Sharing Made Us Sisters

Abstract

It almost felt like an ethnographic déjà vu. I was chatting with Mona, a teacher in her forties, in front of her house in Fransfontein, northwest Namibia, when Christina joined us.¹ Mona and same-aged Christina had grown up together. They considered and called each other sisters—!gasas in the local language Khoekhoegowab. Mona was telling me about her recent health problems, especially high blood pressure and shortness of breath, and the little help she received from those around her in her household. But then Mona smiled, looking at Christina, and proclaimed that Christina was the only one who was really there for her, who cared for her. I asked the two why this is so, and they replied, “Because we are sisters. We are similar. Growing up together made us sisters.”