WHEN Alicia Keys won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B vocal performance in 2009 she told the New York Times her song “As I am”, was a reminder that every woman was a Superwoman.
The song and video captured everyday woman from all parts of the world and financial structures.
“Superwoman is any woman who can provide for herself and the ones she loves. The music video shows women in different situations, how they provide and the struggles they go through.
“This song is a reminder to myself that even when I’m out, and I’m just a mess, and I’m not perfect, and everything’s not great, and I’m struggling to figure out what is what, I’m still a superwoman,” she told the New York Times.
Deep in the highlands of Naitasiri, in the upper-reaches of the Wainimala River where the nearest road is a four-hour trek, Aliti Buna not only runs a small canteen, she does her own farming, while at the same time looking after her three children.
She is a Superwoman.
With two other brothers, Buna was educated at the Nakurukuruvakatini Primary School before graduating to Baulevu High School where she reached Form Six (Year 12).
She was then married before being separated from her husband a few years ago.
“I told myself when I left Navosa, I would not marry another man. My main focus right now is to look after my three children and my parents,” said the 32-year-old.
And she did just that. Armed with the knowledge she had, she left Nasauvakarua (Navosa) and with her three children returned to Nasauvere.
With the help of her family, she started her own yaqona farm and later opened her canteen, which up to today is still in full swing.
Interestingly, she did not go through any business or entrepreneurship training.
“I can travel to Suva almost every week just to restock my canteen and so far it has been going well,” she said.
“But the only difficult thing is transportation of supplies because of the distance from the nearest road.”
While some women in urban centres get off a bus or a cab and walk a few metres home with their shopping, Buna, as she is commonly known, has to get off at Sawanikula Village, with her shopping packed securely in garbage bags and then put into sacks before being loaded on to the horses. She then has to trek through the jungle for about four hours to get home.
This is the reality of life in the inhospitable terrain which requires crossing the raging Wainimala River more than 30 times.
“I wake up in the morning, prepare my children’s breakfast, send them to school and then I am off to the farm and don’t return until late in the afternoon.
“Then I prepare their dinner, look at the canteen stocktake and the next day it is the same routine.
“I am grateful to my parents for being there because when one of the kids is sick I have to bring him down to the health centre at Narokorokoyawa, or when I have to go to Suva they look after the children and the canteen.”
The Fiji Times joined Buna and her children on their way up returning to the village after doing her errands in town.
“I went to sell my yaqona and also to restock my canteen at the same time to buy my children’s school supplies, so in total I spent more than $2200.
“I will do anything for my children and I will ensure to give them the best and see that they succeed in life.”
For a mother who has had to travel about 10 kilometres, through the rugged terrain of the Naitasiri jungle crossing the treacherous Wainimala River to get to the nearest road, Buna is a Superwoman.
She does not complain much, she has learnt to accept the harsh reality. It’s a life she has to endure in trying to get the best out of her children.
This article is dedicated to all Superwomen, who singlehandedly have to play both roles in looking after their kids.
