If you study what Biblical covenant means, it isn’t a contract. It is never really broken especially when a marriage covenant produces children. People forever become one through their children and praise God that I have one of the best baby daddy’s in the world.This isn;t some romantic play, but simply following what the Bible says about giving respect where respect is due. We were two hurting kids when we eloped. I was still healing from being sexually assaulted at Spelman and my favorite Uncle dying. Dr. Nokuri was a young refugee fleeing political oppression and his father died on his 22nd birthday in 1998.
Being the Pan Africanist missionary that I was walking in the tradition of my grandfather Deacon Boyd and Grandmother Beatrice Baker Duke,my heart broke when this young man, a great soccer player with dreams to help his country, couldn’t go back and bury his Father. So at 19 yrs old I pledged to help him fufill his dreams and the dreams that his father had for him. (Sidebar: Some of that was fueled by my competitive spirit, because Sam’s father General Nokuri didn’t want Sam marrying a Black American, but someone from his own country).
Despite of the ups and downs, moving 10 times and a divorce where we almost killed each other, I am proud to say after 23 years of knowing each other, we have produced alot.
- I graduated as Dean’s List Student from UVA undgrad and Virginia Tech graduate school and a Noble Jolley Sr Scholar for Jazz at Peabody Conservatory who has had her music played around the world
- We have Imani our oldest who is an award winning choirmaster, full scholarship to University Maryland, 5 year straight A student, Zumba Instructor, leader in her pre-law fraternity, and church ministry
- We have Bakhari our youngest, who is an award winning composer and percussionist, in the Gifted and Talented program at Glenelg High school, and a well respected leader in his Youth Ministry at church and at school
- Last but certainly not least, is Dr Nokuri:
- Award winning Sprinter at VCU
- Patented a drug for sickle Cell Anemia
- Started the Nokuri Foundation to help undeserved people in Cameroon
- Straight A student at Ross University School of Medicine
- MBA from Johns Hopkins
- Decorated Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force
- Owner perhaps first Cameroonian in Maryland to own his own Urgent Care
Please keep Dr Nokuri, his wife Ofudem and his four beautiful children in prayer. That God will bless their union and continue to prosper them and keep them in good health.
Because in the words of Jay-z, “What’s better than one billionare in the family ? Two”
For further study listen to Jay-Z’s 4:44