Yeve C. Sibanda : Cultural Identity and Language

Yeve is a Zimbabwean native who now calls the US home. She is a wife, mom, attorney, public speaker, and author. She is the founder of Philisa Creatives, a media company, that celebrates and amplifies African heritage. Philisa which means “to bring to life” in Ndebele creates innovative products to enhance multicultural learning. Her debut published book “My First Book of Shona and Ndebele Words” and “My First Shona & Ndebele Calendar” are available for sale on her website www.philisacreatives.com

Yeve Sibanda has extensive experience as a public speaker and cultural curator.

Resources mentioned | About the book

My First Book of Shona and Ndebele Words is a short & engaging picture book set in Zimbabwe. It features a Black Zimbabwean brother and sister who introduce the reader to Shona and Ndebele (the two main native languages in Zimbabwe) vocabulary with accompanying English translations as they experience their daily life activities. The book transports readers to Zimbabwe and allows them a glimpse into Zimbabwean family life and culture. 

 Yeve says, “African children’s books are NOT for African children. They are for ALL children. Books are an important tool in documenting culture, history, and language." Sibanda believes that we have to normalize celebrating, embracing, and learning about other cultures to build a truly global and diverse society. As such, her brand focuses on amplifying diversity, equity, and inclusion matters.
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Website: www.philisacreatives.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/philisacreatives

Twitter: https://twitter.com/philisacreativz

LinkedIn: Https://www.linkedin.com/company/philisa-creativez

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/philisacreativz/

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Transcript

Vongai:  Welcome to another episode of ZimExcellence. Today my guest is a lawyer, wife, mother and founder of Philisa Creatives, a creative media company that celebrates and amplifies African heritage. But not only that! She recently published her very first book titled ‘My First Book of Shona & Ndebele words’. Y’all this is a book I wish I had growing up! So please welcome this absolutely inspirational champion for all things Zimbabwean culture, her name is Yeve Sibanda.

Yeve: Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here talking with you. I love the name of your show. I think it's just amazing. And so I'm super excited to be here with you Vongai Thank you.

Vongai:  Hey, I'm just so happy. I feel like we have so much in common we have that we are advocates for being global citizens. Yeah, we also have the fact that growing up our names were mispronounced. So we either shortened or anglicised them. And we're also Zimbabweans. So I love that. Yeah. But before we dive into all the amazing, juicy details on your fabulous life, I would love for you to kind of share a bit of your origin story, because you are as a ZimExcellence superhero. Every superhero has their origin story, you’re welcome. And so you were born in Zimbabwe. And now you live in Maryland. And I'd love for you to kind of help us understand how you got from point A to point B? 

Yeve: Absolutely. You know, there were a lot of points in between point A and B and feels like point A and maybe point K. I was born in Harare and grew up there until I was 16. I went to one growing up in my primary school education. I went to a Jewish school called Sharon school. 

Vongai: Oh, I know. Sharon. 

Yeve: Yeah, incredible, incredible years, it was just such an amazing, big highlight of my childhood. And I grew up with a single mom who travelled a lot for work. And I think early on, I was taught to be pretty independent. She also as a result of her travels was someone who, you know, encouraged learning of the cultures and embracing other cultures. And I mean, I went to a Jewish school. So that tells you a lot about her philosophy, right? And I was exposed to a lot and looking back like she went out of her way to make sure that I was exposed to so many things like you know, I remember learning to play golf at like eight or nine when golf wasn't a thing. And nobody else my age was doing it. You know, she once brought me a violin from her travels for work. And I was just like, Well, why don't you bring candy? Like why do we not this thing

Vongai: do you play by the way? 

Yeve:  I don't anymore. But I did. And I used to play right up until high school because when I got to high school, I thought I was too cool for that.

