To the point: the world cup reminds me of the previous world cup in 2009 and happily, of the world cup soccer anthem Shakira's Waka Waka. I say happily because that song brought happiness to my life, 2009 is the year my son was born, and believe it or not, he watched the entire world cup! He would not miss a match, I kept going to the hospital because of the effect the TV was having on his eyesight. His first word was baooo! and the first song he learnt was Wakawaka. It was wakawaka everywhere, my ringtone, the only video my phone could support at the time as it had no mem card slot... it was the song my son learnt the words before he learnt to call me mama.
Our love for Wakawaka and the impact of the song in my house not withstanding, Shakira is the one artist I can genuinely say I don't like (I am avoiding to use strong language here). Other artists, well, I'm indifferent. They can do whatever they like as long as they don't get into my personal space the way Shakira did.
Ignoring my many childhood mishaps, there is one factor in my growing up life that has been very sensitive, my boobs. I know I have mentioned this before but my boobs were my biggest cause for concern. (My mothers too if you count the number of times she seemed completely lost when it came to bra shopping). Unlike many teenage girls, at class 5, aged 10, I had visible boobs! yes, that is so true! By the time I was 13, my boobs were that size that every man dreams of. Just big enough, firm and sharply pointed! I also loved them, that is until they started growing at an alarming rate. I got my first toy bra at 13 years, by the time I went to high school, I had to wear a real bra, by my second year, I could not wear my first year bras, and that happened again in my 3rd form. By the time I was in fourth form, my boobs could not support their own weight, I could not walk without a bra, I had issues dancing or participating in any sporty activities and my mom was completely lost on what to do. I remember vowing that my first salary would go to plastic surgery, and if you doubt how bad it was, let me tell you that I actually went to Karen hospital and inquired on the charges for plastic surgery, which were prohibitive and thankfully so because now, having grown up, I changed my mind and I love my boobs the way they are: BIG AND FULL!
Anyway, back to Shakira, my problem with her started when she released that song Whenever Wherever. Very specifically, the line that goes 'lucky that my boobs are small and humble so you don't confuse them for mountains'. That song was released in my 1st or 2nd year in high school, just when my boobs were growing out of control. Allow me to use the word I have been avoiding, I hated Shakira and everything to do with her; including her small and humble boobs with a passion. To this day, despite the impact her song had in my life, I do not like Shakira, at all.
Now that I am grown up, the issues with my boobs are almost gone. Almost because no matter how much I love and accept them, they are still a challenge to dress. A proper bra for me goes for KES 2500, while the normal bra goes for 100 or the sexiest matched lingerie goes for not more than 800 in the very same damn shop! I have like 15 bras, of which I only wear 3 because the way they make me look matters. When I was a broke chik trying to work her way up, I could not afford these bras. Not that I am not still working my way up but fortunately, I can afford a pair every once in 2 months.
I am no longer sensitive about the size of my boobs but #someonetellben# that telling me he loves small boobs that he can cup with the palm of his hands was not very sensitive, given he is the man I struggle to look stunning for at all costs. Not sensitive at all. It was like Shakira in my life allover again.
