03/01/2026
What New Year Message Would Okot p’Bitek Tell Parents Today?
In 1981, Lee Nicholas in an interview quoted Okot p'Bitek crediting his family background for making him the writer he became.
“……..I think from my father I learnt a lot of stories and style of telling stories. But from my mother I learnt a great deal about poetry, song and dance….” (Nicholas 1981,243).
This is quoted in Prof. Okumu Charles Nelson's article, The Life and Times of Okot p'Bitek.
Why did Okot refer to his parents and not his western education or Christian religion? As parents today, what lesson do we learn from Okot p’Bitek’s recollection?
On December 23rd, Amony Queency (13), a pupil of EL-Shaddai Primary School launched her debut book, Songs of a Sister- a collection of poems.
Amony was introduced to a Creative Writing Workshop (Poetry) organized by Author Aliker Foundation through her father, Pastor Odong Alfred of Deliverance Church, Gulu City.
This workshop was organized for secondary school students, but her parents encouraged her to attend.
As a child, Amony had expressed her dream to become a Writer and travel the world speaking for the voiceless.
Besides preparing her for our Home-Schooling Program, Amony's mother Mrs Acaa Evelyn escorted her to our Slam Poetry Programs.
After two years, Author Aliker Foundation/Publishers transformed Amony's assignments into a manuscript and published it.
What do you think happened to other high school students? If their attendance of a paid workshop was granted by their parents, what memories do you think were crafted in the minds of their children the day Amony launched her book?
Unlike the much older students, Amony's parents encouraged and supported her to be what she wants to become in future.
Amony's ordinary parents, like all other parents, had conflicting priorities but they chose their daughters dream as a priority. Is your child your priority? Or a bar, a car or your ‘side chic.’
In so doing, they crafted a lasting memory in the mind of their daughter Amony that she is unlikely to ever forget.
It is this kind of memory that Okot p'Bitek referred to during an interview with Lee Nicholas.
This is the kind of memory that influences a child's future to become who they want to be.
There are likely other peers of Okot p'Bitek whose parents had the means but not their child's priority.
It is also likely Okot's peers had dreams but were never encouraged and supported by their parents.
Either they met success in what they didn’t like but their parents loved, or they remained little known mediocre for life.
Yet if their parents had encouraged and supported them in their dreams, their success would have been as recognized as Okot p'Bitek’s success hence, more fulfilled in their lifetime than they are today.
I have no idea what Okot p’Bitek would tell parents today in his new years message, but if we must learn anything from Okot p’Bitek’s life or the extraordinary action of Pastor Odong and family; then it is that our children’s school education and religious faith is very important but only complements our invaluable learning that takes place in the school call home.
To attest to this fact, Pastors from Deliverance Church, Gulu City and Teachers from EL-Shaddai attended the book launch and complemented Amony Queency and her family.
As you begin your new year 2026, I implore you to prioritize the school call Home for your children and complement it with school education and religion.
I call on you to sign up your children for our Creative Writing Program (Poetry) for children (below 15 yrs).
Our Home-Schooling Program will run for a full year with graduation of another book launch in December 2026.
Only 10 slots are Available.
Happy New Year, 2026.
