Book review 17:The Bell is ringing

Book title :The Bell is ringing

Subtitle:Martin Aliker’s story

Author :Martin Aliker with David Gibbs & Hugh Macmillan

Pages:251

Do you know what happens when you are next to an amazing photographer and have a great book? You`re right. An unplanned photo shoot happens😂😂😂. Slay queens mukikola muutya??Photo shoots are hard work.

I was introduced to this book by a one Benjamin Tumukunde ;who constantly recommends legit books.I sum this book up in one statement: Purpose = influence.

Martin Aliker is born in Acholi land to Lacito Okech in 1928,a prominent chief.As a son of a chief, he gets an opportunity to study at Kings school,Budo(now Kings college,Budo) a school for the royals and later joins Makerere University college -now Makerere University.

Because of his desire to travel to America for further studies,he goes to Need Munger and tells him, “Uganda needs trained people.I also mentioned that I enjoyed ,and was good at,science and that there was not one African dentist in the whole of Uganda.”

He gets into Northwestern University in Chicago which had the best African studies program in the US.He learns from the best in dentistry and later on meets,Camille, a black American woman.The two later get married and move to Uganda. They have four children together and have been married for 56 years.

He was so excited to come back home and practice but found archaic machines in the local hospital until he was advised to go into private practice. His private practice flourished and he was called upon to operate on Dr. Obote when he was shot in the mouth.

He grew in prominence ,it’s like God had ordained for him a path of influence. Heads of states knew him and top CEO’s wanted him to be on their boards.He was forced into exile in Kenya by Amin as a result of his chairmanship at the Uganda Argus-a local newspaper.He thrived in Nairobi and grew his dentistry in a foreign country.

He has a rich story,full of history seen through the eyes of a Ugandan. He speaks of all Ugandan presidents right from Kabaka Mutesa who on his opinion the only uncorrupt president to date because he had it all. Speaks of his growth from dentistry and later politics.

At one point,he was asked to be president but he turned down the offer .Museveni recruited him as a state minister for foreign affairs because of his diplomatic relations.He was sent to Libya to meet Gaddafi ,LRA to meet Kony and his men,UK,US on behalf of Uganda.

He ends the book with retrospection, comparing the Uganda then and the Uganda now. There are major differences,good ones at that and he exposes the gaps.

“I am a Ugandan who was alive and mature when this nation was born on 9th October 1962. It is not a perfect country ,but it is a beautiful country with mostly good people. It is the only country we call our own. Nobody can deport or expel us from this land of ours.”

I recommend this book to every Ugandan. You deserve to know the history of Uganda through the eyes of a Ugandan.You are guaranteed to learn so much about Uganda and the events that have transpired over the years e.g LRA rebel group, the untouchables, education,strong civil service,British colonial rule.

PS; Look at my hair mane.hihi

He brings the story home. This is Uganda’s book.

Photography :Jude Ochen

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Book Review 16 : Half Of A Yellow Sun

Book : Half of A Yellow Sun

Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Pages: 433

Half of A Yellow Sun explores what transpired during the civil war between Nigeria-Biafra in the early 1960’s.

Photo courtesy: Acom Victoria

Odeningbo is the ‘revolutionary lover’ ,optimistic and opinionated about Nigeria and the world at large. He is highly educated and has a lover-Olanna,whose beauty is as rare as a gem and equally captivating. Both are educated from “abroad/overseas,” they are nearly not “African enough” until the civil war.

Their house boy Ugwu is the epitome of loyalty,he is ready to please his ‘sah’ and ‘mah’. He is woven intricately into their lives that not even the war can break that bond.

The barriers between servant and sah are not evident,sah puts Ugwu in school and opens him up to possibilities because he believes education is for all and gives one a future.

Olanna like many African women who are unable to conceive quickly as per the mother-in-law`s timeline ,faces the cold truth about ‘another woman.’ She discovers that her lover,impregnated a mere ‘village girl”.She can’t seem to get past her betrayal until her Aunt Ifeka tells her,”you must never behave as if your life belongs to a man.Your life belongs to you and you alone…”

The war changes every one even loyal Ugwu,he takes part in a gang rape of a bar girl and deep within he loathes himself . Olanna`s rich parents leave the country because they are afraid of the war but their children choose to stay.