But then I went to high school in Marondera. And, you know, those were also really formative years, too. I went there for four years to an all girls boarding school. And really, I mean, not only independence, but really formed lifelong bonds with you know, the girls now women that I went to school with some of whom I'm still in touch with. And then like my really, you know, lifelong friends I still have from there. And then at that point after, after the four years, I moved to the US and it's something I always knew was happening because my mom had told me from a very young age that she wanted me to come to the US for school because she did as well. And so came to the US and culture shock galore from Harare, Zimbabwe to Orangeburg, South Carolina and Orangeburg is exactly as it sounds, okay. Orangeburg is like, you know, it's a bit rural, it's like, it's not the US version that you see on TV. And so lots of lots of culture shock there, I'd been to the US before, but never like to live, right, like on vacation, and huge culture shock. And I went to an all Black college an HBCU so that was really, that was really an amazing experience. You know, I think, just coming from a country where, you know, I was the majority, I was Black, like, it was just different, you know, coming to an HBCU and like, learning more about the history of the US and so that was also formative. And yeah, long story short, worked, moved overseas, worked, came back, went to law school, and I have been in Maryland, ever since for the past 11 years. And I really think now that I've lived outside of Zimbabwe for more than half of my life, like, you know, I have never felt more connected to being Zimbabwean and Africa than now, now that I'm a mom and I'm raising a little girl and trying to instill cultural pride and identity. I've never felt more connected. You know, I'm so proud of where I come from. I love where I live for what it is, right? But I'm so proud to be Zimbabwe and I'm so proud to be African I, you know, that's like one of the first things people will learn about me when they meet me for the first time. So yeah, that's a little bit of my story. And we can talk about some of the other details as we go. 

Vongai: I love that so much. What does being Zimbabwean mean to you?

Yeve: Um, you know, as I alluded to, it's, it's a huge part, it's who I am, right? Like, without my Zimbabwean heritage, I wouldn't be who I am. It shapes how I view the world, it shapes and has shaped the things that I'm passionate about. So you know, we'll, we'll talk about my book later. But like, obviously, I wouldn't write that book. If I weren't Zimbabwean, I wouldn't write that book if I weren't living in the diaspora. I think, Zimbabwean also means you know, someone who is resilient, I think all of us have that Zim resiliency in us, right? It means someone who I think is genuinely just like, kind and humble, because I do think that's who we are at our core. And I think deep down most of us are that way. Circumstances might, you know, reveal other characteristics, but I think that's who we are, you know, at the core, and very hospitable people. And so that's, you know, I embrace that as well. And I think it also means that we're people who are, for the most part, at least for me, I am optimistic and hopeful for the future of Zimbabwe. And so being Zimbabwean, to me means that, you know, I have not given up on Zimbabwe. And I think, you know, I remain hopeful and optimistic that my children and their children and their children will experience the Zimbabwe that I did growing up, you know, so that's kind of what Zim means to me. 

Vongai: It makes me think about my mom has always said to me, that Zimbabweans are very peaceful people. And the fact that even though we're one of the smaller African countries, there's always the sense of community, or just knowing people, like you can meet someone find out their last name, find out which village they come from, and all the people that are related to, because it's just such a small world. And even if it's someone that you don't necessarily know, once you find out they are Zimbabwean it's just like your family, you're instantly family, you're instantly cousin.

Yeve: 100%. 100%

 Vongai: It's just absolutely amazing. So you were gone from social media for the last three years. And then you pop back on, and now you are absolutely blowing up with Philisa Creatives. When did you fall in love with this idea for what you are doing, which is empowering, not only Zimbabwean children and African children, but all children to learn about our culture?

 Yeve:  Yeah, my relationship with social media is, I think, you know, like many people, social media is kind of like this tool that you can use for good, but you've got to really pace yourself. So I, for example, like with Facebook, I only joined Facebook in 2010 when I started law school, and I was on there for like two years. And I was just like, that's it. But now you know, like you said, with Philisa I'm back. Philisa really was born out of this concept that we really needed to have our own resources to teach and share our own stories, and our languages and our culture and all of that. And it's three years old, almost, because my daughter is almost three years old. And she really is the inspiration and the muse behind Philisa Creatives, you know, had I not been pregnant with her and looking for resources to teach her. I don't know if Philisa would have been born. You know, I don't know that I would have been so adamant that I create and start something and might have taken a different form, right. But this family book and this, like, you know, empowering our children, all children may have taken a different form altogether. So that's really where it started, is when I was thinking about my own child and what I wanted for her. 

