I should have ranked this encounter first since it preceded almost all others; but I placed it at the end because, as ordinary as it may seem, it has greatly influenced my journey. It marked my life early on and taught me to fight, but also to know that the impossible does not exist.

I met KADIMA BUKASA in September 1972 when I was in my third year of primary school at Athénée de la Gombe (KALINA at the time), my primary school. Slightly shorter than me, but physically stronger, and light-skinned, this young man from a wealthy family of the time lived in the Gombe commune.

This neighbor, whom we called “MADIKA SAKABU” (his name reversed, which was a common habit then), was a special boy. He liked to tease me by calling me “the villager” or “Lumumba Junior” because I had a pronunciation problem related to my tribal origins (I am from the TETELA tribe in present-day Sankuru).

There were words I couldn’t pronounce. For example, I couldn’t say “I understand,” I said “I copra.” It’s funny, isn’t it? I couldn’t say “fifty,” I said “ciquate.” I couldn’t say “abandon,” I said “ambandon,” and so on. It seems that the National Hero LUMUMBA and many others from the same tribe also had this problem.

Every time I stood up to speak or answer a question, he would shout after me: “Long live Lumumba Junior,” which humiliated and lowered me in the eyes of others. From September 1972 to early April 1973, I endured the assaults of “MADIKA SAKABU.” During the Easter holidays of 1973, while other students were having fun, I spent two weeks alone working on my diction. No football, no comics, no hide-and-seek games. It was tough but useful! Because I told myself: “I don’t want him to make fun of me anymore.”

I will never forget that after the holidays, when I spoke for the first time and my pronunciation flaws began to disappear, MADIKA SAKABU exclaimed: “Hallelujah.” That was just the beginning because later on, I used two more months (July and August 1973) to continue working, and the problem completely disappeared.

I lost touch with this friend in July 1975, as he had to move with his parents to some province in the country. But he is and will remain the one who, through his taunts, jeers, and mockery, helped me question myself. Without him, perhaps I would still be “Lumumba Junior.” Without him, I would still carry that tribal flaw I inherited and might even have passed it on to my daughters. Thank you, MADIKA SAKABU!

This story often reminds me of two things: First, Joseph’s conclusion in Genesis 50:20:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Then the proverb of Samson in Judges 14:14 which says: “Out of the eater came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.“

Just as our redemption was hidden behind Christ’s suffering, the things that make us suffer today may hide blessings. I can remember as if it were yesterday the shame and pain (what am I saying, the great pain) I felt when this friend mocked me. I can still recall the dread I had when I had to stand up to speak and the unconscious repetition I did inside myself to pronounce better.

I remember, as if it were yesterday, the anticipated laughter of almost the entire class that preceded my predictable and sadly famous mistakes. But I will never forget the first time our third-year primary teacher, who knew my legendary blunders, heard me say not “I copra” but “I understand.” I still hear him say: “repeat,” and calmly, I repeated: “I understand.” I still hear my famous neighbor shouting, eyes fixed to the sky and hands crossed as if reciting a prayer: “Hallelujah.” And my teacher said: “miracle, Dalo is cured.”

Sometimes on the path of life, we need adversity to bring out the best in us that is hidden. Sometimes, we need “MADIKA SAKABU” to help us surpass ourselves and tap into our hidden reserves. This reminds me of Israel in Egypt when Exodus 1:12 says:

“But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread.” The T.O.B version says: “The more they wanted to reduce them, the more they multiplied and spread.“

This text is an excerpt from the book “The Impact of Encounters on Destiny” written by Roland DALO.

We invite you to read the following article “Samson and Delilah.”