Sister Morrison: an example of Freedom
We often hear about alternative lifestyles and different ways of living and interpreting life. But what really differentiates something unique from simply chasing the trend of the moment?
Nowadays we tend, probably because of the growth of social networks, to emulate more and more; we feel original and unique, ignoring the fact that we are making choices already repeated by thousands of people an indefinite number of times.
I had one encounter with a real alternative lifestyle in Malawi, specifically in Zomba. One day, we decided to reach one of the many viewpoints over the majestic mountains of Zomba, which surround the town with greenery.
The walk was harder than expected. A very steep climb, slippery gravel terrain, and muggy air that exhausts us.
Along the way, we meet numerous people. They come down from the summit, carrying huge logs on their shoulders, barefoot. Their faces are marked by fatigue, but every time we cross their gazes, we are enchanted by their smiles and greetings.
For me, reaching the summit is a goal, a challenge; for them, however, this is everyday life, marked by toil and sweat.
Finally, after several hours of walking, we reach our destination. We find ourselves at the "Emperor's View." This is where the last emperor Haile Sellasie, the undisputed symbol of Rastafarianism and the struggle against African colonialism, visited in 1964.
It is a magical, mystical place, devoid of laws and social barriers. Silence and peace reign, the air is pure and smells of freedom. We are captivated by the inconceivable beauty of the landscape, with its green hills stretching endlessly toward the horizon.
To greet us we find her, Sister Morrison, smiling and joyful. On her head is a Kitenge (typical fabric in Malawi), with which she collects her long dreadlocks and around her neck she wears ebony necklaces with rasta-colored stones. She is a mysterious woman, of indecipherable age, looking young, but, who, from her words, leaves traces of a person who has been through many springs.
To the common imagination, especially at first glance, Sister Morrison might seem like a madwoman, just a "rasta" along with her clichés and prejudices.
But it is necessary to go beyond the appearance, one must pause and listen carefully to her words.
Sister Morrison is not an ordinary person. She is a wise woman, speaks several languages, and has lived in several states in Sub-Saharan Africa. Until a few years before, she lived in Blantyre, a chaotic, dirty city with no identity. She decided to drop everything, radically change her life and take refuge here, at the top of the Zomba Massif.
She lives alone in her humble wooden hut here. She leads a life on the edge, far from the temptations and evils of "Babylon." A pure life, in contact with nature and the earth.
She does not use any man-made products, she grows her own food and her own Marijuana. That's when I realised the large amount of cannabis growing in the soil. They are small seedlings, almost invisible, perfectly matching the magic of the situation and the place.
Se pulls out weed, still fresh, left to dry under the sun and she rolls it with a corn leaf. Everything she uses comes directly from the earth.
It is a curious, bizarre sight. For her, it is not a tool to get high; it is part of her lifestyle and culture. It is her cure for the mind, a way to reflect and stay away from human impurities.
It is hard for me to understand the reasons to live this way. Until a few minutes ago, it was even impossible for me to imagine such a situation. It is all too far from my life, my past and my upbringing.
A question, perhaps trivial, arises for me, "Are you happy?"
Her answer astounds me, it is so simple but filled with a veiled meaning:
" Yes, I am. I can wake up during the night and sing, dance, scream and no one can ever disturb me. I am free."
We live in an era where we can have everything right away, where every wish can be granted, but how free are we, really? We tend to want more and more, forgetting about the small acts that make us alive.
Therefore, who is the fool? Sister Morrison, free and serene, or perhaps us? But who are we to judge?
PS: Sister Morrison invites and welcomes all Rastafarians from around the world who wish to join her and follow her lifestyle.