Born into an
impoverished polygamous family with an enormous lump on his chest, a bad health
condition, no doubt; and crippled as a child, Anthony Olanrewaju Awotoye,
popularly known as Tony Tetuila, is proof that a man’s beginning does not
necessarily determine his future. This Oro, Kwara State born recording artiste
and song writer is widely regarded as one of Nigeria ’s living Hip-Hop legends
and in his own words, owes his success and life to God and his mother’s love,
bravery, selflessness and prayers.
According to
her, nothing can aptly describe the pain a mother feels just watching
helplessly as her son dies slowly because she can’t afford to pay his medical
bills. Although things had been tough generally for the family, the worst of
her ordeals started when she noticed a lump growing on Tetuila’s chest. “I
cried every time I looked at him. I prayed endlessly to God to spare his life and
I didn’t give up hope.” As any caring mother would, she took him to the places
she could afford but no remedy came through until she visited the General Hospital
in Ojuelegba, Lagos .
There, he was operated on and grew up to be a strong child despite the pain and
suffering he had to endure.
Months later, just
when she was beginning to rejoice at his speedy recovery, she realised the kid
who would later become Africa’s music golden son couldn’t walk. “We started
visiting hospitals again and every time a doctor said my son would never walk,
I prayed and cried to God. I never stopped telling them that my son would walk
again! There was one day I was returning to the hospital and I had to trek all
the way with him on my back because there was no means of transportation; (Former
Head of State, Mohammed) Murtala had just died and there was a bit of unrest in
the country then.” Months after, her miracle came. Tetuila started walking
again! “I couldn’t stop thanking God when I saw my son stand up and walk. Till
today, I still thank God for him,” she recalls in an emotion-laden voice on
this week’s episode of the Supermom Celebrity edition which airs this weekend on
the AIT Networks, Galaxy, MITV and other terrestrial television stations across
Nigeria.
Raising children
in a polygamous home with a husband who cared little about the welfare of his
family and also suffering series of domestic violence, Mrs Awotoye had to take
responsibility for the upkeep of her children and family. “I was his (Tetuila’s
father) first wife but it didn’t matter to him. He beat me so hard one day
neighbours came advising me to pack and leave him but to where? He will always
be the father of my children and I didn’t want to raise them as a single mother
so I stayed and endured the pain.” There was nothing Tetuila’s mother didn’t
sell to make ends meet and put food on the table for her kids. From slippers to
cigarette, groundnut, sugarcane and even cooking pots, she hawked and sold them
all for their sake. She continues, “I promised myself never to let them suffer
or turn bad and wayward because of suffering. There was no point begging people
for money when I have my hands and legs intact so I worked…I worked very hard.
I did not look at the shame and insults from people around us. I knew things
would get better one day”.
When Tetuila
became old enough and was ready to bring his passion for singing to reality, he
made his intentions known to his mom who gave him all the support she could
muster. According to the Platinum-Haired-Bombshell as he is also known, his mom
is the perfect description of a good and ideal woman and mother. There has
never been a time she wasn’t there for him and nothing would quantify the worth
of her ever encouraging words of advice. “I remember her always saying that God
has ordained me for greatness and so He will keep me even from death. I am
everything I am today because of my mom. After God, my mom is next in my
thoughts”, he adds. “She has been through a lot for me especially considering
the fact that there were so many children in the house yet, she took care of me
like I was her only child. My mom has always been there for me.”
Also on this
week's celebrity edition of Super mom is the delectable Mrs Ejirooghene Rachael
Obareki, the 59-year-old mother of Branama Queen, Erikefee Don Momoh popularly
known as Kefee. Mrs Obareki recounts the story of how she lost a child and
almost lost another and Kefee too, due to severe sufferings while raising them.
Life had never been harder for her. Born to a reasonably comfortable family and
being the only child of her mother, she had a few treasures passed on to her;
treasures which she sold to feed and educate her children. When things got even
tougher, she started a petty trade of fresh corn and firewood just to make ends
meet.
According to
Kefee, her mom has always been a big part of her music career. It won't be far
fetched to say she fanned the flame of success in her right from a very early
age when she made her join the church choir and teach them songs as they went
for different competitions and won. Even when the scandal of her broken
marriage seemed to literally end her career as a gospel singer, her mother who
had predicted the sad event never criticized her. Instead, she showered her
with more love and supported her every step of the way. Kefee and Tetuila’s
mother’s stories are the focal point in the episode three of the celebrity
edition of Supermom sponsored by Procter and Gamble.
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