Vongai: That's absolutely amazing. You may correct me on this by doing this work. You've unintentionally become this representative and this ambassador for Zimbabwe.

Yeve: Yeah. Yeah, I think that's right. And I think I think the word unintentionally there is important because when I first got this concept, I had no idea. I had no idea that people would receive it in the way that they have. I had no idea and I wasn't even thinking about, you know, the reach that this has now had. And, you know, don't get me wrong, there's still more, you know, we still need to reach more and do more for sure, we're only getting started. But I had no idea. You know, I wasn't even praying for some of the things that I have been able to experience and do through Philisa. I wasn't even thinking about those things. And so I think unintentionally is a good word, but it was also just, I didn't realise how much beyond me. And like my little vision, this kind of would grow into. 

Vongai: That's amazing. Let's just dive right into it. My First book of Shona and Ndebele words, absolutely obsessed. I, myself bought an ebook version of the book. And I was reading through words with my mom. And I was like, Mom, look, look at all these words. And mind you, I'm in my mid 20s, actually, I'm a teenager. [laughs] So I'm like reading through this book. And my mom is also correcting me on some of this pronunciation. And I said to her mom, I would have loved this book growing up. Mind you, you know, I was born to two Zimbabwean parents, both diplomats. So I spent a lot of my childhood was out side of Zimbabwe. And they did a really great job raising me. I also happened to be growing up around a big Zimbabwean community. So that was helpful. But there was still that, you know, there's always that gap of representation, which I feel like this book brings, my mom said to me, well I still it still taught you when I was dressing you in the morning for school, I would be like, maoko - hand and this, which, which is great. I just feel that this book adds that extra layer, because I'm seeing a brown, black, little girl, little person on the screen. And I'm seeing, you know, the three words I'm seeing English, I'm seeing Shona and seeing Ndebele. And it's all clicking. And it's amazing. I listened to one of your interviews, where you are talking about the beauty of this book is also bridging that divide between the Shona and Ndebele tribes, because they're both Bantu languages, and you see it when you're reading through this book. It's just this great unification tool, and this resource for not only people in the diaspora, but also people in Zimbabwe. 

Yeve:  Yeah, no, absolutely. Thank you. Um, it's always nice to hear from someone who's actually, you know, got the book, and you know, what it means to them. And so, thank you for that. And, yeah, I think we still have a lot more work to do around the Zimbabwe piece. I think, right now, we're at a point where, you know, a lot of people in the diaspora recognise the value. And I think people in Zimbabwe are like, Oh, this is great, but they aren't yet fully like, you know, understanding that it's also for them too and so I'm working on that, and working on education around that, because, you know, listen, the the passage rates for Shona, for example, at ‘O’ Level have declined and have been declining. And that, you know, tells you a number of things tells you that Shona usage in homes, even in Zimbabwe is also declining, right. And so there is really a big need for us, even in Zimbabwe, to have resources that are fun and engaging and to teach, you know, to teach our children to teach families, because I really do think this is more of a family book, as opposed to just, you know, children, someone corrected me one of my customers was like, this is a family book. I'm learning and I'm the parent, I'm learning Ndebele, you know. And so yeah, I really think there is a need. So thank you for for your feedback. I appreciate it.  

Vongai: You're totally welcome. Yeah, it definitely is. It definitely is a family book, because you can then take that moment to connect with that child as they're learning. And like you said, some of the adults are also learning. I remember when I went to schools here in Zimbabwe, we only had Shona, English, French, there was no option for Ndebele 

Yeve: In Harare, for sure. 

 Vongai: Yeah. And in Harare, for sure, and it definitely is a family book, especially for those raising multicultural and multilingual children. Which is why I wish I had this book growing up because my experience of learning Shona was not the most empowering. So Shona is, even though I grew up with to Shona parents, well two Zimbabwean parents who spoke to me in Shona, and I would reply back in English, so I technically speak Shonglish. But at an educational level, Shona is technically my third language. And so it was when I was coming, when we moved back to Zimbabwe, suddenly, I had a whole host of family members being like, Ha tauri Shona (She doesn’t speak Shona). This, this, this, this this. And instantly because it's coming from the perspective of almost shame. I then get stubborn as a young person to say, well, then I'm not gonna learn. Everything's in English, the news is in English, this is an English, the teachings in English, why should I learn? So it's great that you bring up that point on the fact that we should be empowering children to learn about their culture in really fun ways. And also to do it as a family, not just having, putting the pressure on them. It's on everyone. It's all hands on deck and learning and also that we should be increasing the usage of these indigenous languages. 

