The Okapi Reserve

Category: General | Date: May 22 2007 | By: admin

She was born in Mambasa on 1945, and married to Mr. DJAFARI MWENDENDA during the colonial period in DRCongo. Mother of 8 kids whose: 4 boys and 4 daughters. I am the 4th born. Her husband passed away since 1988 and buried in Mambasa town. Mum Salama did her best to support school fees until 4 of us succeeded to graduate.

Mum SALAMA ZUENA : 3 Months before her sickness

What remains engraved in my heart is only her devotion to take care of her grandsons (25) during her life. She could not eat a banana without a little bit to the opportunist grandson, African as she was, is not dieing but going somewhere with all benediction

Mum Salama in hospital

She was suffering from chickenpox for almost 3 weeks. The treatment of this sickness was well but 2 weeks later she got weak and weak, and then died in Mambasa hospital around 4:00pm of 8th May, 2007.

The funeral took place on 9th of May, 2007 and I was not around. She was Muslim, and only her church brothers could bury her in our native locality Bavalakaniki. The Muslim doctrine does not allow woman accompanies a late to the graveyard reason why only men surround the coffin.

Faithful muslim surround the coffin

Women stand by under tree regreating the death

Grrandchildren crying their groundmother

After the burying ceremony, I was arriving from Wamba (North sector of the Reserve) and went to see the grave. It was not easy to me understanding the situation, pure for my young brother studying in Kisangani University who did not assist until know to the ceremony.

Somba in front of the grave.

The Islam culture advances that 3 days later, people can meet and read the holy Koran for the late. So, we organize it on 13th of May, 2007 and divide up the food prepared accordingly.

Cooking time of beaf meat, beans , rice ……

Grandchildren busy eating.

Atmosphere after the ceremony

Somba thinking about the death of his Mum….

After all, I remained thinking particularly to those grandsons left by my big brother who again passed away on 2000, and were in full responsibility of this late woman .Any way, I shoulder this heavy responsibility.

My last wish is to see again my Mum if possible, if no …I exhort the God of my ancestors to keep in peace her heart.

Somba

Technorati : congo, epulu, okapi. wildlifedirect