28/11/2023
On November 21, 1990, my parents were blessed with a baby boy. Amidst the joyous celebration, my mother nurtured me with the hope that I would one day become the family's pillar of strength and responsibility. With unwavering dedication, she never gave up on her aspirations for me.
In 1999, when I was nine years old, my mother began to instill in me the importance of manhood and the responsibilities it entails. While her words were initially difficult for me to grasp, I grew up surrounded by a family that instilled in me a sense of duty and understanding that not all paths are meant for everyone, but that those who embark on them must do so with unwavering commitment.
In 2009, I visited my mother in Otjiwarongo, where she revisited the lessons she had imparted to me as a nine-year-old. She reminded me of the expectations placed upon me as the family head, emphasizing the need for unity and peace within our household. She stressed that my role extended beyond mere sustenance; it was my responsibility to foster harmony among us.
Receiving this weighty responsibility at the age of nineteen, with limited education and employment prospects, was daunting. While there were elder members of the family who were educated, employed, and financially well-off, I was determined to embrace my role without succumbing to self-doubt or comparison.
Despite the challenges, I stepped up to the plate and embraced my role as the family head. I adopted the moniker Osh*tutumina shepata laukwanangobe Epata lakula ndahanga talifulupo eeNgudi dakula ndahanga tadipoyoka omatwi, signifying my commitment to unity, peace, and prosperity within our family.