Yeve: Yeah 100% 100% I love that.  

Vongai: So my next question is what has been your experience with raising a multicultural, multilingual child? And how have you been able to cultivate a sense of Zimbabwean community or culture outside of Zimbabwe? 

Yeve: It's been a journey, and I think was in my daughter's two and a half. One year, she's been in quarantine and lockdown. And you know, so it's really hampered our sense of building community, to be honest, because it's only now that we're starting to venture out now that were vaccinated, and she's back in daycare. So for a year, there was no community, right, the only community that we had, and I'm thankful for this is through FaceTime, she was able to like, and has been able to, like, see her grandparents, you know, who don't live in the US. And so that's really been big and key. And she's actually managed to, like, continue to develop her relationships with them through FaceTime and technology. So I'm thankful for that. And I think another way is we are we're advocates for, you know, for travelling with, with with our, with our child, I know some people who don't think it's feasible to travel with a child until they're like six or something. But having travelled with our daughter when she was three months old to Zimbabwe, we are very much like, you know, what we did that we can take her anywhere. And so, you know, we've been last November, her and I went to Zimbabwe, and we intend to do like an annual if we can or or, you know, maybe every other year trip, for sure. So that's one way. And then now, like I said, that we're, the world is opening up again, for sure. I mean, we will continue to use the village that we have here, the Zimbabwean community that we have here to make sure she's, you know, interacting and playing with other kids who was involved when in fact, right now she's with one of her cousins. And it's a dad's dad's day out, you know, her uncle and her cousin and her dad, they went to the zoo. And so you know, we're starting that back up, I think, to answer your question about how the journey has been, it's been hard. It's been hard being far away and listen, teaching a child and trying to instil all of these things. It's hard, right? Especially when you're not close to Zimbabwe, you're far away, especially when the media doesn't really do a great job of telling you that it's important, right, of telling you and showing you positive images of Black and Brown kids and Africans and all of that. And also, like at her age, I was thinking about it the other day, and I was just like, there's not a lot of like animated content that features Brown kids or Black kids, African kids. We have a group of Zimbabwean creatives who are creating on YouTube, right? And so that is growing, but your Netflix, you're not gonna see a Black, a Black child, you're not gonna see a movie. We had jingle jangle, right, the Christmas movie which was awesome. 

Vongai: Yess. Sharon Rose is Zimbabwean. 

Yeve: Yeah. Yeah, I watched that with her. But I mean, she's too young, you know, but I mean, for her level for her age. And so I think that's a big struggle is like, we still are not at a place where we have a lot of options for you know, entertainment that helps to celebrate our multicultural multilingual identities. I would say the other thing too is it's also been hard because, you know, you're you said this earlier, but like English is such a, everything is an English right and so, as much as we y’know try. She's gonna hear more English, that's for sure. You know, because the TV is an English people, you know, speak in English, at school she's speaking in English like, and so it's hard in that sense. And sometimes it can get really, like, you're like, man, is this even working? Like, are we even doing the right thing? Right and you get discouraged. And then what happens is you realise, you know what? They're absorbing it and they're listening. And so, now my daughter, we've been working on Greetings, and now you know, we'll wake up and she'll say, Mangwanani (Good Morning) and we ask each other, Waka dii? Waka daii (How are you? How are you?) , and she's saying, Ndiri po. Ndino fara. (I am well. I am happy)  You know, and so that is like, Okay, all right, you know, we're going, we're getting somewhere. So

Vongai: I love that ! 

Yeve: it's a roller coaster, it's a roller coaster, a lot of patience is involved. And sometimes, you know, frustrations, but I have faith that it'll all pay off. And, you know, when she's my age, and she's got her own kids or whatever, you know, I hope that she will continue, you know, what we're doing and instil in them, you know, a love of where their family is from? 

