In honour of Hon. Canon Rhoda Kalema

 This poem was written in the 'Feeling' poetry anthology in honour of Hon. Canon Rhoda Kalema

Hon. Canon Rhoda Kalema

Every black and white photo is regal

The ones that came before the burden of selfies 

Where hair was parted with a line in the middle

And the afros sprouted on the great deeds of those decades

Black and white photos remind us of those

Who were able to outlive internal and external dangers.

They remind us of how colour was a luxury,

And living was a necessity

The people in those black and white photos

That wore loafers and sometimes white gloves

Whose families posed with the protectors at the back

And the guardians in the front

Those people in the black and white photos

Were the inventors of socialising without media.

They met for tea wearing floral dresses and bowling hats 

Talking about their unfiltered victories over polished silverware.

Hon. Rhoda Kalema created a passage for the oppressed

Where all women under misogyny and hurt

Found safety as they tunneled their way using their own light

They left cake crumbs and clues for those behind them.

The Mother of Uganda’s Parliament invented the first reality show

It was a black and white show where women and girls became.

It was a film where the real life heroes started trending

Uganda’s first hashtags were #RhodaKalema #RealLifeHero

Without any artificial lighting or eyelashes,

She waded through and drenched herself in the forbidden waters

Threw a lifeline for the thousands of Ugandans on the other side

Who had no thought of how to make it viral

They created their first black and white film

A reality show from a real life hero

Every black and white photo is regal

They are unfiltered images of  great deeds. 

                                            Poem by Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

Feeling-The Poetry Anthology Celebrating Iconic Ugandan Women

 

This Week's Best Kept Poetic Secret

 In the photo below, I am hugging this week's best kept poetic secret. 

Before I share it with you, may I thank you all so deeply, for your kind and warm comments and responses to the anniversary post I shared this Monday, 7th. My husband and I had a beautiful surprise, it was unexpected and lovely. Thank you.

This morning, I dressed in bright orange and mustard, to match the colours of  the Schooner, a global fusion series of poetry. My journey as an international collaborator of poetry began in 2012.

Poetry is an act of faith and faith without works is dead. In 2012, we began sending the winners of the Beverley Nambozo Poetry Award to Nairobi to participate in the Story Moja literary festival. Introducing the first Ugandan poets to the festival, each year the numbers of Ugandans increased highly. We met and interacted with leading writers, scholars and artrepreneurs from around the world.

In 2013, I met Prof. Kwame Dawes. He is a world renowned literary professor and also the poet laureate of Jamaica, with a real Jamaican accent. I stared at his grey moustache that kept dancing as he spoke in his Jamaican lilt. He was saying something about wanting me to serve as the focal point for Ugandan poets in this new fusion series of poetry. I was just so distracted.

After many nods and several questions, I began my journey as the official focalpoint for Uganda's fusion series, which is a curation of  thematised poems from Uganda, selected and edited by myself. What a task! I had just completed my Master's in Creative Writing and was working on our very first poetry anthology. This was huge.

Uganda's theme, Shoes, began. With carefully selcted poets who had a wide range of theme, boldness, originality and vision, we compiled our selection and submitted to Kwame and his team. In 2016, the digital book was published. 

Last year, the editorial team approached me again, requesting to publish the poems in print format. What a double blessing! In this print issue which I received this week, are 12 Ugandan poets whose poems lie beside international and literary honour. Some of them are previous winners of the Beverley Nambozo Poetry Award and Babishai poetry award, others are associates of Babishai.

You may shop for the issue here: THE SCHOONER GLOBAL FUSION SERIES

This is my week's best kept poetic secret. Thanks to the Ugandan poets who submitted their fine work under the theme of 'Shoes,' and to Edward Echwalu who provided the photography for the digital version.

As an act of faith, I said 'Yes' to Kwame Dawes and so many international doors have opened for many poets in Uganda. Say yes, in faith, to what you know deep down inside, is meant for you. It's not too big, it's faith, and then start the hard work after that. It is worth it.

