South African singer, actress, and dancer Busisiwe Thwala, popularly known as Cici has an impressive career and also an inspirational life journey. Cici has inspired millions of South African women with her journey of rising after some painful personal and professional setbacks.
Cici is currently part of the Bernini Squadcast series, a platform that gives a voice to confident, strong, empowered women allowing them to share their stories of triumph over struggles, and how they have progressed into high-powered, successful positions, with the support of their squad.
The Squadcast Series will be a 3-part podcast series that can be available on Spotify.
We got a chance to chat to Thwala for our series.
Which woman has positively impacted you in your career/business? And what is the one lesson she taught you?
I look up to women like Basetsana Khumalo who has continually evolved from winning the Miss SA title to becoming a top business woman and producer. What I’ve learned from her is to never stop growing and expanding your own capabilities as an individual because that is where you find growth.
What are the three words that spring to mind when you hear Women's Day/Month?
- Power
- Warriors
- Strength
To you, what is the most beautiful thing about being a woman?
We have the ability to carry the world on our shoulders, and an inherent ability to bend but never break.
In your industry or in general, have you seen any more movement to gender equality in the workplace?
To be quite honest, I haven’t seen that shift yet. We women still have to work twice as hard to prove our worth and ability. Men still hold the positions of power and perpetuate patriarchy.
How has self-care contributed to the woman you are in all facets of your life? Why is self-care important, particularly for women, as most of us are raised to believe we put everyone else first before ourselves?
Self-care definitely plays a major part in regards to the woman and the kind of mother that I am. I find that I am more present emotionally when (and because) I feel good. Most women would tell me not to rush into trying to get my body back in shape and to rather put my baby first, but I have found that keeping in shape is essential for me. Most days I’d be feeling sluggish and unable to be completely present, but after a workout I am back. So self-care has really allowed me to be more present.
As a woman who looks to inspire young girls that look like you what are some of the measures you think should be put in place to assure young girls have an equal say in society?
I think it all starts with the primary socialization of our children. The moment you tell your children boys do this and girls do that, you’re already teaching your kids the system of inequality between men and women.
With Black Lives Matter being at the forefront and black people calling out racism and transformation. What do you think we can teach the next generation about inclusion and representation?
We need the next generation to live in a world where equality is a norm. This needs to happen in their lifetime. The only lesson they should learn from us is to fight until all races on Earth are equal around the table. Merit should be the only measure towards their success.
Gender Based Violence (GBV) especially women and children abuse has been prevalent in the country for a very long time and there have been various initiatives that speak to this but the scourge of abuse still continues at a large scale, what would you advise as a solution going forward? And who should be involved
I think our biggest obstacle in ending the scourge is the law. The law is not on the side of the women and children who suffer and hasn’t done much to protect women and children. Crimes of abuse go unpunished and perpetrators freely walk our streets. So the laws need to change because until it does everything we say and do is in vain.
What does women’s month mean to you and what would you like to be done to push or commemorate this month?
Women’s Month is the time to celebrate the strength that is Woman. No matter how many times we are kicked down, we rise above it all. I think the Bernini Squadcast Series commemorates Women’s Month authentically. I’m so proud to be part of this. It’s the first platform of its kind that gives a voice to confident, strong, empowered women to share their stories of triumph over struggles, and how they have progressed into high-powered, successful positions, with the support of their sisters, their squad.
As a modern African woman, how do you manoeuvre the African expectations for what Africa believes a woman should be, particularly in countries that are rooted in patriarchy like ours?
I think I am in a place of understanding that societal standards and expectations of women are not a true reflection of the woman I want to be. I want to be brave and loud in my existence and I will then know that I have lived my life to its fullest. Societal expectations of women are nothing but boundaries that the patriarchal system has put it place to suppress the power that is Woman.
All images from instagram.
