Your Uniqueness Can Make People Remember You

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

That week, Mwanakwetu was the teacher on duty at Isimani Secondary School. He carried out his responsibilities well while the students continued with their activities and focused on their studies.

On that particular day while he was on duty, Mwanakwetu noticed several parents arriving at the school asking where the teachers’ office was located. They were directed there so they could meet the discipline teacher.

As the teacher on duty, Mwanakwetu wanted to know what was happening at the school. He learned from the discipline teacher that a group of girls living in the dormitories at the Isimani Parish had exchanged harsh words with a Catholic nun who served as their caretaker in the dormitory.

The discipline teacher listed the names of the girls involved and said:

 “If any of their parents arrive, don’t hesitate to bring them to my office so we can discuss the matter.”

For the reader’s understanding, this happened in early 2005, when the Member of Parliament for Isimani was Hon. William Lukuvi.

At that time, the school was a day secondary school from Form One to Form Four. A small number of boys were accommodated in two classrooms converted into dormitories. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church at Isimani Parish provided two dormitories at the parish for girls, offering them accommodation at a low cost after the MP had requested this assistance.

Mwanakwetu fulfilled his duty by directing the parents to the discipline teacher, and the matter continued to be discussed.

On that day, the Catholic nun also arrived extremely angry. Perhaps even before the meeting began, the Bishop of the Diocese at that time, Taricisius Ngalale Kumtwa, might already have received a quick phone call informing him about what had happened. The nun looked visibly upset; her eyes were red from the argument she had with the girls, all of whom were Form Four students.

Dear reader, it may be helpful if I briefly describe the Isimani Parish at that time:

The parish was led by an Italian priest known as Father Angela. It also ran several agricultural projects, including large maize farms, and owned tractors that were rented out to local farmers.

The cause of the argument between the senior Form Four girls and the nun was not known to Mwanakwetu. What he witnessed was only the process of resolving the conflict.

 

In 2005, Isimani Division was still very rural. Most students came from poor families, and there was a growing demand for housemaids from Iringa. If housemaids were animals like antelopes, then Iringa Region would have been like Mikumi National Park because of how many were sought after.

Soon the time came for students to go home. The bell rang. The girls and those who lived in rented rooms in town left for their homes, while the boys staying in the two school dormitories returned there. The girls who stayed at the parish returned to the parish residence.

Dear reader, remember that the disciplinary meeting with the girls and their parents was still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Mwanakwetu continued his duties. He supervised the boarding students as they ate their meal of ugali and beans, while students listened to Bongo Flava music on their radios. The school had no electricity.

By evening, only two teachers remained at the school: the discipline teacher in the meeting and Mwanakwetu, who was on duty.

It is also important to understand that Mwanakwetu had only one Nokia phone, and the only place with network coverage at the school was behind the teachers’ toilet. If someone called while you were in the office, you had to run behind the toilet to answer the call—without caring whether someone inside was suffering from diarrhea or not. That was their own problem.

Mwanakwetu finished writing the day’s report in the office and prepared to leave for Isimani Town, where he lived in a village house near the Iringa–Dodoma road, close to a mosque beside the village warehouse.

Before he left, the disciplinary meeting ended. Parents came out with their daughters and each went their own way home—some by bicycle, others on foot. These were Tanzanian parents from places like Chamundindi, Pawaga, Migori, Nduli, Ndolela, and even Iringa Town—each heading back to their own village.

 

The discipline teacher left the office last and said:

“Makwega, I’ve finished dealing with the conflict. I’m going home now. Close the school offices.”

Mwanakwetu locked all the offices, delivered the keys to the deputy headmaster’s house, and began the fifteen-minute walk to his home.

Along the way he saw a very beautiful woman ahead of him. She looked familiar—as if he had seen her earlier at school. He quickened his pace and wondered, Where is this woman from?

Remember, Mwanakwetu was originally from Mbagala in Dar es Salaam, and here he was in rural Isimani in Iringa, encountering someone he could hardly believe he was seeing.

He was taking a shortcut toward Isimani Town when he realized that the woman was one of the parents whose daughters had argued with the nun at the parish dormitory.

He wondered why this mother seemed different from the other parents who had come to the meeting.

He hurried toward her like a thirsty drunk who had not tasted alcohol for a month. When he caught up with her, he greeted her respectfully and said ‘Shikamoo, mama.’ She responded politely.

Being very talkative, Mwanakwetu spoke with her for a while. She explained that she had come from the school regarding the case involving her daughter and mentioned the punishment the girls had been given.

Mwanakwetu asked her, What is your daughter’s name?

She replied:

“My daughter is called Akwilina Aqunata Koliwaka, a Form Four student.”

Mwanakwetu remembered her and said:

 “Your daughter is very calm, quiet, shy, and well-mannered.”

Since he liked this woman, he asked many questions, and she answered them all:

“We are Ngoni from Songea. My husband is a retired soldier from the Tanzania People’s Defence Force. He has worked in many parts of Tanzania. Right now he works with the Catholic Diocese of Iringa here at the parish, which is why we are living here. You know, teacher, military families move around a lot. If you are not careful, you might end up lost in someone else’s region. I have lived in many places, and even these children of mine were not born here. Teacher, you are very welcome to visit our home.”

Mwanakwetu walked with her to the bus stand. She eventually found transport and told him she was going to Migori, where she lived with her family.

Mwanakwetu waited until the vehicle arrived. After she boarded, he returned home.

From the following days onward, Mwanakwetu began using the names Akwilina, Aqunata, Koliwaka, and Ngoni of Songea when constructing example sentences in the two subjects he taught—either English or Kiswahili grammar.

This surprised the students of Isimani. Eventually, Mwanakwetu told them that he liked Akwilina’s mother very much because, among all the parents who had come that day, she looked particularly impressive.

Many students wanted to know why their teacher seemed to be hiding something about meeting Akwilina’s mother on the road after closing the office. Mwanakwetu did not fully explain the story to the Form Four students, but he told it in detail to the Form Three students, who were fewer.

He said:

“Honestly, I’m not hiding anything. What I told you is exactly how our conversation went on the road.”

Even today, whenever Mwanakwetu sees Akwilina Koliwaka on social media, he remembers this story vividly.

What lesson does Mwanakwetu give today?

Dear reader, you might think he was being biased among those parents. That is not true. It was simply that this mother stood out from the others because of her elegance, and that difference made him remember her.

Remember this: among a group of people, certain differences can make others remember you. But my advice is that your uniqueness should be something good—something positive.

Mwanakwetu did not tell the full story to the Form Four students in 2005 for one simple reason: Akwilina herself was sitting in that classroom.

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember:

“Your Uniqueness Can Make People Remember You.”

Have a good day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com

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