I found out today that the woman I lived with for three months in Tanzania, the woman who became, and always will be, my African mother, passed away yesterday. Bibi (meaning "grandmother" in Swahili) and her husband were such a HUGE blessing to me. I cannot even begin to explain how amazing they were, how good they were to me, and how much I adored them. They called me their daughter, they told me I was and would forever be a part of their family, and they loved me as though that were true, because it really was. My heart is so broken when I think of the beautiful soul that is no longer living on Earth.
Bibi did so much good in this world. When she lost three of her children, she was on the verge of death, dying of a broken heart. Really. And then she and Babu (my Tanzanian father) decided to open Fanaka Memorial Secondary School in honor of their children; they wanted to provide opportunities to the local children in the village of Bunju A. Opening the school brought Bibi back to life, it gave her something to live for, something to be passionate about, and something to pour her heart into.
Cassie, a girl who was volunteering there with me last summer, went back this year and took two friend with her to really make a lot of positive changes to the school. They've just finished a lot of the projects they were working on, and I am so glad that Bibi was able to see the growth of the school before she passed. I was planning on trying to go to Tanzania to see them all en route to Greece, but I wasn't able to work it out financially. But now I'm angry at myself for not going to Tanzania instead of Greece to help with everything Cassie was doing. Then again, if I had gone, and a grandparent in Greece had happened to pass, I would have been kicking myself for not going to see my family. I just wish I could have worked it out to go to both.
I loved Bibi soooo much. She had a heart of gold and wanted to show love, kindness, and hospitality to all people. At the same time, she was a fireball. She was not afraid to tell people when she didn't approve of their actions. Bibi had once worked in Parliament fighting for women's rights, and she had no fear in pointing to government members who were stealing from the people of Tanzania. They even attempted to assassinate her because of it. But Bibi was no fool and she caught on to their plan, and they she reprimanded them for it. She told the BEST stories and she was a riot. I can still picture her watching her praise and worship shows on TV and she would get up and dance around the living room, shaking her big, African hips to the music. Bibi and I went to the market one day so that I could buy gifts for my students and Bibi yelled at the vendors for trying to cheat me. She told them that they should be ashamed of themselves for trying to cheat a girl with a pure heart who wanted to help their Tanzanian brothers and sisters.
It just seems so surreal. Last year after Cassie left I had to call her to tell her the heartbreaking news that our dear friend Benny had died of malaria. This year she had to tell me that Bibi passed away. I really wish I could be there right now, for so many reasons. I know Babu is hurting so much because he and Bibi were still VERY much in love and they were so open about it. And I know the students at fanaka are just falling apart. Imagining them weeping the way they did when Benny died just breaks my heart. I can only imagine how chaotic and painful everything is there right now, and I wish I had my African dadas and kakas (sisters and brothers) around me so that we could mourn together.
I just received this email from Cassie and I want to share it here:
Today we had to say goodbye to the biggest TEP inspiration-Rhoda (Bibi) Kahatano. She passed in the early morning of August 18th. She was a strong, independent, passionate, caring individual who always had love to share. In 2009 she welcomed me in her home with open arms and within days she was truly my grandmother. Of course she did not end there as she shared her love and opened her home to the volunteers that followed. I would be honored to be and do just a tenth of what Bibi has done in her life. She has modestly shared many stories of her life including educating men and women about equality, aids, nutrition, domestic abuse, etc., digging 50 wells after the water source in west Tanzania was poisoned with the dead bodies of the Rwandan genocide and being one of the founding women to revolutionize the Tanzanian’s Women’s Movement. She fought against corruption while in parliament and continuously kept to her morals even with daily temping bribes. But most of all she was a loving mother and grandmother to all even in the face of great tragedy…
In less than a three year span, three out of her five children were murdered due to negligence or ignorance. Instead of giving up on life she dedicated everything to the children of Tanzania. She dreamed that if she could contribute to educating a generation that no one would have to suffer as their family had. She proceeded to sell off her parliamentary wealth and build FANAKA Memorial Secondary School brick by brick. But she and Babu did not end there, they also opened ELA Nursery School .Out of complete heartache and calamity she made a dream for hundreds of students come alive. The children receive a solid education in a safe, neutering environment whether they are Christians, Muslims, boys or girls. Bibi never stopped fighting, she never lost her passion and she never gave up on her dream- so neither will we. TEP will do everything it can to keep her dream alive. FANAKA Memorial and ELA Nursery School cannot pass with its founder; instead it must rise up to be the schools she always knew they could be.
The world suffers when we lose people like Bibi so it is our duty to follow in their footsteps. We must share the love we have and give back to all people. We must not settle for “it will change” but every one of us must take the initative to make the change. Please keep the family, especially Babu in your prayers. We miss you mama and will love you forever.
Bibi was a special soul with a beautiful heart who I will forever honor and cherish, and I only wish they we would each try to live the kind of life that she did.
**A news article about Bibi's accomplishments
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/?n=5964
**A news article announcing Bibi's passing
http://www.habarileo.co.tz/kitaifa/?n=9424