Kainene and Richard. Kainene is Olanna’s twin sister who seemed unruffled by life’s happenings.She happened to life,life never happened to her.In her steel demeanor,she loves Richard-oyinbo-‘white man’ though she will not say it. She is like the master and he the mistress. She manages her rich father’s businesses and knows who to trade with.

Olanna betrays her in cold blood when she has sex with Richard. Both parties are guilty.Richard was blown away by Olanna`s beauty. Everyone referred to her as the beautiful one and Kainene as the plain one with a steel demeanor

. Kainene tells them both,”it’s unforgivable” and a cloth of unforgiveness envelopes her never to go off but the civil war causes the sisters to forgive each other.They had more conversation during the war than happier times. Olanna suddenly enjoyed her sister’s sarcasm and even laughed along.

Olanna finally had a confidant when it came to ‘should I keep the village girl’s baby”, Kainene seemed to think it’s Noble and Olanna kept the baby. She became a mother to baby and loved her so much that she would do anything for her even during the war.

Kainene unbothered,unruffled woman of steel cannot be found,even after the war is over. I personally screamed and almost threw my book away, how could Adichie end the book just like that.How?? Kainene, strong and unruffled by anything was never found and both Olanna and Richard were never the same.

This book is real, compassionate and insightful.

War in any form is bad,tears families apart,causes wounds and leaves them exposed.War makes for strange alliances .War tears nation’s apart,there is nothing good about war.

Adichie weaves a superb book leaving one stunned and with a gruesome picture of what civil war can do to it’s Nationals.

I recommend the novel to anyone who needs to be reminded that starting a war is not a walk in the park .Whoever needs to be reminded to have a little compassion for their neighbors.whoever needs a stern reminder to be loyal to her people and all friendships.

Got my copy from Turn the Page Africa-https://www.facebook.com/TTPAfrica/

PS; Follow them across all social media platforms -Turn the page Africa

 

Book review 3

Book title: This Kingdom Business

Subtitle: A manual for Christian life and endeavor

Author: Hillary Turyagenda

Pages: 324

ISBN: 9781475100242

Published: 2012

Hillary Turyagenda is a minister of the word and the spirit who has a passion to see people established in the truth and purposes of God. He was called by God into full time ministry –Spirit Alight, The Lord`s candle on 1st march 2010 .Since then the ministry has flourished.

This Kingdom Business is written for such a time as this when many are coming to Christ and they have a limited understanding resulting into the limited application of God`s word.
It is fundamental to understand the king and the country we belong to as citizens of the kingdom because our identity is formed therein by virtue of who we spring from. Our king is the lifeline of the kingdom.

Hillary believes that for Christians to thrive in this kingdom business, the journey of faith in God never stops. “When we walk in faith, our actions correspond with our faith and we have a replay of the Acts of the Apostles.’’
He implores Christians to practice love at all times and let love be the sole motivation. “The pursuit of a love-service should begin in the pursuit of a love conscience. A love-consciousness is the fuel for any lasting vocation of love.’’ Love is the most powerful tool we have to propagate this kingdom business. It breaks all barriers/boundaries and limitations.

It is no kingdom business without prayer which is our form of communication in the kingdom. Prayer based on the word yields results and every Christian must grow in the word. Each Christian ought to create a pattern of reading, studying and meditating on the word of God which is the truth. This in turn equips and enables them to carry out the great commission without leaving the burden to the evangelists in the “mission fields.’’ When each day Christians are in a mission field.

He delves deeper into the topic of discipleship piquing my interest; discipleship encompasses teaching newbies the word both in theory and practically. There is a cry for every church to embrace discipleship and be intentional about equipping their people to be ready in season and out of season.

It ends on a high note with the talk on praise and worship and how music creates an atmosphere and ought to be used as a tool for teaching the word.
There is so much truth in one book and it is not a book that can be read lightly. One must be focused and intentional in order to fully grasp vital principles in order to excel in this kingdom business.

The book is deeply hinged on scripture with a detailed understanding of each verse quoted fanning Hillary`s gift as a teacher to life.

Get yourself a copy on Amazon.com.

Racheal Kizza © 2017