Ndakazyalwa mu1948 mumuunzi muniini wakuNigeria nkwiili kumusanza. Muchiindi eecho, ndeende muniini Moustapha amukulana wangu Wahabi bakabbabbatizigwa akuba Bakamboni baJehova. Kandili aaminyaka iili 9, ndeende wakatusiya. Eezi zyakandichisa loko. Mukulana wangu Wahabi wakandibuzya kuti tuzoomubona lubo ndeende naazoobusigwa. Majwi aaya akapa kuti ndisaangune kwiiya Bbayibbili. Ndakabbabbatizigwa mu1963. Bakulana bangu babili amwanike wangu ambabo bakabbabbatizigwa.

Mu1965, ndakaswaya mukulana wangu Wilson kuLagos. Kandili nkukooko, ndakali kulibbizya aamapayona aayandikana bamumbungano ya-Igbobi. Kubotelwa abusungu bwabo zyakandisungwaazya loko alubo muJanuary 1968 andime ndakasaanguna kupayona.

Umwi mukwesu uubelekela kuBbeteli uutegwa Albert Olugbebi wakachita muswaangano uuyandikana wabachikula kayanda kutubuzya kuti kwakali kuyandikana mapayona aayandikana kuNigeria nkwiili kunyika. Ndichaayeeya majwi akaambwa aamukwesu Olugbebi, wakati: “Muchili baniini, mweelede kubelesya manguzu aanu achiindi chanu kuti mubelekele Jehova. Amuubelesye mweenya ooyu!” Akaambo kakuti ndakali aachiyandisyo chakutobelezya  muuya ngwaakalaawo mupolofita Isaya, ndakafila foomu akulitumizya.—Is. 6:8.

MuMay 1968, ndakaba payona uuyandikana mpawo ndakayinka kudolopo lyaKano lili kuNigeria nkwiili kunyika. Muchiindi eechi, kwakali nkondo yaBiafran kuzwa mu1967 kusika mu1970, munkondo eeyi kwakafwa bantu biingi loko kuNigeria nkwiili kunyika. Nkondo eeyi yakazoojatanizya andawu zili kuNigeria nkwiili kubuzwezuba. Umwi mukwesu wakandibuzya kuti nditayinki pe kuNigeria nkwiili kunyika akaambo kankondo yakali kupya. Pesi ndakamubuzya kuti: “Ndalumba kuti ulaandaba andime. Nikuba oobo, kuti Jehova kayanda kuti ndikabelekele nkuko, ndilaachoonzyo chakuti unooli aandime.”

Zintu zyakali kuchitika muKano zyakali kuusisya. Nkondo eeyi yakanyonyoona zintu zyiingi loko mudolopo eeli. Nitwakali mumulimu wakukambawuka, chimwi chiindi twakali kubona bantu bafwide bakajeegwa munkondo eeyi. Nikuba kuti kwakali mbungano zyiingi muKano, bakwesu biingi bakachija. Kwakasyeede basikupupulula batasiki ku15 alubo bakaliyoowede akumana manguzu. Bakwesu abachizi aaba bakabotelwa loko chiindi ime abamwi mapayona aayandikana bali 5 nitwakasika. Basikupupulula aaba twakabasungwaazya. Eezi zyakapa kuti balimvwe kabali basima-sima. Twakabagwasya kuti babusilizye lubo kunjila miswaangano, kusaanguna lubo kukambawuka, kutumizya malipoti aamumulimu wakukambawuka akukumbila mabbuku kumutabi.

