Diana Ferrus

I met Diana Ferrus in 2011 in Johannesburg, at the African Women Writers' Symposium. 

Diana Ferrus was a poet and storyteller. Autographing her book for me, which contained her famous poem, 'I've come To Take You Home,' I was drawn to this charismatic and down-to-earth woman. We spoke a lot about poetry and life, and she was so encouraging. We still kept in touch, years later.

I learned about her poem,  'I've Come to take You Home,' which she wrote in response to the cruel treatment South African woman Sarah Baartman received, at the hands of Europeans in the early 1800s.  

Sarah was enslaved and taken to Europe and because of her unique features, exploited and exhibited in public. She tragically died when she was 25 years old.

Diana shared the story of her poem, 'I've Come to Take You Home,' which she wrote, reiterating the horrific journey of Sarah Baartman to Europe and the treatment she experienced.

Diana was deeply moved and as a way to honour Sarah, wrote this poem little knowing the profound impact it would have. French Senator Nicholas About, came across the poem and started the process of repatriating Sarah's remains to South Africa.

And when Sarah's remains were safely returned, it was a moment of victory. The pem is indeed powerful.

I would have loved to meet Diana again physically. That will not happen. I am glad that I did get to meet this icon. I am glad that I got to meet a genuine, brilliant and beautiful soul. She may not be with us on earth and yet her works live on. 

Farewell, Diana.

Beverley N Nsengiyunva

Diana is on the left, autographing her poetry collection for me, 2011. 

https://beverleynambozon.blogspot.com/2026/01/diana-ferrus.html

Top 40 Under 40 Women Executives in Uganda

Here I am,  in June 2015, amongst the Top 40 Under 40 women Executives in Uganda, for the work that my team and I were doing to promote, export, and nurture homegrown poetic talent.

It was a great honour to be placed amongst other noble under 40-year-old women from Uganda.

I used to admire my friends who would feature in the newspapers for their writing. 

When I stopped dwelling on it, the opportunities came flooding in and it was not only Uganda but other countries as well, that became interested in our work.

 I remain grateful to 'The New Vision' for this recognition and to other mainstream media like The Monitor, The East African, leading dailies from Africa; Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania, that have supported the work of the Beverley Nambozo Poetry Award and the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation.

When you stop dwelling on your desires, they come flooding in. I have tested this time and again. You attract when you stop chasing. 

Beverley's Review of Albert Camus' The Stranger

 I complete the final pages of my PDF version of ‘The Stranger,’ by Albert Camus.

The suspension is excruciating. The balance between life and death. Camus blends the fickleness, fragility and potency of death, in such a remarkable way.

Monsieur Meursault, the protagonist, receives news of his mother’s death and his unusual reaction raises one’s eyebrows. He may easily be described as flippant, because of his brisk and forthright nature, or just brutally honest and authentic, because he does not seek validation from systems or from persons in positions of authority.

Throughout the novel, the reader encounters death in various forms; death of relationships, imminent death of frail and sick people, death of dreams, unrequited love and more. It is these various stages of death that make life more valuable and enables the reader to try and understand the pragmatic nature of the protagonist.

It is this pragmatism, though, that leads to an unfortunate series of events that escalate quickly and put his Monsieur Meursault ego and intellect to the ultimate test.

The French culture offers unique insight into their legal system, their social etiquette and their fashion. Algeria is positioned as a booming economy of the last century, with people from all walks of life, navigating gender dynamics and interactions with the predominantly Arab culture.

It is these interactions with the Arabs that offer crucial understanding of the setting.

‘The Stranger’ is an extremely well-written story. It is pivotal to reader from all cultures, and important in its rich description dialogue, monologue and plot.

 

The book is available for free online, and is notably amongst the past century’s classics, first published in 1942 in France.

 

Reviewed by Beverley N Nsengiyunva

Dr. Ignatius James Bawala

Akusa used to talk about her seven sisters and one brother and I would marvel. She rolled their names off her tongue,

Barbara, Rebecca, Susan, Dorcas, Moses, Akusa, Fiona, Pauline. The elder sisters would confuse me with their close resemblance. It was Moses, Akusa, Fiona and Pauline whom I became more acquainted with and Akusa (Axa), classmates in Kampala Parents and for a few years at Gayaza High School, who became a friend.

Our friendship grew over our competitive love for sports, our mothers both good friends and members of the United Tropical Planters Association (UTPA) in Uganda, and belonging to larger communities together.

On 31 December of 2025, Axa's dad, Dr. Ignatius James Batwala died.

(courtesy photo)

He was a renowned obstetrician gynaecologist in Uganda, whose care and expertise were well known in Uganda and beyond. A loving father, whose tributes from the children left man hearts warmed, and a loving husband to Ida, his wife of over 50 years.

When they speak of legacy, Dr. Batwala surely created a powerful legacy as a strong and supportive member of his community and a genuine loving father and husband. 

In addition, was his work as a doctor. The testimonies from his patients are worth writing down in a book.

Axa may not remember but when m own father died in 1991, she actually made a wreath for us.

