Naka was born into an upper class family. Her mother was from a very wealthy background. Her grandfather a preacher. Her father a well-known attorney. She was expected to be a boy. Her sister was four years old when she at last entered the world: screaming.
Martha, the Sotho woman especially selected and appointed to take care of the newborn, took one look at her, and said: She will be Naka. Her mother looked on in alarm, but her father comforted: Do not worry, Martha will take care of Naka. He immediately accepted the name and Martha immediately accepted Naka.
It was the year 1919. Naka was baptized Nita, but she soon came to know her true name, Naka. She was raised by Martha. Whenever her father went to meetings, he dropped Martha and Naka at choir practice ... so Naka soon had the thump of music in her veins.
She and Martha spent hours in the veldt. Martha taught her about the wild fig, edible berries and maroelas; she told Naka to make choices. Is this edible, Martha? the little girl would ask. What do YOU think? Martha would answer. Pick up the leaf and decide for yourself.
But how would I know? Naka asked.
Tsk, tsk ... Martha would click her tongue and shake her head. You know, because I taught you.
One day Naka, who loved to hear the story of her birth over and over, asked: Martha, what is the meaning of the name you had given me?
Oh, Martha answered, for me Naka means: the Star in the Middle ... In Sotho it means Horn Star, for a horn was blown whenever the bright star was sighted. Naka means 'beauty' in Swahili.
But I was not in the middle! Naka exclaimed, at the time of my birth it was only my older sister and I. You know my brother was born only when Father turned 50!
Naka, Martha explained calmly, I knew you had to decide to be in your mother's heart, for the decision could not have been hers. She wanted a boy. YOU are the one to weigh options. You are the star in the middle of right and of wrong. Only you could change her heart by making known your own presence.
And Naka did. She did it by being herself. Her mother and sister dressed like fairies and she, Naka, hated clothes. She would rather go into the veldt with Martha. Martha dressed her.
Naka was strong-willed. When she finally landed in the posh English school, studying music, she excelled and soon she asked to do competitions. Her music teacher wanted to keep her back longer, but she insisted. She ended second in her first major competition, runner-up with one point. The teacher was angry. Why are you angry, Naka asked. I did my utmost, and that is enough. This incident caused tension and she lost interest in music.
She hated being called Nita! When she was fifteen, she had to fill out a concession form and saw that the English form had an Afrikaans version on the back. She, being a passionate lover of her mother tongue, filled out her form in Afrikaans.
The English teacher later said: All, but one, completed their forms. Who did not fill out her questionnaire? The class was quiet. The teacher came to her and said: Nita, you are the one. She put a clean form in front of Naka.
No, I am not, Naka answered, I did fill out my form.
No, you did not, the teacher persisted, bluntly.
Oh yes, I did, Naka answered stubbornly.
The teacher exploded. This is an English school. You must fill out the form in English! She grabbed the girl by the arm and pulled her from her desk. The next moment Naka slapped the teacher, leaving her red finger prints on the already flushed cheek ...
Her father, being an attorney, saved her from being expelled. He said Naka acted in a moment of distress and passion; that she was still too young to grasp emotional choices. But: Naka made a choice and acted on her own. She refused to return to school. She said firmly: I am NOT Nita; I hate that name and I hate that school. I am Naka. You changed my name. Now change it back. I want to be Naka and I want to study art. I want to become a sculptor, like auntie Jo.
Her auntie Jo was an outcast, sculpting African heads for a living. Naka was entranced. THIS is what she wanted to do!
Her father changed her name on all legal documents, not informing her mother, who had never known that her daughter was officially Naka.
At the Art School Naka met Arthur, her first true friend. He was a German boy, from a poor family, struggling to make ends meet. Naka was the only girl in class. She was excluded when the boys made naked studies of girls. At the time it was not allowed that boys and girls take this course in nudity simultaneously. It was prewar time, in the 1930's.
Naka wanted to help her friend Arthur to fix his front tooth, that was split. She went to talk to her uncle, a dentist, and the visits to him became a regular thing. One day her uncle had a guest. His name was Richie, and he was a Military doctor, ten years Naka's senior. It was love at first sight. Insanely in love, Naka, completing her three year Art's course, enrolled as a nurse at a hospital for blacks in Durban to be near Richie, who was in a Durban regiment waiting to be called to war. But, she could not stand the circumstances of nursing, and wrote an article for the Huisgenoot, a South African magazine, about WHY a young girl should NEVER become a nurse! She got published!
