Taking Stock Seven

Making: more time for my thoughts

Eating: All manner of things but I tried out this yogurt at Yogusserie two days ago and I loved it.

Drinking: Chai mukalu with no sugar. Real mukalu😂 because I like it like that.

Reading: All Louise Bay novels. Though now that March is here, I am getting off this adrenaline rush.

Wanting:To attend Royal sisterhood at Worship Harvest Naalya. Some of the speakers are Moses Mukisa, Beatrice Byemanzi & wait for it, Eunice Adubango.

Playing: wide as the sky, a song by Matt Redman

Wasting: no time in pity parties.

Creating:content that makes me happy

Wishing: for Lebanese food. As I read I am Mathob, she spoke of Lebanese food as being so delicious and how every must try it out. Being a foodie , I put it on my to do list(recommend places in Ug)

Enjoying: reading books more than ever

Wondering: about Zambia. I want to go there for no reason.

Loving:my reading momentum. I have read over 10 books this month alone

Hoping: March brings me God’s very best

Marvelling: at how we think we are insignificant simply because we are focusing on people we feel are ‘significant’ because they have 1000 or a million plus likes on social media.

Smelling: oranges because I got the flue bug and oranges do the trick.

Wearing: my natural hair out

Following: Sarah Jakes Roberts, this lady is on a mission and her shine gives me light to shine.

Noticing: how we reap what we sow.

Knowing: that my besties and I will meet up in March(S and V this is me saying, I’mma hunt you down😂😂😂)

Bookmarking: quotes from I am Mathob by Mahtob Mahmoody (a must read for everyone)

Opening: up to memories from the past. Trying to understand them and me now. Is there a connection? 🤔🤔

Giggling: about my nephew’s reactions to being denied things he wants.

Feeling:happy, extremely happy. I need to learn contentment in March.

Happy March,

Love on Love

Kizza❤️

©Racheal Kizza 2019

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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

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 2

Title: Forearmed
Subtitle: Insights on Sex, Love and Relationships
Author: Michael Richard Katagaya

Michael Richard Katagaya is a social worker by training and a learning, monitoring and evaluation specialist. He has worked with both government and non-government organisations in East Africa. His passion to live a full life has given him some useful experience in relationships. He has also served with several youth groups, mostly in church. This has given him a chance to get deeper insights into the lives of fellow youths and their thoughts on sex, love and relationships.

Forearmed is a title befitting the book since the content is aimed at equipping individuals to make the right choices and not suffer trauma because the choices people make have an impact on them.

Michael kicks starts off the book with detailing God`s perspective on relationships. “God is a relational God who desires to have a relationship with humanity. He comes first in any relationship because our horizontal reflects our vertical. Horizontal is man`s relationship with others while vertical is man`s relationship with God. An imbalance in one leads to an imbalance in the other.

Michael answers vital questions in the prevailing chapters, “must everyone date? in an era where dating is trendy and fashionable. He answers it candidly with scripture to back it up. He believes one of the worst things to do is date out of boredom. `You may chew gum, sing like a drunken fellow, play solitaire, roll in the sand or eat a lot but do not attempt to let your heart trespass into another person`s heart just because you are bored.

He cautions individuals not to date every person of the opposite sex around them because they will end up dating the entire world. He builds a strong case on conserving purity and not pursuing romantic relationships at all times. He uses references from the situations/problems sent through on Kampala based Christian station 104.1FM by youth who need advice on love, relationships and sex.

In our generation where settling for a married man/woman is the norm, the book cautions individuals to stay clear of married men/women in their bid to settle down. They ought to make informed choices about the partners they choose to settle down with, ask all relevant questions about family history, future plans, career, any diseases, financesetc. He tackles the aspect of finding love on social media which is a no-no for me however, it works for some people but not forgetting the false impressions social media gives yet dating and marriage is a reality.

Love is a decision and when you decide on one lady/man, stick to them and go on to take the big steps while observing both cultural and religious norms of either sides. However, the beginning bits of the book are not as catchy as the continuing chapters which will keep you on the edge of your seats.

Book quality
It is a well written book; with simple language and undeniable humor .The book cover is of good quality and the designers did a fantastic job. The heart with the key, red rose and the scroll on the cover all point to the title “forearmed: Insights on Sex, Love and Relationships. The book is aimed at helping individuals know how to guard their hearts even as love comes their way.

Recommendations
I recommend the book to all individuals dating, courting and those seeking to get married; as the book takes them through the whole pattern from boy meets girl to a happily ever after. Leaders /facilitators who seek to share on this trendy topic have a go to manual with relevant examples from the author`s personal life and from relevant sources.

Lastly, parents who don`t know how to have relationship conversations without their children feeling like they are old school and “don`t understand the current love trends. This book will help your children and they will thank you for it.

Racheal Kizza © 2017