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!