Quick Talk caught up with HALIMA NAMAKULA at The Observer offices where she was delivering an invitation to her fistula walk due on the 15th of this month.
The Ekimbeewo singer, who will soon turn 60, shared what she has been up to lately and of course, some relationship advice. After the official business, Quick Talk asks if she can chat for a moment, to which she agrees. The impromptu interview lasts about 15 minutes…
Thanks for your time, Halima; so, what have you been up to lately?
Recently I was at a show called Tugende Mu Kikadde at Serena hotel and I was there to remind people of all my music like Sambagala, Amba, Tonkutula… It really went well.
Also, people know I am a humanitarian. I help women, girls and recently, boys. I spend a lot of time in villages, reaching out to women. [Halima is the founder/executive director of WAWI (Women At Work International) which is organizing the fistula walk.]
I know many people have asked this but still…how do you maintain this youthful look?
I love Halima. I love myself a lot. And whenever people compliment me, I get renewed energy to take care of myself. Also being around too many children helps me, because I have to keep up with them. [Smiling] My children want me to age gracefully [Halima’s biological children are socialites/artistes Hemdee Kiwanuka and Rachael Kay, both based in the USA.]
And how old are you now?
[With pride and pomp] I will soon be 60!
Wow! And how do you spend your free time?
I usually spend it indoors watching movies. Oh, I am a movie collector. I am currently watching a series called If Loving You Is Wrong. That is how I spend most of my free time. My children don’t want me to do any housework, because I did it a lot in the past. They take care of me and all the chores. We don’t have a maid.
Unusual kids, those ones! What is your favourite dish?
Matooke and chicken. Just give me that any time, any day and I will enjoy it.
Any pet peeves, Halima?
I don’t like liars. It doesn’t matter how bad something is. Just tell me instead of lying about it. I don’t like fake people. I am a straightforward person and what you see is what you get. If I don’t like you, I will tell you. I don’t smile just to make people happy. I smile because I am happy and because I want to.
Oh yeah…
I also hate the way taxi drivers drive on the pavements. They destroy the beauty of our city. It really annoys and hurts me so much that it nearly makes me cry [Somebody tell the taxi drivers association to stop making our Halima that sad…!]
They can be annoying; true.
I also don’t like mothers who [abandon] children. If you can’t look after your child, bring him/her to me and I will look after them. The things that annoy me are so many, they are endless really.
Ok, moving on, do you think you are romantic?
Yes! Very! I am so romantic. First of all, you should know that there are handsome men but some men are beautiful [hmmm…Quick Talk agrees].
So, I made a decision never to date those beautiful men. I never date a man who looks better than me. I want to get someone who thinks that I am the best thing that happened to him.
That is brilliant strategy!
Yeah. Those very handsome men are targeted by every woman. So, how many women are you going to compete with? And I don’t like dating poor men who will need financial support from me. I don’t give men money. Instead, the man is the one who should be giving me money and taking care of me.
So, is that man there?
Yes. He is in USA.
Give me a name…
Eh, so that you look for him? You people of this dotcom era who are always on Facebook! The moment they hear his name they will google him, get him and steal my man away from me. Please leave me alone.
How long have you been together?
Many years. For us we are still dating. We date every day and that way, our love stays new and fresh every day.
Ok. Any more relationship advice for us?
Yes. This especially goes out to the ladies. Be clean and always make sure you look good before you leave the house. Always remember hair makes a woman.
When your hair looks bad, you also start looking bad. See, when you have a party and you get a nice hairstyle, you look great. Why don’t you want to look like that every day? Don’t get used to thinking that people already know that you look good. Look good every day. That is what my mother told me.
Great advice! What is her name?
My mother is called Afuwa Namuddu. She stays in Kalerwe. My father is the late Hajji Ali Musiitwa.
Tell us something that we don’t know about Halima Namakula.
What you don’t know is what I don’t want you to know. But is there anything you don’t know about me? I am so open. [After a little thought] Oh.
I am not a good timekeeper yet most of the time I have enough time. I guess I enjoy being on my toes doing last-minute dashes, but I eventually get to do whatever I have to do.
I once read somewhere that you do 300 sit-ups daily. Do you still do that?
No. I have slowed down due to my age, but I ensure to keep fit. I have a few health challenges that come with age. I have high blood pressure, but I try to keep healthy and strong.
Finally which schools did you go to?
Kawooya primary school Kalerwe, Makerere primary school – the present-day Bat Valley primary school – and City high school. Then I went to the US.
A real ‘city-born’!
Yes. A true ‘city-born’! I am among the pioneer children born in Mulago hospital the year it was opened. I love that hospital. I also had my two children in the same hospital.
pbaike@yahoo.com