She and Richie became engaged and he encouraged her to take up a course in maternity nursing at a black hospital. This she enjoyed! She had known the culture of the black African women, taught by Martha, and she saw their suffering. She dedicated her life to her work. Soon she was appointed as Matron at a black Maternity Hospital.
Richie had to go to war. He solemnly told her: Whenever I am missing or die, please carry on with your life! Promise me you would! Naka, being mature, practical and sober, promised. When he was reported missing at war, she calmly carried on with her life, once again seeing Arthur.
One night he invited her to go with him to a play in a local Library. It was an English comedy, and Naka was laughing from the back of her throat. Suddenly a man in the audience jumped up, exclaiming: There is only ONE woman that can laugh like that! Is Naka here in this audience?
It was Richie!
Thrilled to see each other, they compared the years lost, completely forgetting about Arthur. But, when Richie came to the question of whether she is still unmarried, Arthur stepped in between, saying: There are things Naka still does not know!
He asked her to marry him. And this is exactly what Naka did.
Arthur got his gold tooth and his extraordinary, ever golden Naka.
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The fragile and beautiful 90 year old woman in the wheelchair looked at me with her big, blue eyes, smiling. Write it, Myra, she said. The fairy tale is yours.
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Author notes
In Progress.
This is the story of the wondrous and extraordinary Naka Pillman -- soul mate, researcher and artist. She told it to me only yesterday, September 29, 2009.
Photo: Naka's private collection: Naka with her little black doll.
In a list
A contest entry
- Fairy Tales Retold by Auburn Sunrise.
2000 points, ended October 15, 18 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 31 of 31
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How totally lovely. I was upset when it ended so I will follow up on this tale. Being a nurse, I understand what Naka means. It is a gift and a curse at times depending on what type you do. I'm a retired psych nurse and I feel that was what I was called to do. My father was a preacher. We seem to have some things in common. I envy you getting to sit and hear these stories but am terribly glad you decided to write them here. Great style you have.
Sharon
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I am so fascinated and very impressed
quite a gem
exquisite both Naka and her tale
written beautiful
God bless you my friend...
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I can appreciate ...
your story about Nika and her fairy tale life that related times and places I do not know but was able to jump right into them because of all that you shared. I think that Martha was a fine influence for her and God blessed her helping hand in seeing that Nika could walk proudly through her days and know the things about nature and life that may have been kept from her were it not for Martha! You can see the twinkle in the eye in that portrait of you and her and know that when a child has that special friend then as an adult they can be that special friend.
A good story here! j
y
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Write it Myra - wow. And write it you did. How utterly enchanting.
Such an amazing story. ~Pamela 
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I really enjoyed reading this story. as story telling makes the world go round....good luck in the contest,,,
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Dramatic
Well written. A nice begining to a story of a rebellious and spoiled young lady. The visuals of a woman's life during war time can be felt if not so easily seen. This of course can be attributed in great measure to the breath and shortness of the piece. Much enjoyed.. Ideas for a tribute are becoming clearer.
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Ah such a ponderous statement ...
yet: Naka was not spoiled ... very far from it. Deprived may be the word, really. But, also rich ... for she had Martha.
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Many lives are remarkable yet end and pass from memory without ever being remarked upon. Thanks to these stories of a remarkable woman, people around the world may now consider her life and times, and find the impact of her story in their own.
We are blessed by the grace of the Martha's who embrace the Nita's and make them Naka's to shine upon and guide others. In this poetic narrative we see grace to grace from Martha to Naka to Myra to us. Sometimes we discover that God has already blessed us, everyone!
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You say it so well!
Thank you, precious Friend.
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My friend ...
Naka is simply enchanting, and I could not have written this tribute to her any better. She is just fascinating and beautiful. God bless you for doing this for her. You are a true friend ... . ~ Love ~ James ~
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James!
We carry on right into Eternity ... all linked to Light and Love. How can we not be such on earth? I wish I could share Naka's every nuance with you all. She is simply the most delightful spirit! We laugh nonstop, and she then says: We know! We know! None else have to! Hahahahahaha Only THINKING of this makes me laugh out loud!
Thank you so much for reading. See you in the contest!
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Wow... that is a beautiful account of a fascianting person... historically and emotionally powerful you are lucky to have the chance to know such an individual. And she is lucky you are there to make her story known.
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I am totally privileged!