Toonse nitwakali mapayona aayandikana katuli 6, twakasaanguna kwiiya mulaka wachiHausa. Bantu bamuchilawu eechi nibakamvwa katulikukambawuka makani aaBwaami, biingi bakawutambula mulumbe ooyu. Nikuba oobo, bachikombelo chimwi chakazibikine muchilawu eechi teebakabotelwa pe akaambo kakukambawuka nkutwakali kuchita. Nkinkaako, twakeelede kubelesya nzila yabupampu yakukambawukaayo. Bumwi buzuba ime amweenzuma ngundakali kukambawukaawe twakaandilwa aawumwi mwaalumi wakajisi kafulo. Chibotezya nchakuti twakali aaluno, taakwe naakatujata pe. Kazitakwe ndaba abuyumu-yumu mbutwakaswaana, Jehova wakapa kuti ‘tukkale cakuliiba’ alubo namba yabasikupupulula yakasaanguna kuyungizya. (Int. 4:8) Kwaamba oobu lino,  mudolopo lyaKano kuli basikupupulula bayinda ku500 bali mumbungano zili 11.

Mu-August 1968, kakuli kwayinda myeezi miche katuli kuKano, ndakakumbilwa kuti ndikabelekele kuNiamey dolopo pati lyakuNiger abamwi mapayona bayandikana babili. Katuchisika-sika kuNiger, twakabona kuti kwakali kupya zyakuti kwakali kugwisya twaande mumaanzi. Kuyungizya kubwiime bwakunze oobu, twakeelede kwiiya mulaka mupya wachiFrench. Nikuba kuti twakali kuswaana buyumu-yumu, twakasyoma Jehova alubo twakasaanguna kukambawuka katugwasigwa aabasikupupulula bache bakali kukkala nkuko. Muchiindi chifwiifwi, bantu biingi muNiamey bakali kukonzya kubala bakajana bbuku litii, The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. Bantu bakasaanguna kutuyanduula kabayanda mabbuku.

Kakutanayinda chiindi, twakabona kuti balupati-pati bamundawu eeyi teebakali kubayanda pe Bakamboni baJehova. MuJuly 1969, twakaba aamuswaangano mudolopo eeli kakusaanguna, kwakali bantu basika ku20. Twakali kulangilila kuti kulabbabbatizigwa basikupupulula babili. Nikuba oobo, mubuzuba bwakusaanguna bwamuswaangano ooyu kwakasika mapulisa mpawo bakayimikizya pulogilamu yamuswaangano. Bakabweza mapayona aayandikana amulangizi wabbazu akututola kukkeempu yabo. Nibakazwa aakutubuzya-buzya, bakatubuzya kuti buzuba butobela tuboole lubo kukkeempu. Nitwakabona kuti mapulisa balakonzya kupambaninsya pulogilamu yamuswaangano, twakabamba kuti nkani yakubbabbatizigwa ikapedwe aaliimwi ng’anda alubo basikupupulula aaba babili bakabbabbatizigwa kumulonga chakusisikizya.

Nikwakayinda mviki ziche, mfulumende yakatubuzya kuti tuzwe munyika eeyi. Bakatupa ma-awa aali 48 aakuti tuzwe alubo twakeelede kulibonena mbuli mwana wakwale kuti tulabelesyaanzi kukweenda. Twakaswiilila alubo twakayinka kuwofesi yamutabi yakuNigeria ooko nkutwakapegwa milimu mipya.

Ndakapegwa mulimu wakubeleka kumyuunzi iili muNigeria ku-Orisunbare, mulimu wakukambawuka wakali kunooneezya kundawu eeyi. Twakali kuzwidilila alubo ndakali kubeleka aamwi abasikupupulula bakali kukkala muchilawu eechi. Nikwakayinda myeezi iili 6, bakuwofesi yamutabi bakandikumbila kuti ndibweede lubo kuNiger. Ndakagamba alubo ndakayoowa, pesi ndakabulangilila aameso aasalala buzuba bwakubonana lubo abakwesu abachizi bakuNiger.

Ndakabweeda kuNiamey. Kakuli kwayinda buzuba bumwi kuzwa nindakasika, umwi sibbizinesi wakuNigeria naakaziba kuti ndili Kamboni wakasaanguna kundibuzya mibuzyo atala aBbayibbili. Kuzwa mubuzuba oobo, twakasaanguna kwiiya Bbayibbili alubo naakaleka kunywa bukande zyiindilide akufwepa wakabbabbatizigwa. Kuzwa waawo, ndakabotelwa loko kubona namba yabasikupupulula mbuyakali kuyabuvula muNiger. Nindakasika kuNiger kakusaanguna, kwakali Bakamboni bali 31 pesi nindakazwa muNiger ndakasiya kabali baba 69.

