I Am From Poem v2 | Julius Weche

Origins

I am from Namabale and Butere

Parents whose lineage is from the Luhya tribe in Kenya

I am from the land of Ingokhoⁱ, Omurereⁱⁱ, Tsiswaⁱⁱⁱ, Ichai^iv and Tsingombe^v

With parents who were literally academic and other geniuses in their time

Faith

I am a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who forgave my sins, gave me eternal life.

A mentee of the para-church organisations; The Navigators, Word of Life, Life Ministries

Mentored by great Christian leaders; Rev Norman Dodman, Rev. Dr. Timothy Njoya and many others

Ultimately becoming an ACK (Anglican Church of Kenya) ordained Reverend

Modernity

In my childhood, I was rudely shocked into modernity from the sweet comfort of rural Luhyaland

Where life consisted of eating, playing, laughing at my grandfather's feet while herding cattle

Suddenly roughly sent to elite white man's schools; Nairobi Primary, Lenana School, University of Nairobi

Living in posh areas; Kenyatta University, Buru Buru Estate, South C, Westlands, Kyuna and Loresho

Finally graduating as a Vet Doctor, MBA (UK), PhD candidate

With US graduate studies Baltimore, Boston and Nairobi

From Governance to Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Negotiation at Harvard

Changes — Lenana School

I am from Changes – also known as Lenana School in Kenya

Where boys were harshly developed into men

Where I was introduced to sweet, R&B music of Commodores, Luther van Dross, Narada Michael Walden,

Bee Gees, Keith Sweat, James Ingram, Peabo Bryson and Michael Jackson

Music that creates language for emotions I am challenged to otherwise describe, analyse, explain

In Changes, Mumia House, suffered bullying atrocities in "the house of men"

Leading to Shotokan self-defense with Sensei Mike Schollay, Oss!^vi

Confidence mentoring life-skills, taught and trained the warrior in me

Never to look for trouble, conflicts or fights

But if brought to my door, gladly, enthusiastically and joyously engage!

Choleric by nature, trained Samurai and Ninjas, never far from full contact battles to the death

Skills exemplified in successive contact sports; rugby, soccer, hockey, Shotokan Karate

Skills delighted in training next generations for over 3 decades

Botswana

I am Leruo^vii, Ngaka^viii wa^ix dikgomo^x

Mukwerekwere^xi from Gaborone, Botswana; my acquired second home

Influenced by Setswana, magwinya^xii, dikgomo and molemo^xiii in Mogoditshane^xiv

Place of birth for my first born beloved daughter, Christie

Passionate about good governance and leadership witnessed by Tautona^xv Masire, Mogae

Friend of the late First Lady Ruth Khama^xvi & daughter Jackie

Inspired by the humanity of the humble Batswana

Grateful for the amazing lifelong relationships formed in this land

Wondering where and why, the rest of us Africans missed this boat?

China And The World

I am a global traveler

In China, known as Wei Chung^xvii

Celebrated bucket list of climbing the Great Wall of China

Business manufacturer of medical products

Travelled across China; by land, rivers and air

I am a man influenced by the Chinese mindset

Literally witnessing their success from poverty to affluence

Lands as far as Thailand, Malaysia, Fiji

Where I marveled at God's incredible image in all mankind

Harvard And Mentorship

I am an academic from AKAD^xviii at Harvard Business & Law Schools

Where the vision for youth mentorship ministry was born and nurtured

Born in the icy cold winters of Massachusetts

Where passionate professors like David Matz taught, challenged and brought out my best

As a result, birthed and revealed deep things keeping me young at heart, purpose for life

Children And Calling

Resulting in being a grateful parent, loving my 40+2 children

Biological and acquired children, loved the same, disciplined the same

Christie and Graca, acquired from China, Botswana, Kenya; Lele, Mudiwa, Nyamawih, Brian, Michael, Yuri, Boniface, Jeff, James, Josphat, Ernest, David, Agnes, Ida, Anne, Mercylyn, Martha, Salma.....

Children who have since become literally spread all around the world

I long to mentor the next 100 Mandelas

The next 100 Vimal Shah billionaires

While living, witnessing successful future of Kenya, Africa and the world

Transformational Leadership

In keeping with the experience of Dubai, United Arab Emirates' leadership successes

Where I lived, worked, loved, tasted and experienced transformational leadership reloaded

Witnessing first hand, what true wealth and riches look like in the humble billionaires

And believe the same can be done in Africa, Kenya, Nairobi; down to my rural village.

Footnotes

i Ingokho: The Western Kenya, Luhya word ingokho (or ingoho) translates in English language to chicken or hen.

ii Omurere: The Luhya word Omurere (also spelled Murere, Omere, or Omerere) translates in English to jute mallow or Jew's mallow. It is a highly popular, nutritious traditional leafy green vegetable.

iii Tsiswa: The Luhya language of western Kenya word tsiswa (sometimes spelled echiswa or chiswa) refers to winged or flying termites.

iv Ichai: In the Luhya language word "ichai" translates directly to tea in English.

v Tsing'ombe: The Luhya word tsing'ombe translates to "cows" or "cattle" in English, with "tsi-" as a plural prefix, and "ng'ombe" (derived from the Swahili loanword) means cow or cattle.

vi Oss: Pronounced "oss" or "osu", it is a versatile respectful martial arts term in greeting and embodies the spirit of perseverance, discipline and respect. It signifies pushing through difficulties, enduring hardship and respecting instructors and training partners.

vii Leruo: In Setswana language in this context, translates to livestock. Word also translates to wealth, assets or prosperity.

viii Ngaka: In Setswana language of Botswana, "ngaka" primarily translates to doctor, medical doctor, or physician.

ix Wa: In Setswana, the word wa (or wa-) usually translates to "of" in English, acting as a possessive or connecting particle.

x Dikgomo: In Setswana, "dikgomo" is the plural form of "kgomo." It translates to "cows" or "cattle" in English.

xi Makwerekwere: An informal, highly derogatory slur used in South Africa, Botswana, and other parts of Southern Africa to refer to black foreign nationals or immigrants.

xii Magwinya: In Setswana, "magwinya" (plural, or "legwinya" in the singular) translates to "fat cakes" or "doughnuts" in English.

xiii Molemo: In Setswana, the word molemo translates in this context to "medicine". It can also mean "goodness" or "benefit".

xiv Mogoditshane: A bustling, rapidly growing peri-urban town in Botswana's Kweneng District, situated just outside the capital city, Gaborone. Acting as a vibrant extension of the Gaborone conurbation, it features a mix of urban amenities.

xv Tautona: In Setswana translates to President or Head of State. Literally, the word is a compound term that means "The Great Lion"; combines words tau (lion) and tona (great, big, or important).

xvi Ruth Williams Khama: Lady Khama (née Williams; 9 December 1923 – 22 May 2002) was the wife of Botswana's first president Sir Seretse Khama, Paramount Chief of its Bamangwato tribe. She served as the inaugural First Lady of Botswana from 1966 to 1980.

xvii Wei Chung: The translation of my name "Weche" given by my Chinese business partners (1995-2004). In Chinese, "Wei Chung" (often written as Wèi Zhōng in Mandarin or Wai Chung in Cantonese) is primarily a combination of a Chinese surname and a given name, meaning "Great Loyalty" or "Magnificent and Faithful".

xviii AKAD: An acronym for the mentorship organisation; formed by combining initials of original founders in Asia and adopted to Africa.