I am beautiful. I also want to become a qualified sign language social worker.”
Kuda’s assertion refutes the myth that women with disabilities are women with individual “tragedies” that require private personal attention, charity or care (Price, 2011).
In any case, some authors (Garland-Thomson, 2005) have challenged the perception that disabled women are sub-standard, deficient, excessive, incompetent, unhealthy and useless.
Way forward
Together, we can move Zimbabwe forward through nurturing communities that are inclusive of persons with disabilities.
Article 6.2 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD, 2008) directs us to take all appropriate measures to ensure the full development, advancement and empowerment of women with disabilities.
Article 9 (b) of the same Convention directs the removal of barriers in, among other things, access to information, communication and other services. The promotion of the use of sign language in everyday life is therefore important.
Along the same vein, Article (22c) of our own Zimbabwe Constitution (2013) directs the use and development of forms of communication suitable for people with disabilities. ◆ Dr Christine Peta is a public health care practitioner who holds a PhD in Disability Studies. Be part of international debate on how best to nurture a society which is more accessible, supportive and inclusive of disabled people. Partner with Disability Centre for Africa (DCFA). WhatsApp 0773-699-229, E-mail dcfafrica@gmail.com, Website - www.dcfafrica.com