Vongai: I definitely think she, she will I, I see myself as the adult version of your child of Christine's child of all these kids in the diaspora. And at one point, it just hits and it clicks. And you're like, oh, wow, I'm unique. Like, my culture is so dope. Like, wow, like, no one will ever understand this heritage that I come from, like, we come from Great Zimbabwe, and all these amazing kings, and we have Victoria Falls, and there's just so much to be proud of, I'm interested to know how you're able to, you know, juggle being amazing boss lawyer and being the founder of Philisa and then also being a mom. Yeah. Which is the you know, the greatest job of them all. 

Yeve: Yeah it is the greatest, the most important job the most fulfilling, that's for sure. You know, it's a constant exercise in how to juggle and how to how to create some semblance of harmony. I don't believe that things will always will be like, in balance, I don't believe in work life balance, because I think there's always going to be something that's going to take over, you know, at any particular time, it could be work, it could be life, it could be both, both could be really hot. And I feel like that's been the case, for a long time. And so what I've instead tried to do is delegate as much as possible. So I have a team that works with me with Philisa, I couldn't do it on my own. So shout out to my team. And you know, the team is growing, you know, we're looking to expand, because we're doing so much and I can't do everything for Philisa. And so I'm really trying to train up the team to like, take on more responsibility and like, be able to do some of the like, day to day things without me. So delegating outsourcing is a huge thing that I believe in. And I am learning about and embracing this concept of operating in your zone of genius, and leaving everything else to those who you know, everything that isn't outside of that isn't in your zone of genius, outsourcing it right? Especially if it's gonna save time, I'm a big big, like, time is so precious to me as a mom, as a wife, right? And so if something's gonna take me a long time, even though I can do it, I can't. So you know, it's having helped to come and help us clean, for example, every so often, right? That's not to say we don't clean, but we just need additional help. You know, and so it is, I think those are the things that I try and employ. And I think the big thing I would want to emphasise is I rest, and I shut down, and I shut off. And I just rest and I focus on as much as I can, the things that need to be done that day. And anything else that I cannot do, it'll just get done the next day. And if I absolutely cannot get to it, and it has to like fall, then it falls, you know. I really have had to work hard and I am working hard on that because it's very easy for me and my kind of the way I operate and kind of my work ethic and like my personality type. It's very easy for me to burn out. Because I feel like I have to do everything right. 

Vongai: Same 

Yeve: And so I've had to work on this like, concept of just do what you can and what doesn't get done doesn't get done. And sometimes, oftentimes, actually, I found those things that don't get done on that particular schedule that you may have said like it's okay, nothing is ever on fire, you know, or nothing stops because you didn't do that in your set schedule. And it's like so that's kind of how I've been approaching it and I'm I'm still learning you know, II read a lot. And I listened to a lot of people about how they do it, because I'm still trying to get to that place where I have it more figured out than I do now. So I'm still learning 

Vongai: And how are you able to take care of yourself? Do you have any self care practices, rituals,

Yeve: I think one big thing, one, kind of where I'm at right now in terms of self care is self care is more than, you know, going to get your nails done going for a massage, those are like, I mean, essential things, you know, those are like, I feel day to day things, I don't get my nails done, like, often, but I'm using that as an example. For me, getting a massage is not a self care thing. It's like, for my health, I have to do it, you know. And so self care, for me looks more like taking a momcation and going away for three nights or four nights. Self care, looks more like evaluating the things that are serving me well, and the things that are not and investing more in the things that are serving me, well. Self care, looks like spending time and creating my vision board, you know, and really speaking life into my future. Self care is more it's it's just, I think, broader for me, then kind of the, oh, you know, taking a walk to exercise, those are things I have to do. You know, I just need to be able to do that. But it's making sure that I get rest and, and all of that. I think that's kind of what self care means to me more than I what I call like more superficial things like, Oh, you know, get a face mask, do a face mask and, you know, whatever. I just think those things are essential. And I think as Black women, you know, I know, this is an unrelated but since we're talking about self care, like we also have to normalise, like, luxury, you know. Whatever luxury means to you. We have to normalise that. And it shouldn't be a  Oh, you know, once a quarter I do this thing for myself. It's like, No, we need to do that. Very often. You know, we are the most hardworking, often, like forgotten, often overlooked, you know, group of people. And it's just important. It's imperative actually that we normalise luxury and spending quality time and quality resources on ourselves. So yeah.

