Kakamega Poet Says Late Grandma's Troubled Life Built Her Into Resilient Woman: "Daughter Of Dogs"

• Betty Wamalwa grew up witnessing her grandmother's resilience amid the challenges of being widowed twice and struggling to conceive a son
• Her never-ending misfortunes earned her the name Umkhana we Chimbwa, meaning "daughter of dogs" in Luyia
• Although the grandmother has passed away, her indomitable spirit transformed Betty into a resilient woman who has grown into an internationally recognized poet and playwright
• She now goes by the stage name Sitawa The Third Namwalie

Betty Wamalwa, known affably as Sitawa The Third Namwalie, has emerged as a luminary figure in the Kenyan art scene.

Her rise to the top is a tale of resilience, creativity, and artistic triumph, a journey that started with someone else: her grandmother.

Grandmother had difficult life

In an interview with Dada Next Door, the mother of three disclosed that she is the granddaughter of a woman who nicknamed herself Umkhana we Chimbwa.

It's a Luyia word that translates to "daughter of dogs," a name she chose because personal challenges marred her life.

"She was widowed twice, and in the African setup people don't just die, so she was always considered the suspect," she said.

Her woes were made worse by the fact that she perennially gave birth to daughters in a society that recognised sons more.

Grandma's story shaped her

Sitawa says the grandmother had an aura of mystery, from having ears that looked different from her kind and a wooden plug on her chin.

"She had all these negative things hovering over her name, yet she remained one of the most beautiful souls I've ever met," the poet recalled.

The elderly woman died when Sitawa was only 11 years old, but her struggles left an indelible impression on the young visionary.

Her story would become Sitawa's source of strength and resilience as she fought to change her story and leave a different legacy.

Pushed her way into industry

She graduated with a degree in Zoology and Botany before pursuing a Master's in Environmental Science at Clark University in Massachusetts.

During her formative years, she became so passionate about the environment that the United Nations headhunted her to lead a programme on the environment.

Despite being into sports and art from a young age, she never realised she would become a full-blown poet later in life.

That was until 2007, when she attended a poetry event that moved her to the level of feeling there was a void she needed to fill.

"I went home and wrote my first poem called Land of Guiltless Leaders, and started looking for chances to perform," she said.

Had several shows in UK

Her inborn desire to always rise to the top pushed her to seek countless avenues to showcase her poetry acumen, so much so that the industry started noticing her.

Just after the tumultuous post-election violence, Sitawa organised a groundbreaking poetry event that featured artists from diverse ethnic groups.

The event was a sold-out success, opening doors to a new sojourn into poetry that has seen her perform in Kenya and abroad.

She secured a show in the UK, where she took 11 Kenyan artists to showcase the rich tapestry of the country's artistic expression.

"The Kibaki era also ushered in newfound freedom for artists, allowing our minds to roam and create without fear of intimidation or arrest," she continued.

Awarded by President William Ruto

Sitawa, a playwright extraordinaire, has authored several works of art, including the celebrated Cut Off My Tongue, Room of Lost Names, and Silence is a Woman.

She believes her curiosity, which sparked in childhood and occasionally led her into trouble, is the force that has propelled her to explore uncharted territories in the world of creativity.

Her contributions to the arts were not unnoticed, as the president recognised her on Mashujaa Day 2023 as a national hero.

Drops of Melanin

In an earlier article, TUKO.co.ke highlighted the story of Najma, a Kenyan-Somali woman who grew up in a marginalised community.

She became an orphan and went through a rough patch in life that saw her drop out of campus and end up in hospital.

As she braved the lonely hospitalisation period, she remained sane by venting through poems, which gave birth to an emotional book that introduced her to the world.

Seven years later, Najma, now known as Drops of Melanin, is an acclaimed poet who performs worldwide and serves clients like World Vision and the UN.