   

I have just finished writing a biography of a Ugandan doctor and ready to write another one. Let me know if your story needs to be told.

Bless!

Bev

18 years of marriage and I do not have any marriage tips.

 Today is our 18th wedding anniversary and I still don't have any tips on marriage. 

It was on a sunny morning turned rainy afternoon on 07/07/07. Early that Saturday, I wore tight jeans and a top. By afternoon at Kampala Pentecostal Church, I was in a sparkling strapless wedding gown with a ring on my finger and an additional name. A beautiful name, I may add.

People keep asking me how we have made it. We have not made anything.

People keep asking me how I have remained myself, with my eccentric style, my zeal to remain true to what is valuable to me and my creative and energetic spirit. 

If marriage takes you away from your values, then the problem may not be the marriage but maybe it was that you traded yourself without knowing. It comes in bits. You were told to leave everything behind for this union and when you find yourself with bouts of depression, you cannot place your finger on it.

It has been 18 years and if feels like 18 days many times, because I still have plans for myself and both of us have many plans together. We pray a lot, as well. 

I see many people who place marriage and weddings on a pedestal and observed how it makes them lose their path. They stop doing what they enjoy. They stop nurturing their skills and talents and their conversations sound like panic attacks. 

The great news, is that if that is you, you can always return.

Marriage was always meant to be part of my journey; not the beginning or the end, but part of it. Part of my already powerful and creative life's journey. And I am glad about that. Both of us are able to grow as we ought. Both of us are able to raise the children, while still growing into our purpose. 

I made adjustments, yes, but I never stopped being a poet, a speaker, or a person who loves a global challenge. 

Protect your heart so that when people disappoint you, it may hurt but you will get back together, whole.

Protect your values so that when people do not align with them and reject you, you will not break into a thousand tiny pieces.

You can turn anything into a gold mine, into everlasting joy. Yes, of course you can.

Let God fill that space and when you do find someone to spend the rest of your life with, or when you find someone to partner with in business or when you find a friend or colleague at work to connect with, you will give each other space. You will respect each other's boundaries. That is how love will blossom. 

Allow the love to blossom. Do not stifle it or choke it by forcing it in one direction. Let it flourish. Keep on being whom you were always mean to be and when that looks like it's impossible, remember that it's not. Someone is always there to help.

You will both be free. 

Freedom is a verb.

Do I have any marriage tips? No, not even after 18 years. 

Happy Anniversary! And to many more.

Bless!

Bev

July 2025, Hello!

July 2025, Hello!

There is a sacred place where great things take place happens. Real greatness.

Change is inevitable. It is part of growth. We need to adjust our habits and one of the best ways to do that is to set high goals. I know a few people who have completed the 89 km annual Comrades Ultra-Marathon that takes place in Durban. To reach this goal, they had to change their diet, their exercise routine and even the people they spent time with.

Once you have attained something so significant, it is highly unlikely that you will slide into old habits.

I have known for a long time that I was born to reach the world through my poetry, writing, speaking and leadership. I had to develop certain habits to reach this goal. One of them was consistent reading, writing and also spending time with the most suitable mentors.

I also gravitated towards spending more time with those who think big ideas and are keen on finding solutions to global problems, instead of spending time on myopic discussions. 

Spending hours a day on my own, I think and plan a lot and when I reach out to anyone, it is intentional and meaningful. This week alone, first week of July 2025, I cannot even begin to explain in words the magnitutde of the impact of my interactions.

Meeting and speaking to people who are at a high level of vibration, self-aware and are deliberate on reaching high goals. My mind specifically directed me there.

Of course, there have been times when my mind was at a relatively low vibe and the people I met matched this. 

Not July. Not this month. Something has stirred. It was always there. Everyone has that gift. When you meet the right people who recognize your gift and match your vibration, the results will be obvious and your times of celebration will never end.

It is almost sacred; where there is no need to post about it to everyone, because it is hallow. You first relish it and share it amongst those who value it.

When you are seated with people who value you, you become unstoppable. When you are seated with people who do not value you, you become agitated and begin to second guess yourself.

