Humanist

My favorite holiday is when I get to spend time with loved ones that I often don’t get to spend quality time with.

Like, recently, my cousin sister Martha Amogin, now Mrs. Oyoka, daughter of the late brother of my toto (mum), uncle Sam Diga, invited to her home her ijas (aunts) – my toto, Anna, and her two sisters – Mary and Phoebe.

By the way, the invite was delivered last year in December, when Martha and her family physically visited each and everyone of her ijas, delivering Christmas gifts and inviting them to visit with her at her home this year.

Martha is showing gratitude to her ijas. She is forever grateful to her ijas for raising and supporting her when her late father, their brother, rested and left her so very young, I am told.

When her father died, Martha moved in with her Ija Phoebe who became her primary guardian, I learnt. Her ija Phoebe took the lead covering her costs, including of school fees, with the support of her other ijas.

Toto Phoebe to me and Ija Phoebe to Marha

I had last seen Martha when she was a very young girl. Martha is now a Lecturer at a teacher training institute and is pursuing a university masters degree in education.

This is how far she has come and Marth, a married woman and mother of three boys, appreciates that without the support of her ijas, should would not have come thus far.

Anyway, when I heard about her gratitude event, hosting her Ijas, my totos, I tagged along and off to Soroti we went.

Martha, her husband Ejakait Joseph Oyoka and his people gave us a mighty welcome and a fabulous time, which I will write about in another blog post.

Anyway, as Martha went about hosting her ijas, my totos, I got to spend quality time with them and my niece, Valerie Alinga, who was also with us. The conversations were really great and hilarious!

Toto Mary to me and Ija Mary to Martha

I learnt how my toto’s eldest sister, toto Mary, 83 years old, is such a comedian. She regaled us with tells about her household, which are still on my mind, putting a smile on face for a long while to come, I believe.

Especially, her unexpected punch lines, she delivered in a version of the English language thrown in our language of the fourth largest first nation of Uganda, Ateso.

As for my toto Phoebe, a woman with the kindest heart, I tell you. And it was really fascinating for me to learn about her land investments all the way from Mbale to Kumi, and, and. As we drove past, she kept pointing them out. Wow!

Physically showing loved ones gratitude when they are still alive is a good thing. My cousin Martha is doing it well. And what a supportive husband her Joseph is.

And so, for me, holidays in which we celebrate and show gratitude to our loved ones, by spending time with them, are on the top of my list.

Profiled photo: My toto (ija to Martha), Martha and her husband Joseph at the Oyoka’s home in Soroti.