I was shocked to read in the news that Nikita Waligwa died yesterday of a brain tumour, aged only 15. The BBC report on her death hints that she might have lived longer if she'd lived in another country. I can't judge that, I'm not a doctor, but if it really is true, it's disgusting. That means it's a geographical lottery. Your survival chances are decided by where you live.
On the other hand, isn't everything in life a lottery? Some children have rich parents, others have poor parents. It's easy to say that children from different backgrounds should have the same chances, but they don't, and no amount of legislation can change it.
Even natural abilities and other traits are a lottery. Some children are born more intelligent than others. A good education can help, but it can't work miracles. Some children are more attractive than others, which is especially important for girls. Please don't write angry comments saying that it doesn't matter what a girl looks like. I know that it shouldn't matter, but it does. I'm sure that Nikita's appearance played a role in her being cast in "Queen of Katwe".
Maybe that's the magic of chess, recognised by Nikita Waligwa in her role as Gloria. Chess allows a transformation. The weakest piece can become the strongest. What she doesn't say is that a pawn can only become a queen after a long journey, enduring attacks from all sides. Most pawns don't get that far. It's possible for a girl from a poor family in Africa to become a millionaire. Nikita didn't.
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| Nikita Waligwa 2005 – 2020 |
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