By Mmaditaba
It is disgusting that Makhadzi has to apologise for being human. No woman has to apologise and cover up their marks, legs, colour or anything else for fear of being ridiculed.
Let me say that again. It is disgusting that a woman has to apologise for her body being the way it is. It is even more disgusting that people are making her feel bad about her body.
What have we come to?
A musician who has broken countless records and made history and makes us dance constantly with her amazing hits, is being criticised on social media for her thighs having dark marks – you heard right, something that all women who have passed puberty know is natural.
Makhadzi was photographed on stage during a performance where she was dressed in her usual concert attire and performing her usual energetic and enchanting dances on stage. A photographer took many pictures but decided to publish only those where Makhadzi’s thighs showed the marks.
“There were a lot of beautiful pictures that a cameraman was gonna post, but he chose to post this to promote his brand but forgetting the damage he is doing to my soul,” the certified gold selling artist posted to her social media.
“Yes I am strong but my family and friends they are not strong as I am .. seeing them crying about edited pictures really breaks me and affects me badly,” she continued in an emotional explanation which she should never have had to give.
For those who don’t know – hyperpigmentation is common and is caused by hormones, healing after a trauma to the skin (popping a pimple or a cut) or most commonly where skin may rub against itself, like the inner thigh area.
And after being violated by strangers making comments about her body and being publicly humiliated, Makhadzi went to social media to apologise for how her body looks. There are no words to explain how disappointing this is for a woman living in South Africa to witness.
This is why women do not feel safe in this country. Someone whom the world adores as a performer and yet in her own country, she is treated as an object for people to make comments about and discuss as if all bodies are perfect.
I can state many reasons why this is wrong and gross, but I will stop here and say – Mzansi, look at yourself. This is disappointing.
