Kalata To My Child

About this book

On the night of 28th February, 2024, Sydney Muponda, PHD, was on tenterhooks. His son, Fisungusho, was on the way in the Kasama General Hospital. It did not matter that he himself was in Lusaka. This was a moment of suspense, fear, pride, joy and uncertainty all rolled up into one ball of emotion difficult to fully express in words.

When Mrs Muponda announced, finally, that it was “a boy”, it was the culmination of an unforgettable experience as fatherhood started for Sydney. But, what was Sydney to do to mark this event?

Sydney decided that the best he could do was put in writing the exact thoughts occupying his mind in that space of time. And fearing the effect of passage of time on memory, he immediately sat down and started writing Kalata To My Child - exactly as conceived by his mind, body and soul in those newly-unfolded precious moments.

What is Kalata To My Child about? Kalata To My Child has two important messages for Fisungusho. One is that he is capable of becoming great, and that his father is confident he actually will become great. The other is that it is important to lead a good life based on choices that impact even others positively.

On choices, new father Sydney specified the virtues of integrity, compassion, resilience, seeking wisdom from different sources, proper use of technology and embracing diversity among people, these being some of the most important a person can make. Kalata To My Child is a letter about purpose and values. And it is a letter that turned into a book.

In the months that followed the writing of the letter, Sydney realised that in fact, he could make the letter more useful by adding detail to the key contents. That is how Kalata To My Child, the book, was born. Sydney did make sure, before the final word was written, that Kalata To My Children was for every other child as well. Additionally, he reminded Fisungusho of his right to question some things.