You said it! And honored too, to have you here with Naka and I on this journey ... Please enter my contest! http://allpoetry.com/contest/2463713
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Strong willed star
This fairy tale about a real life star tells what stars really are, strong-willed yet tender hearted, stars not only shine in the sky making it beautiful but also show directions to those on earth who distracted from path, in short, by the virtue of their brilliance stars not only rise against odds but also inspire others who're lagging back in life. This is what a fairy tale is, showing a light of hope in the darkness of utter dismay, delighted to read this tale and also to know such a real life being. -
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Thank you for such a beautiful comment ...
filled with truth and with wisdom. Naka will be pleased!
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Wait.. so what's the fairy tale this is based on.. this is the fairy tales retold contest, what's its fairy tale basis?
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Fairy tales are filled with mothers, both stepmothers and own mothers, not accepting their daughters for who they are. They include the mother in Cinderella and the troll-hag in East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Naka Pillman was treated as a Cinderella, but she is actually a very bright star, not only in the South African sky, but world wide. For me she is the best example of true Fairy Tale material I know of. She also got her prince in the end, but not the one her mother would have chosen for her. The twist in my story is that this is a true story, and not a myth, and that even though she got her prince, Richie, she left him, too. Which made her a special Cinderella Star.
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So you're just retelling a true story? How does this at all fit then? Wouldn't that be like telling the story of George Washington or something? I'm not saying I didn't like the story, but how does it fit the prompt and contest if it's true? A true story does not equal a fairy tale retold.
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The fairy tale basis is Cinderella, with the own mother and sister apart from the Naka Cinderella, and unaware of her brilliance and star qualities.
Thank you for liking my story. All fairy tales are based on true stories, either parables or metaphorically. I like it that you are precise and want to get to the core of things. This may lead you to great poetic discoveries, and also in your own life!
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Oh wow!!! This is true??? How fascinating!
First, let me say this appeals to me on so many levels. I love true stories - biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. I love anything that is from a previous era. I adore true love stories. Also, I adore anything Afrikaans (South African) because my favorite band is Seether and the lead singer, Shaun Morgan, is from South Africa. Ever since I became so ... mesmerized... by him, I've been mesmerized by South Africa itself.
What a fascinating and wonderful story! It completely drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat. What was going to happen next? Who was Naka going to end up with and what would she end up doing?
Thank you so much for entering this seemingly true-to-life fairy tale in my fairy tale contest! It is very special and I think it should be shared with the world!
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Naka just phoned me ...
and I told her about this lovely Gold. I said: Naka, it is your story so it is your Gold. She said: No, tell them Naka speaks through Myra now and that it is an act of God. She also said: I hope it brings you money! I said OH YES IT DID. It brought me 1,000 shimmering golden coins of points, which I will gift for the VERY BEST POEM OF INSPIRATION for Naka Pillman!
I added 6,000 points of my own, to make it 7,000 points, for the best poems in this contest:
http://allpoetry.com/contest/2463713
So Love, be cordially invited! Love to you!
Myra -
Thank you so much for the Gold and the Glitter in this contest!
Naka will be THRILLED. She IS Gold. A true
I am going to print out your words to her. I shall carefully note what she says in return, and come post it here on this page. She is such a marvel: 90 years old, and asking me: you treat me with this Bemer ... but what will I do if I am healed completely? Do you want me to become 120 years old? Then I just laugh and say: Oh, we stars are much, much older than that, and in mysterious dimensions ... that is why we finally hide in black holes! Then we have a girlish giggle to share!
You may share this South African Fairy Tale and the entire Naka list on my page.
Love to you, Poetess.
Myra
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Reminds me of Nacre; the mother of pearl, the substance of pearl. Your friend, too took irritant and covered it in mother of pearl to become pearl.
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Ah!
If you enter my contest http://allpoetry.com/contest/2463713 you may use this as a metaphor!
Love to you, Brother Ben.
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i read something similar to this in my english class...i mean not similar..but it too was about a foreign child in an english class.. you penned quite a short story here...a fairy tale that def. adds a twist to it..love it
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I am so glad that you commented ...
And I would love to see you enter my contest on Naka; you are sensitive and creative!
Love to you!
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addendum
You are obviously a gifted 'Story Teller',
Presenting all the hooks that grab the attention of your fans.
You are a 'Teacher, that uses gentle examples, and
I have been gentled by your Spirit.
Thank you for being. -
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And thank you Donnz ...
for walking this path with me ... Often, your poetry leaves me laughing ... or crying. Love you!
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Thank you for introducing me to your friends
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Please enter my contest on Naka ...
http://allpoetry.com/contest/2463713
She would love to see your words!
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