Vongai: I definitely agree. I also want to chime in and say, it's also from the perspective of being African women and Zimbabwean women, I feel. In my experience growing up, I didn't know what a vacation was. I didn't know what rest was. Because during my summer holidays, while all my friends were flying to France or, or like going skiing in the winter or wherever going to DisneyWorld. I was at home and my mom was like, okay, you're gonna sit down and write an essay about what you did today. So that when you were back to school, you have a leg up, which was not and is not necessarily a bad thing. But you know, I am a recovering workaholic. I am also addicted to busyness so sometimes I just don't know when to slow down, stop, get still meditate, journal, whatever. And, and also, I feel like there is this misconception where if you're just not working, you're not doing anything because you don't necessarily have anything to contribute.

Yeve: You’re right I mean, you've just touched on so many gems right there and like we got to like break it down. I mean, look like you vacations were for extra lessons. It didn't matter how well I was doing okay. I did extra lessons every single break. we did go on vacation, that did happen.

Vongai: Our was to kumusha that was vacation. 

Yeve: Oh no well we did in Zimbabwe. We did a lot of like tourist attractions in Zimbabwe. I will say that however, it was extra lessons all the time. And like I feel like I was constantly in extra lessons it didn't matter how well I was already doing. It was just no you can get better. Oh, you've gotten an A, you can get an A plus, you know, and I think that is a for me, like knowing that my mom's goal was for me to come to the US and she always had that goal. Like I get it. I understand the motivation behind that and wanted me not to be left behind or to get complacent. But on the flip side, I do think it nurtured what I probably already had, which was like this desire to like be doing and to accomplish and to achieve sounds like you have the same thing. Right and like you, I am a recovering, I say type A. Recovering type A.

Vongai: Oh I'm so type A

Yeve: And I think our parents really just wanted better for us than they had. Right? And that instils this like sense of, I have to make sure my kid is like, you know, a step ahead. And quite frankly, I don't know, I'm still learning now, as a parent. A new parent, you know, my daughter's two and a half, I don't, I'm just starting this parenting thing. Like, I don't know exactly how to draw the line between like, wanting to make sure your kid is is set up for success versus, like, overdoing it so that your kid isn't sitting here like we are like, man, I did extra lessons every holiday, you know, especially being an immigrant. Especially being the immigrant raising a first generation American child. Like, I am in overdrive thinking about, okay, I want to make sure she, you know, gets this type of education, she's exposed to this. And, you know, these are things I was exposed to she at a minimum has to be exposed to like this and more, right? So I don't know. 

Vongai: Yeah, because she's an immigrant. She is Black. She's African. And she's female. 

Yeve:  Well she's not an immigrant, right? Like, she's first generation, first generation American immigrant. And so I, I'm raising her with like, she's being raised by immigrant parents, right. And everyone knows, similar to exactly what you're saying, immigrant parents are, do the same things that we just described. They do that, you know, and so how do you and then to your point, like, you know, she's she's, she's a Black girl, you know. She’s a Black girl. She's African, got African roots, right? Like, all these things. How do you? I don't know, I'm still I'm still searching for and still learning how not to overdo it. But it's hard when you see what you see, especially in America, right? You see how black people are treated. And it's like, no amount of education, no amount of anything can protect you from being a Black person in America, right at the hands of let's say police, right. And so what do you do? It's, it's a tough one. It's really, really, really hard. So I give kudos and commend our parents for doing what they did, because they were only doing what they thought was best. And it served us well, and got us look where we are now. It got us far, right? It's a luxury to look back and be like, Man, that was kind of crazy, that we did extra lessons, every single. It's a luxury because we're able to say that coming from a successful place, right? And we're able to kind of laugh and say, Hmm, maybe we didn't need to do that. Right. But I think there were only doing what they what, what, you know what they had to do, right? And it's like, each generation is trying is trying to, like, you know, do better for the next one. And that's exactly kind of why I wrote this book, right. I recognise that growing up in the in the diaspora, or like spending formative years in the diaspora when I came here when I was 16. Like, I had my own identity struggles, similar to what you're saying, right? You had times where people were questioning, like, your Zimbabwe-ness, because you couldn't speak Shona or whatever, right. Like, you went through an identity struggle, right? I understand that. And so I was like, Okay, well, how do I make it better for kids like my daughter, right? So already, I'm in that mindset of, let me try and make sure she doesn't have an experience like mine, right? And so it's, it's almost like an intuitive parental thing, right? And so you go into the cycle of trying to make sure your kid has more, not necessarily more physical things, but like has better experiences than you do. And by doing so, you're gonna do some things that are extra, you know, you are gonna do things that are extra and so she might look back. Look, I'm thinking about it. Now. She might look back and be like, Mom, did you really have to write a book? Like for me to understand my African and Zimbabwean heritage, like that was extra. Did you really have to do that? You know, and start this whole side hustle around this whole concept all because you had me you know. But that's how it is right? It's funny. It's an interesting conversation. I really I really liked that we kind of like went there.