MuDecember 1977, ndakabweeda kuNigeria kuti ndikayiisigwe iimwi milimu. Kumamanino aamviki zitatu zyachikolo, mulangizi waKkomiti yaMutabi uutegwa Malcolm Vigo wakandikumbila kuti ndibale lugwalo lwakazwa kumutabi waSierra Leone. Bakwesu bakumutabi ooyu bakali kuyanda mukwesu uusimide, payona uutakwete wakali kukonzya kwaambuula Chikuwa achiFrench kuti akabeleke kali mulangizi wabbazu kuGuinea. Mukwesu Vigo wakandibuzya kuti chikolo nchindakanjila chakali kundiyiisya kuti ndikachite mulimu ooyu. Wakandibuzya kuti mulimu ooyu wakali muyumu. Wakaamba kuti: “Yeeya saansi kutanazumina.” Chakutawaya-waya, ndakamusandula kuti, “Mbukunga nguJehova wandituma kuti ndiinke, ndilayinka.”

Ndakayinka kuSierra Leone alubo ndakaswaanana aabakwesu bakuwofesi yamutabi. Umwi wamuKkomiti yaMutabi wakandibuzya kuti, “Tuzi ziche atala atala amulimu waBwaami muGuinea.” Nikuba kuti mutabi wakuSierra Leone nguwo wakali kulangania mulimu wakukambawuka kuGuinea, teebakali kukonzya pe kwaambuuzyania abasikupupulula bamunyika eeyi akaambo kakuti chiindi eecho zyapolitikisi zyakali kupya. Bakeezya kwaziindi zyiingi kuti batume mukwesu kuti akaswaye bakwesu bakuGuinea pesi taakwe nizyakazwidilila pe. Nkinkaako, bakandikumbila kuti ndiinke kudolopo pati lyakuGuinea litegwa Conakry kuti ndikakumbile mvumo yakukkala kumfulumende.

Nindakasika kuConakry, ndakayinka kuwofesi yabalupati-pati bakuNigeria iili muGuinea alubo ndakabonana aamwiiminini wakuNigeria. Ndakamubuzya atala achiyandisyo nchindakalaacho chakukambawuka muGuinea. Wakandibuzya kuti tandeelede kukkala muGuinea nkaambo ndakali kukonzya kusungwa naakuti kuumwa. Wakati: “Bweeda kuNigeria, ukakambawukile nkukooko,” mpawo ndakamusandula kuti: “Ndilaachiyandisyo chakukambawukila ookuno.” Kuzwa waawo, wakalembela mfulumende lugwalo kakumbila kuti ndizumizigwe kukkala muGuinea zili mumulawu mpawo balupati-pati bakandigwasya.

Kakutanayinda chiindi chilamfu, ndakabweeda kuwofesi yamutabi waku-Sierra Leone mpawo ndakabuzya bakwesu kuti ndazumizigwa kukkala amfulumende. Bakwesu bakabotelwa loko nibakamvwa Jehova mbaakandigwasya mulweendo oolu. Mfulumende yakandizumizya kukkala muGuinea.

Kuzwa mu1978 kusika ,ndakabeleka kandili mumulimu wabbazu kuGuinea, Sierra Leone, alubo ndakali mugwasilizi wamulangizi wabbazu kuLiberia. Kumasaangunino, ndakali kuchiswa-chiswa. Chimwi chiindi eezi zyakachitika kandili kundawu yakali kule achibbadela. Pesi bakwesu bakali kubeleka changuzu kuti banditole kuchibbadela.

