Joyfully the children of Harambee followed Chief Heshima through the village along the streams, past the trees and down the mountainside. Many thought it was an exciting new game, and even Rafiki began to feel less saddened. As they neared a clearing, Chief Heshima came to a halt. In the short distance a sparkling light caught everyone’s eyes. It was the reflection of the light off the beautiful jewelry worn by the woman as she stood in the sunlight. She wore such magnificent jewelry. There were several gold earrings, colorful bracelets and a ring on each finger! Chief Heshima took a deep breath and gestured towards the woman and proudly announced ”Rafiki...this is your Mama!” Rafiki was busy playing with the other children at the end of the line and did not notice the woman at first. As he came forward, the sparkle of the woman’s jewelry blinded him a bit and he squinted his eyes to see. Suddenly Rafiki exclaimed”Oooh no Chief Heshima, this is not my Mama!” The Chief was a bit embarrassed. He responded “But Rafiki, look at this woman’s beautiful jewelry. Her earrings reflect the sunlight. Her bracelets are full of color. She wears the finest rings on her fingers!” “Yes Chief Heshima, she does wear the finest rings I have ever seen. Her bracelets do reflect the sun light, but my Mama’s beauty is much more than all of that!” “Much more than all of this?” Chief Heshima asked. “Oh much much more” Rafiki chirped, “My Mama has a beauty that covers her whole entire body!” “My goodness, a beauty that covers her whole entire body?” Chief Heshima responded. He looked perplexed, but not for long. Then suddenly like a lighting bolt it came to him. “I believe she can be found way over on the west side of the village. Come children, we will take Rafiki to find her. After all this is the village of Harambee and what do we do here?” “We Work Together!” shouted the children.
So once again, led by Chief Heshima, the young villagers traveled up the hillside, past the trees and around the streams to a far corner of Harambee. Chief Heshima pointed to an area just beyond the meadow. “”There she is!” And from behind a woman turned to acknowledge the Chief’s presence. One could not help but notice her magnificent clothes. She wore the finest woven kente cloth from head to toe. The galee’ she wore on her head seemed to touch the sky. Her silken threads seemed to flow against her body like the wind caressing a bird. Rafiki never took notice until Chief Heshima bellowed with pride, “Rafiki... this is your Mama!” Rafiki slowly crept up to the woman. His eyes traveled from the bottom of her gown to the top of her galee’. After a pause he said. “Oooh No Chief Heshima, this is not my Mama!” Chief Heshima was a little irritated as he responded “Rafiki, you said your Mama had a beauty that covered her whole entire body. Well look at this woman. Her gown is made of the finest hand woven silk kente. Do you not see the fine colors of red, green and black? See how the fabric just flows in the wind.” Rafiki looked innocently at the chief and answered, “Well Chief Heshima, her gown is beautiful indeed. The silk threads are of the finest I’ve seen and yes the fabric does flow in the wind, but my Mama’s beauty is much more than all of that!” A startled Chief Heshima relied, “Much more than all of this?” “Oh much much more” Rafiki answered. “My Mama has a beauty that you can see all over her face!” Chief Heshima was indeed embarrassed once more. After apologizing to the woman, he pondered a bit, then roared like a mighty lion. “I know the woman you speak of! She can be found on the east end of our village and of course we will take you to her. After all, this is the village of Harambee and what does our name mean?” “We Work Together!” screamed the joyous young villagers.
So again the search continued for Rafiki’s mama. It was a happy trip filled with laughter and song through the trees, past the animals grazing and around the waterfall. At the foot of the waterfall, Chief Heshima knew the search was over. He strode proudly over to the woman who sat gazing at her reflection in the water. Chief Heshima exclaimed, “Rafiki...this is your Mama!” Rafiki did not hear. He was so busy playing in the water with his new friends, and he was unaware of the chief’s discovery. Chief Heshima repeated “Rafiki...this is your Mama!” Rafiki looked up at the woman, then down at her reflection. He gazed back up at the woman’s face and finally turned to the chief and said, “Ooooh noooo Chief Heshima, this is not my Mama!” Chief Heshima was becoming angry now. “Rafiki did you not say your Mama’s beauty covered her whole entire face? Notice her high cheekbones. Can you not see her almond-shaped eyes? Look at this woman’s ruby red lips. They are like fine jewels.” “Yes Chief, “ Rafiki explained. “She does indeed have high cheekbones and yes her eyes are almond-shaped and all the rubies of Africa could not compare to her thick lips, but my Mama’s beauty is more than all of that!” “What!?” screamed the Chief. “Much more than all of this?” “Yes” Rafiki simply relied, “My Mama is the most beautiful woman in the world!”
It was at that moment Chief Heshima could take no more. Sadly he announced, “Rafiki, we have been through the entire village of Harambee and we have shown you beautiful jewelry, beautiful clothes and beautiful faces and still we cannot find your mama. I feel we may never find her.” Rafiki started to cry as he said “Oh Chief Heshima, I miss my Mama so, I miss her strong beautiful hands as they reach for berries on the trees. I will miss the way she prepares food and shares it with all others who are hungry. I will miss her face and the love I see in her eyes when she tells me how much she loves me. Oh Chief Heshima, I should have never wandered off.” Chief Heshima was touched by Rafiki and his love for his Mama. He was truly sad that he could do no more. “Rafiki, I am sure if someone sees her they will...”
Suddenly as if from nowhere a faint voice began to call out Rafiki’s name. “Rafiki, Rafiki where are you?” The voice became louder and the young villagers were pointing everywhere. In the distance Chief Heshima saw a woman with a basket of berries on her head. Her hands wore no jewelry and her dress was simple cloth. In her eyes there were tears as she called out the name, “Rafiki!” In the blink of an eye Rafiki ran into her arms and screamed for joy. “Mama where have you been?” he asked “The question is Rafiki” she replied, “Where have you been?” I have been with Chief Heshima searching for you Mama.” Rafiki gesturing to Chief Heshima. Immediately she bowed before Chief Heshima never realizing she had been in his presence. “Excuse me,” Chief Heshima asked, “But what is your name?” “Uzuri” she replied, “My name is Uzuri. It means...” “Beautiful” Chief Heshima interrupted. “I know. It means beautiful. How could I have been so foolish..” Chief Heshima apologized as he gazed upon her well-worn hands. “Uzuri, your strong beautiful hands tend the fields. You share your food to all who need and the love for your son makes a beautiful glow that covers your entire face. How could I have mistaken your beauty for anything else? Please forgive me.” “Oh Chief Heshima” Uzuri responded, “It is I who must say Asante Sana (or thank you very much) for bringing my son back to me safe and sound. Come Rafiki there is much work I must catch upon now that you have been found. We must have a little talk about your wandering off.” “Mama did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” Rafiki smiled warmly. Uzuri quickly saw through Rafiki’s little ploy. “Don’t try to butter me up now!” “Oh Mama,” Rafiki asked looking lovingly into her eyes, “It has been such a long day. What is for dinner?” Uzuri grabbed Rafiki by his ears and tugged, “Come Rafiki, we will talk of this later!”
All the children laughed and so did Chief Heshima as he and everyone learned an important lesson that day. Beauty is not in the pretty jewelry we own or the fine clothes we wear or the fancy make-up on our faces, but beauty is in the heart. How we feel about someone makes them beautiful. And that my friends is the story of the most beautiful woman in the world.
