As we celebrate with all our mothers across the globe on Mother’s Day today, one of Africa’s emerging fashion designers, Ose Okpamen, dedicates an inspiring literature to the unique group of mothers from the African continent. 

VENTURES AFRICA – I know my dear Mum that you are often undermined in the home. We focus on our father the provider forgetting the gentle strokes that breathe his generosity our way.

It is often said that a man may be the head of the home but the woman is the neck. This cannot be more true for the African mother; submissive in every way to her husband as society and religion demands of her, bearing excesses and covering flaws of her man with great finesse and presenting him to her children and peers as a protector and provider.

She is constantly on her knees, in the presence of God, committing the affairs of her household to the Almighty. She works hard day and night to ensure she holds her own in the home front and supports her man diligently to the envy of others.

My African mum, subtle in her speech, kind to her cub as no one will ever love them like she does, she loves them to a point of bias that she is willing to take over and over again from her children what she will not take from another. She makes sure there is always food on the table even when Daddy hasn’t been able to provide the money for feeding. She is willing to forgo her own pleasures and satisfaction just for one more day of comfort for her family. She will go any length, tolerate disrespect and even endure hardship and torture because she refuses to leave her babies for another woman to look after.

The African Mum, my African Mum, is loyal in every way, kind and gentle at heart especially to the ones she holds dear, there will never be anyone on this earth quite like her and on this Mother’s day, I choose to celebrate you, to tell you how much I love you and how much I truly appreciate the experience of having you in my life. If God be truly kind, I pray that he will truly give you long life o Mama Africa to enjoy the fruit of your labour in the life of your children.

By Ose Okpamen, CEO and Creative Director of emerging fashion brand Hollerose.