Aali chimwi chiindi, ndakachiswa loko abulwazi bwamalaria amayoka mwida. Nindakapona ndakamvwa ntwiintwi yakuti bakwesu bakali kuyanduula ndawu yakundibambila kuti ndafwa. Nikuba kuti ndakaswaana buyumu-yumu oobu, taakwe nindakayeeya kusiya mulimu wangu pe. Alubo ndakali aachoonzyo chakuti ndilikwabililidwe kuli Leza akaambo kakuti uzootubusya kuti twafwa.

Mu1988, ndakabonana aaDorcas, payona uulibombya alubo wakasimide mubukombi. Twakachada alubo twakabeleka aamwi mumulimu wabbazu.  Dorcas wakali kubeleka changuzu mumulimu ooyu alubo wakalilipedelede kubelekela Jehova. Katuli aamwi, twakali kweenda musinzo wamakkilomita aasika ku25 amawulu kumwi katunyampwide zintu zyesu zyakubelesya chiindi nitwakali kuswaya mbungano. Kumbungano zyakali kule, twakali kubelesya nzila zisiyene-siyene zyakwendaazyo zyakali kubelesegwa aabantu bakkala nkukooko, nzila eezyo zyakali aamadaka amakomba.

Dorcas ulaachibindi. Muchikozyano, chimwi chiindi twakali kwiinda mumaanzi mwakali ntale. Muli lumwi lweendo lwesu lwamazuba aali 5, twakabelesya bwaato kuti tukasike kundawu nkutwakali kuya akaambo kakuti bbilichi lyazisamu mputwakeelede kwiinda lyakali lyafwa. Nitwakali kuyanda kuzwa mubwaato, Dorcas wakawida mumaanzi. Aakati kesu taakwe wakali kukonzya kuyamba alubo mumulonga mwakali ntale. Bubotu bwakabawo mbwakuti, kwakali bamwi balombe bakaliwaalila mumaanzi mpawo bamununa. Kuzwa nizyakachitika-chitika eezi, toonse katuli babili twakali kuvundumuka kung’onzi mansiku, pesi twakayinkilila kunembo amulimu wesu wabbazu.

Kumasaangunino aamunyaka wa1992, twakabotelwa nitwakaziba kuti Dorcas wakali waba aada. Aaya ngawo na aakali aba mamanino aamulimu wesu wachiindi choonse? Twakalibuzya kuti, “Jehova watupa chipo.” Nkinkaako, twakawuzika mwana wesu musimbi kuti Jahgift. Nikwakayinda minyaka iili 4 kuzwa Jahgift naakatumbukwa, Eric anguwe wakatumbukwa. Bana besu kabali babili nzipo zizwa kuli Jehova. Jahgift chimwi chiindi wakagwasilizya kuwofesi yabusanduluzi kuConakry alubo Eric mubelesi wambungano.

Nikuba kuti Dorcas wakali wayimikila kuba payona uuyandikana, wakayinkilila kunembo kali payona wachiindi choonse nikuba kuti twakali kukomezya bana besu. Akaambo kakugwasigwa aaJehova, ndakayinkilila kunembo kandili payona uuyandikana. Bana besu nibakakomena, Dorcas wakabeleka kali payona uuyandikana lubo. Lino tubeleka katuli mamishinali kuConakry.

Ndakayinka kufumbwa Jehova nkwaakali kunditola. Chiindi chiingi, ime amwanakazi wangu twakabona Jehova mbakatukwabilila akutulongezya. Kusyoma Jehova kwakatugwasya kuti tutaswaani mapenzi ngibaswaana aabo babikkila maanu kuzintu zyakumubili. Kuzintu zyakatuchitikila, twakayiya kuti Kasawu kalukwabililo lwachoonzyo nguJehova, “Leza walufwutuko.” (1 Mak. 16:35) Ndilaachoonzyo chakuti “Jehova Leza . . . uyookwabilila mawumi” aabantu boonse bamusyoma “mbubonya mbuli muntu mbwavwunga zintu ziyandisi mucibbeeke.”—1 Sam. 25:29.