Vongai: Oh, I'm so glad. This is slightly unrelated. But you did say that, you know, you're you're starting to brainstorm and think about these things that you're and these tools that you're going to incorporate in parenting your child. I sometimes have random thoughts. I'm nowhere near ready to have kids but I like for instance, a couple weeks ago, the new trailer for Space Jam came out. And I made myself watch it because I'm such a 90s kid. And I was just like, you know, upset. Obviously, the film is not for me. And I was chit chatting with my friend over iMessage and I said, Well, I'm going to be that mom that only allows my child to watch the OG Space Jam. [laughs]

No other Space Jam exists, because I will be a parent. And is that not what parenting is for? I just like come up with all kinds of schemes like that. 

Yeve: I think, you know, the biggest parenting. I don't know what to call it. But like, aha thing that I've learned, I guess, as a parent is like, you know, before you have kids, you have all these ideas of like, yeah, and then I'm going to instil these values, I'm going to teach them this and we're gonna do this and blah, blah, blah. And once that child comes, my experience has been all that stuff gets thrown out the window, the child is really teaching you, you know. They are teaching you and they will tell you what they need. And they it's not necessarily that they will verbalise it, but like who they are, as a person will kind of tell you what things you need to kind of do you know, outside of obviously, like your broad framework of things that you believe in, in value, but like, the child really is there to teach you and expose things that you need to learn. You're less the teacher than you are the student. That's what I've learned to know. I'm learning anyway.

Vongai: I love that so much. Okay, it's time for the lightning round. You ready?  

Yeve: Yeah, okay. What we doing, what we doing? 

 Vongai: Okay, lightning round. Texting or talking on the phone.

 Yeve:  Oooh depends who it is, but I'm gonna obviously just say texting because that's what we all do. It’s quicker. 

 Vongai: Favourite Zimbabwean musician? 

 Yeve: Oliver Mtukudzi. RIP. RIP. Yep. 

 Vongai: May he rest in peace. He was a phenomenal I saw him at HIFA, which was great. Did you ever get to see him?

 Yeve:  Yeah I did at HIFA quite a few times my mom was involved with HIFA so always whenever I was in Zim at that time I always saw yeah, so I did. 

 Vongai: What is your favourite Zimbabwean childhood snack?

 Yeve: Ooh. Listen, it's not supposed to be a snack. But we have made it so Cerelac Cerevita. [laughs] I know. I know.

 Vongai : Okay! [laughs].

 Yeve: I know, no judgement. 

 Vongai: Okay. Um, Mazoe Orange versus Mazoe  green? 

 Yeve: Orange all day? Come on now. 

 Vongai: Yeah, I feel like green is really bad for you. The green the red and all the colours. 

 Yeve: Orange all day. 

 Vongai: What is the last film or show that you watched on a streamer? Could be Netflix. 

 Yeve: Um, so I was just talking about this the other day Lupin. Lupin. 

Vongai: Oh, it was so good,

 Yeve: I'm just so ready

 Vongai: I’m so ready for Part 2! 

 Yeve: I know. I know. So good I binged that thing. 

