Lioness on Welcoming Her Cub Into the World

At present she”;s choosing to keep mum about her baby”;s name, but the artist happily gushed to The Namibian about how much she was loving motherhood.

She describes pregnancy as a demanding but beautiful experience. From the crazy morning sickness that often prevented her from eating, to craving certain foods like lemons, potatoes, pork, salt and, interestingly, even sand and cement.

The 28-year-old admits that going through the profound process has not been without its challenges, and at times adjusting to motherhood has been tough.

“No one tells you how physically and mentally exhausting it is. You know, it”;s always about the baby and people often forget about the mother”;s health, about how she”;s doing and all the changes she”;s going through.

“I look at her every day and we”;re still getting to know each other. It was so surreal.”

She says the hormonal surges accompanying pregnancy and birth can be taxing. Somehow, though, she”;s figuring out the balance between all the different parts of herself, including this new bundle of joy, performing soon, and rolling out a new five-track EP, titled “;Dance and Dance”;, as well as debuting a music video with Tamy Moyo for “;Bring Em Ova”; on Trace Africa – all in the last month.

This week you can catch her on stage at the Brewers Market in Windhoek for one of Gazza”;s many parties, and in August she”;ll be flying out to perform at the Tamasha Festival in the United Kingdom.

“You feel somewhat guilty leaving the baby, but I am doing everything for her,” she explains.

“It”;s a whole new level of responsibility that I often ask if I am capable of doing. You know, I ask myself “;can I really just … can I do this?”;”

However, Lioness says these moments are nothing compared to the joy she feels at watching her child growing daily and reaching certain milestones.

Motherhood is far more intense than she could ever have imagined, she says, especially with regard to how she and her husband want to raise their child, the values they want to instill in her and being intentional about what they want for their daughter.

The secret to her being able to find equilibrium between the tough and good times, she says, is just taking each day at a time and appreciating everything for what it is.

In her voice, you can hear the pure joy every time she speaks of her favourite moments, like having her child look at her for the first time with excitement, or expressing joy through smiling.

She urges other new mothers not to put pressure on themselves to do everything by themselves.

“Just know you”;re not alone. Speak to other mothers. Ask for help. Don”;t feel like you”;re a bad mother if you can”;t settle your baby or don”;t really know what”;s wrong with them. It”;s okay. Just take it a day at a time,” she says, adding that though having a baby is tough emotionally, physically and mentally, it”;s all worth it.

“Just walk with your intuition.”

Though she wishes she had her late mother by her side during this new chapter of her journey, Lioness acknowledges the people in her life who love and support her, and serve as the proverbial village it takes to raise a child.

– Anne Hambuda is a poet, writer and social commentator Email her at annehambuda@gmail.com for more.

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