To hear the countless tributes poured in for Dr. Batwala is touching and well-deserved.

I pray that for us who are still here walking this earth, we make it a better  place everyday; knowing that we do not know  when God will call us. It is our duty to bless His name with our work and love our families and communities.

As parents, our children will emulate and embody us. 

May they embody a life that is enriched by purpose and faith.

Bless!

Bev

I'm Ending my 2025 Celebrations With Swimming

I focused so much on poetry this year with the laudable and celebratory publication and launch of 'Feeling,' the poetry anthology celebrating iconic Ugandan women. 

I choose to end my 2025 celebrations with swimming. I have been swimming as an experienced aquatic individual for close to 30 years. Some of those years were hghly consistent while others were not so much.

 

After spending  copious amounts of time writing, editing and speaking poetry, I went back to my favourite sport, which is swimming.

The refreshing coolness of the water. The acoustic nature of the splashes. The welcoming aqua blue. The way my body glides like a good dream. Swimming matches my personality. It invigorates me. It provides pleasure of such magnificent measure.

It was almost 30 years ago while an undergraduate that my friend Pamela Namutebi introduced me to the wider universe of swimming. I learned the breast stroke, backstroke and butterfly, thanks to her.

 Thanks to her, swimming is the reason why my body is in great shape.

Bless!

Bev

The Faith That Changes You

There is a faith that changes you. There is a situation that comes into your life that is so significant, pivotal and sacred that it defines the rest of your life, your thoughts and your presence.

I listened to Miriam Ekirapa Musaali's story. Miriam was the Director of Legal and Board Affairs at Capital Markets Authority in Uganda, a loved and distinguished individual. I had always known Miriam to be a woman of faith, until I listened to her story and the very definition of faith shifted.

Jack, her husband, is an old friend of mine and a son to a fellow writer, Philomena. Miriam and Jack lived a perfect life, which she herself testified in her story. And indeed by every standard of the word. Married for twenty years, living in a  dream home, climbing the corporate ladders of success, in fields of their choosing. 

Miriam held a first class Master's degree in Law, from the highly coveted Cambridge University in England. She was receiving recognition for her hard work and making positive impact in the communities. Both her and Jack were blessed with three children and came from loving families on both sides. Theirs was a dream.

Their life was actually beyond perfect. God was clearly in everthing that they did; devout and admired Christians.

It was not until 2023, when, as Miriam puts it, her life went from 1,000 to 0. She was diagniosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. After what appeared to be a stomach ache at the end of 2022, she visited doctor after doctor and was tested for typhoid and other infections, until a colonoscopy revealed that she actually had colon cancer.

A revelation of this kind would test anyone's faith as it did indeed test Miriam and Jack. And yet, what happened was a strengthened resolve to build their faith. I do not know how they did it. With over 20 rounds of treatment and over 60 trips to specialists, with physical pain that could only best be described as hell within hell and bills that amounted to over half a billion Uganda shillings (over 150,000 USD).

How does a couple that has lived a worthy life, generous and loved, gifted in every way, overcome such devastation. How do they survive this!

Miriam spoke of pains that came from every pore of her body. The anguish she experienced was actuall hell within hell. And et she still continued in prayer. Jack prayed ceaselessly for his wife, and together with relatives, they accompanied Miriam on the frequent trips for treatment and care.

The faith that saw them through this was similar to the faith that Abraham had when he trusted God to the point of giving up his only promised son. And God blessed Abraham because of his faith.

The faith that Miriam had was similar to Hannah's, who cried for significant time for God to remove her barrenness. And He did.

Miriam and Jack had a faith that only comes with a promise.

It has been a very long time since I listened to people of faith testifying with such passion, sharing God's word with such earnestness and believing so strongly in the Living Word.

This loving coupld did not fundraise for treatment. Trusting in faith, all the medical bills were cleared. In the midst of this hurricane, their faith saw them through.

When Iistened to the story, I no longer felt sad that Miriam passed away. I felt encouraged. Miriam's life was fulfilled. Jack and the children are in safe hands with God.

I would like to thank Miriam for sharing her story of faith. Even though she is no longer with us on earth, her faith continues to move mountains.

Bless.

Beverley N Nsengiyunva

I am a Swimmer

Swimming is the language that my body fully comprehends.

While I used to swim as a child, it was Pamela Namutebi (Mrs, Ngobye), who taught me how to become A SWIMMER.

For close to 30 years now, I have been swimming with ease, manoeuvering through the water with aquatic calmness. 

If any other person had taken the reins to coach me, I probably would not be swimming as I do. I had the right coach and I had the right attitude, thanks to her.

If you want to progress well and progress far, get someone who truly cares about your journey and who has proven positive experience as well. There are so many self-help gurus whom we have become addicted to and yet with little impact to show for it.

What do you really want?

Find someone who will genuinely take you there. If you have to pay for it, then by all means do and keep checking your progress.

If you are in Kampala Uganda, I highly recommend Waves Fitness Centre in Kiwatule. They open at 6am all week and are clean, professional and trustworthy.

Bless!

Bev