The Eye That Crosses The River

"Wela Umfula' is a Zulu proverb that translates to the eye that crosses the river. The proverb delicately conveys that if one has a strong desire to do something, nothing can stop that person. These words have held many of my tears. I pour into them, finding comfort in the idea that as long as I dream it. It could come true. The simple poignancy of proverbs has always gripped me. Zulu and many other African languages can distill the wisdom of generations into words and phrases injected with such powerful prose that anyone could easily mistake it for poetry. Proverbs are a form of Indigenous Knowledge. They convey our collective histories and the lessons we have learned over time. In this piece on the sandy beaches of Nicaragua, in a place I never thought I would be, with people I never imagined I would meet. I knew deeply that my eyes had crossed the river; in fact, they had spanned oceans, and they would continue to do so. I invite the audience to share in this beautiful affirmation with me. Hopeful for a future in which all our eyes cross the river.