 Vongai: Oh, same. Well, it was like so short. What I particularly love about it is you have a dark skinned man as the lead. And I was talking to Sibongile about this. Yeah. And Sibongile was like, wait, and they said a Black person could not be James Bond. Excuse me.

 Yeve: Yeah, exactly.

 Vongai: Yeah, exactly it was great. Okay, if you weren't lawyer, entrepreneur, a fabulous Mother, what do you think you’d be doing?

 Yeve: Haha, this is gonna warm your heart? I would be doing Performing Arts. I would be an actress. I would be a singer. I would be. Yeah, that's what I would be doing for sure. 

 Vongai:I I literally get those vibes from you. I always forget you're a lawyer. And I’m like she's an artist. Then like, Oh, no, she's, she's actually a lawyer. My mom is a lawyer by the way. I see all kinds of fees right here. Yeah. So I vibe with that. Okay, the next one is a sentence that you have to fill out. I am ZimExcellence, because blank. It's a power statement. Take your time. 

 Yeve: I am ZimExcellence because Zimbabwe lives in me and speaks through me in everything and in always.

 Vongai: I love that. If you could nominate someone for the award of Zim excellence, who would it be living or dead? 

 Yeve: I'm gonna shout out my husband here. I would nominate him because he flew the Zimbabwean flag high in sport and, you know, is someone that I think had had things certain things happened differently. He would be someone that like, would be so well known for a sport, rugby in particular. And so, yeah, I'm gonna shout him out. And I think, you know, he's someone who loves this country. Someone who before it was cool was like repping his country. You know, that's who I'm gonna think of right now is my husband. 

 Vongai:That’s so dope. Wait what’s your husband’s name?

 Yeve: Arnold. Arnolda Sibanda 

 Vongai: Arnold Sibanda you have just been nominated for the award of ZimExcellence. 

 Yeve: Hey hey!! 

 Vongai: Now if you could nominate someone to come on this show? 

Yeve:  Oooh I know I’ve got it! I’ve got it. I’ve got here.

Vongai: This gon be good y’all. 

 Yeve: Her name is Dr. Praise Matemavi. She actually has a podcast herself but she is a surgeon here in the United States and her story is so powerful and she is amazing. So I would nominate her. 

Vongai: That’s dope I can’t wait to look her up. Alright so as we wrap up I’d love it if you could share a message with our listeners as well as let us know where we can continue to follow your fabulous inspirational journey whether it’s a website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, all of the fabulous things. 

Yeve: Yeah completely. So I’ll start with that and end with the message. You can find us Philisa Creatives on all social media. If you go to the webside www.philisacreatives.com you can find the books, calendar and social media. We’re on instagram, twitter. We’re on LinkedIn, we’re on Facebook. You can find me yeve.c.sibanda on Instagram, same on Twitter and look forward to continuing conversations there and to see you join the Philisa Tribe. Now as for the message I want to leave with your awesome awesome listeners. First of all y’all better subscribe to Vongai’s podcast because she’s coming in hot with all the goodies, so thank you Vongai and the message I would leave with you is. Listen, you have everything you need within you to achieve whatever it is that is on your heart and so take imperfect action and go for it. Start now. Start today. And go for the thing that you have been dreaming about. That you have been thinking about. Just take imperfect action and start. Life is short. Life is for living. And we need to hear your story, your perspective.  So go for it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t succeed at first but the power is in trying and putting yourself out there, you’ll be amazed at what comes back to you and I’m always here to cheer you on. To help you. To answer questions or to tell you the little that I know, that I’ve learnt on this journey. So that’s what I would say to you, love and light and peace to you all.  

Vongai: That’s absolutely amazing, thank you so much for that word Yeve. You also host a Clubhouse? 

Yeve: I used to host a weekly kind of thing with Christine which as you can guess was on ‘Preserving African Heritage’. 

Vongai: Yasss we love it we love it we love it. 

Yeve: Yes so I’m on Clubhouse too, here and there. 

Vongai:Thank you so much for coming on this show. All of the links and the details of resources mentioned in this episode will be in the show notes and so that’s us. Have a great day. 

Yeve:Thank you, bye y’all.