High vibration meets high vibration. It is not just about chemistry. It is about those who are self-aware and who are keen on building their goals and fulfilling purposes that are founded on solid ideas, hard work and real impact.

July 2025, hello!

The Golden Years of Work (2001-2002)

 "The Golden Years of Work."

That is what one of my former colleagues from Rainbow International School Kampala, 2001-2002, called it.

Rainbow International School Kampala staff (2001-2002)

It was my very first job. I was in my early twenties, with the energy and zeal of a gazelle and the hunger of a starved buffalo. 

Imagine the elation of knowing that work ended at 3:30pm, except on Monday staff meeting days and day when supervising clubs, where it ended at about 4:00pm. A place where home time was respected so much that one day when the Headmaster saw me marking books after 4pm, he demanded that I return home to rest, or go out to have fun.

The Golden Years of Work.

Every communciation was printed and pasted on the staff noticeboard or sent in hard copy newsletters through the parents and students. I remember distributing some of these letters at home time, admonishing those who would not deliver the letters home to parents or guardians.

The Golden Years of Work.

There would be weekly meet-ups of staff at one of the hangouts near the school. And everyone would be invited, because there were no secret WhatsApp groups or hidden codes in email, since none of us ever used our staff emails. The internet lab was still trying to understand how to work in the new century.

We preferred to share our ideas and plans by word of mouth. Sometimes an English teacher would invite us for a cup of tea; or there would be potluck over the weekend.

Everyone knew what was going on in everyone's life and could not understand why I preferred to spend my weekends at church where I was part of a dynamic dance group, than going white water rafting. You see, my energy was boundless those days and I believe that it still is. I did go white water rafting and bungee jumping a few years later.

Dancing in church was one of the most positive ways I could spend my energy, sweating it out as I pranced and flew. And I used to fly. It was an experience, which I still relive today.

The Golden Years of Work.

Nobody showed up with the intent to outdo one another by dressing a certain way or posting on social media about how their lives were better. A mature person knows that someone who is content with their life, never has to prove it. They walk about with a confidence that is palpable; it is warm and genuine.

We had a lot of self-awareness. We lived for the present, while planning for the future.

I believe that is why the WhatsApp group of former staff at Rainbow is one of the most peaceful WhatsApp groups I am in. I do not feel agitated or attacked by any of the posts.

There are groups where people's intent is only to distress and destroy.

This one is different.

The Golden Years of Work.

Now, about that staff photo.

Why do teachers always pose the same way?

Bless!

Bev

Rainbow International School Kampala staff (2001-2002).

Ninkukunda

 The episode we didn't know we needed. 

Y'all must rush to the Hope against Hope show. Before anything, I must post the link below.

Hope Against Hope

This photo was taken when our first born was at that age where the socks keep slipping off.

Towards the end, someone started cutting onions and so I type this all teary-eyed. Pamela's closing statement, on what she would tell John were he alive,

"The entire world is waiting to see your manifestation."

To each of us. I believe we all need to hear that. We need to hear that there is so much inside of us. I usually tell each of my children every day, "Ninkukunda" meaning, I love you, and they say it back.

A day cannot go by without at least ten Ninkukundas resounding at home. Say it, show it and mean it. You just need to be available and present and that makes all the difference.

At first, I was ready to hear about John and the family dynamics of suicide, and walk away with more pity. Instead, I have walked away from this episode stronger and firmer in my convictions that we must feed our minds with what is true and noble.

We should be able to detect what triggers us and seek help from reliable professionals when it is needed.

We should be able to discern when someone needs a friend, and not a problem-solver or business partner; just a friend.

Reinette Gombya, you have brought such a gift to us all, a passage for us to be delivered, or at least understand how the process must begin. We are at different stages in life. Maybe we need to pause a bit before we go on, so that we are able to shed off that which burdens us unbearably.

Pamela Babirukamu, what a head space you have. What a heart. Thank you. To you and the family, thanks for continuing to educate us on these matters of life. 

Bless you all.

Bev