It is my wife’s responsibility to protect herself from her ex
Sulaiman (Grace) Sekamatte of Eagles Production Band converted to Islam to marry Sophia Kimbowa, a UK based Ugandan. However, one Farouk Kigenyi claimed she was his wife with whom he had three children.
Sulaiman (Grace) Sekamatte of Eagles Production Band converted to Islam to marry Sophia Kimbowa, a UK based Ugandan. However, one Farouk Kigenyi claimed she was his wife with whom he had three children. PIDSON KAREIRE caught up with Sekamatte
But, Swahaba, you are having lunch! I thought this was Ramadan. Aren’t you fasting?
You are right. I can fast but there are other things I have not fulfilled yet. Even if I fasted, it would not be considered by Allah. So I will wait till I complete all of them. But I am coping very well; for instance, I say five prayers a day.
You fall for a woman, you abandon your religion to marry her, only to discover she was actually married to someone else!
That is not true. I knew everything about Sophie and her man and she knew all about my family. We had discussed everything at length and agreed that it would work out. There were no surprises. The problem is that whoever broke the news told some lies. For example, she was not in a marriage. She tried but the marriage failed. When I got her, she had given up. She was not married. It was a boyfriend–girlfriend affair. So, I am clean in the eyes of Allah.
But you were married and you abandoned your wife and kids.
Yeah! It happens. I did not abandon anybody; we had parted ways when I got another lover.
What exactly happened?
There are times when you fail to sort out differences with someone. And when the condition persists, you throw in the towel. You cannot waste your whole life in eternal squabbles.
But what if your ex-wife begs you to come back?
I do not have a reverse gear in my mind. In fact, my reverse gear was erased from my system long time ago. Ebirungi birimumaso! (The good things are ahead).
People say you rushed to marry again. You separated in May, remarried in August!
What matters is did she find me single and searching? Why should I delay in single life?
You are such a handsome hard working guy, with lots of girls dying to be with you; why did you go for someone who has tried another marriage?
Because I love Sophie. Look at it like this; there are many reasons why someone can be naked. They can be going to bathe, sleep or for sex. In the same spirit, there are so many reasons why I chose her. But the most important reason was that according to me, she was marriage material. These other girls you are talking about are gold diggers.
You even had to change religion.
Why do you think she is the one who changed me? She is not! I have always admired Islam and wanted to change long before I met her. Do you know that Islam is supposed to be an African religion? It reflects African behaviour and the way of living. Muslims love one another and know each other; there is no individualism in Islam. It did not bother me to change from Christianity to Islam because I had planned for it.
What about your parents?
Some were very bitter because they did not know what was going on. Others were happy because their children were getting married. Parents always want to see their children happily married, don’t they?
But she has returned to London! Are you not worried that she might re-unite with Kigenyi?
I am not. It is all about mutual trust. I know you will say it depends on someone’s heart. We have seen people who build tall perimeter walls to protect their wives and still, the wives sleep with the houseboys. I cannot protect my wife from her ex. That is her responsibility.
Did she have to return to London?
Yes. She is studying at the University of Eastham, London. She is not working there as many people believe.
From permanent wife to long distance relationship. Do you know what that means?
It does not matter. It is the same way she will be feeling whenever I will be out singing at music shows. What matters is love.
People also say you are targeting UK citizenship.
I have no reason to target
kyeyo! I earn more money here in Uganda.
Am I right to say you have no regrets?
Absolutely. Life is a learning experience. I have realised that misunderstandings can be solved amicably, unlike in the past where it had to be chaotic.
But, Swahaba, you are having lunch! I thought this was Ramadan. Aren’t you fasting?
You are right. I can fast but there are other things I have not fulfilled yet. Even if I fasted, it would not be considered by Allah. So I will wait till I complete all of them. But I am coping very well; for instance, I say five prayers a day.
You fall for a woman, you abandon your religion to marry her, only to discover she was actually married to someone else!
That is not true. I knew everything about Sophie and her man and she knew all about my family. We had discussed everything at length and agreed that it would work out. There were no surprises. The problem is that whoever broke the news told some lies. For example, she was not in a marriage. She tried but the marriage failed. When I got her, she had given up. She was not married. It was a boyfriend–girlfriend affair. So, I am clean in the eyes of Allah.
But you were married and you abandoned your wife and kids.
Yeah! It happens. I did not abandon anybody; we had parted ways when I got another lover.
What exactly happened?
There are times when you fail to sort out differences with someone. And when the condition persists, you throw in the towel. You cannot waste your whole life in eternal squabbles.
But what if your ex-wife begs you to come back?
I do not have a reverse gear in my mind. In fact, my reverse gear was erased from my system long time ago. Ebirungi birimumaso! (The good things are ahead).
People say you rushed to marry again. You separated in May, remarried in August!
What matters is did she find me single and searching? Why should I delay in single life?
You are such a handsome hard working guy, with lots of girls dying to be with you; why did you go for someone who has tried another marriage?
Because I love Sophie. Look at it like this; there are many reasons why someone can be naked. They can be going to bathe, sleep or for sex. In the same spirit, there are so many reasons why I chose her. But the most important reason was that according to me, she was marriage material. These other girls you are talking about are gold diggers.
You even had to change religion.
Why do you think she is the one who changed me? She is not! I have always admired Islam and wanted to change long before I met her. Do you know that Islam is supposed to be an African religion? It reflects African behaviour and the way of living. Muslims love one another and know each other; there is no individualism in Islam. It did not bother me to change from Christianity to Islam because I had planned for it.
What about your parents?
Some were very bitter because they did not know what was going on. Others were happy because their children were getting married. Parents always want to see their children happily married, don’t they?
But she has returned to London! Are you not worried that she might re-unite with Kigenyi?
I am not. It is all about mutual trust. I know you will say it depends on someone’s heart. We have seen people who build tall perimeter walls to protect their wives and still, the wives sleep with the houseboys. I cannot protect my wife from her ex. That is her responsibility.
Did she have to return to London?
Yes. She is studying at the University of Eastham, London. She is not working there as many people believe.
From permanent wife to long distance relationship. Do you know what that means?
It does not matter. It is the same way she will be feeling whenever I will be out singing at music shows. What matters is love.
People also say you are targeting UK citizenship.
I have no reason to target
kyeyo! I earn more money here in Uganda.
Am I right to say you have no regrets?
Absolutely. Life is a learning experience. I have realised that misunderstandings can be solved amicably, unlike in the past where it had to be chaotic.