[notice] A monthly column in which Kwakanya Nazo shares stories, interviews and testimonies of young people from all walks of life who are radical for Jesus and live to see change and transformation in and around them.[/notice]
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This month on ChosenKwakes’ corner we had the wonderful opportunity of talking to Zambia born author and speaker, Ackson King Mwami, who got to share with us a little about himself and the things that get him out of bed every morning.
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Mwami, who is also passionate about personal development and leadership, has had a conviction of becoming the president of Zambia since he was an 11-year-old boy.
“I have a passion for Africa. Every time I think of how Africans have been mentally sabotaged and enslaved, I arise from my bed every morning hoping to change one mind at a time” says Mwami.
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Below are answers to some of the questions I asked the passionate and radical 25-year old-speaker, thinker and author of book titled I Interviewed God.
Where were you born?
Ackson: I was born in the southern part of Zambia and raised in a small rural village of the central part of Zambia, called Ntulisha Village, on September 23 1991.
Tells us a bit more about your education.
Ackson: I did my Grades 1 to 4 at Shimukuni Basic School in the central part of Zambia. I continued with my Grades 5 to 7 at Lusakasa Basic School in Lusaka, Zambia. I then concluded my basic education (Grade 8 and 9) at Chingwere Basic School in Lusaka, Zambia. I then moved to South Africa in 2008 where I did my Grade 10 for six months and later dropped out due to financial challenges. In 2009, I enrolled at Gert Sibande TVET College for my National Senior Certificate which I successfully completed in 2011.
I currently hold a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management which I studied through the Management College of Southern Africa (Mancosa), right here in South Africa.
What did being born into a big family feel like while growing up?
Ackson: Normal. I mean when you are born into a family that has a normal lifestyle with the rest of the community, everything feels normal. I actually never felt the pressure or say pleasure of being born into a big family because we rarely spent time together. Funny enough, I had a desire to one day just re-unite my family but as we grow older, we get to lose most of our beloved and together simply makes no sense anymore, right?
What were some of your own challenges or advantages that came with being born into your family?
Ackson: There are times I really feel like redefining the meaning of “family”… I have spent so much of my upbringing outside of what one would commonly call family. I have spent so much more time with my Christian family than I have with my biological family and therefore making it very difficult to really outline any challenges or advantages that comes with being with a biological family.
One thing I will always appreciate though, is the discipline that both my parents raised us under. Those beatings worked! I’m a more respectful and well-mannered because of that.
The dreams and aspirations you have now; what did they look like to 14 year old Ackson?
Ackson: They looked IMPOSSIBLE and far-fetched hey… But look at God!
Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years?
Ackson: In Africa, helping people discover their worth, developing themselves and deploying their unique differences from an individual point of view to our big corporations.
When did you come to know the Lord and what led you to Him?
Ackson: I was born into a religious family so it was easy to know the Lord. My parents were Seventh Day Adventists who attended church every Saturday. But I came to ENCOUNTER the Lord more on a personal level in 2003 when I moved to go stay with my elder biological brother who is my spiritual father, Dr Anthony Mwami. What basically led me to the Lord is the mystery of His existence and the desire to know Him more.
Who is your role model? (That ONE person that inspires you)
Ackson: I have a lot of role models in different spheres of life but if I can achieve the level of wisdom that Solomon achieved, I would really be okay.
How does a young man like you, with so much passion, keep motivated from day to day?
Ackson: By meditating on the vision and the current ability to do something that would contribute to the realisation of the bigger picture.
I interviewed God
Let’s talk about the book for some time.
A question, probably on everyone’s mind: Did you REALLY Interview God?
Ackson: I usually answer that question by saying: read the book and really ask yourself whether I interviewed God or not. But in this case I will answer by saying the interview did happen. Every day for 21 days around 2am to 6am as well as from 6pm to round about 9pm, I had those questions answered by what can only be defined as God Himself.
What did that look like (practically)?
Ackson: Practically, it looked like being all alone in a room sitting on the floor leaning onto your bed but hearing another voice answering you back every time you ask a question.
What inspired the book?
Ackson: The death of my beloved biological mother.
What did it look like for you to sit and wait on God for inspiration when nothing within you wanted to listen?
Ackson: Like tears… A lot of tears and a broken heart that only He (God) later managed to mend.
Had the conditions been different, do you think you would have interviewed God?
Ackson: I strongly believe that in order for me to extract such substantial wisdom from God that was the suitable condition I had to go through.
What challenges were involved in finally giving birth to this read?
Ackson: The fact that it’s a read that every individual should read but not everyone will read it. Another challenge was facing my pain and making sure God’s voice is clearly expressed without an emotional interference.
Kindly take us on your journey with the book, from the early stages right until the end?
Ackson: It all just started like a self-talk… I remember thinking to myself (after flying back from burying my mother in Zambia), wow, these are moments where people tend to question God. I then said to myself “well, I will not question God, rather, I will just worship”
Then I heard a voice: “Ask… The problem is that most people ask but are not patient enough to sit and wait for the answers…”
Your favourite chapter in the book? (The one you thoroughly enjoyed writing)
Ackson: Chapter 1: Why did you kill my mother!
How long did it take to write the book?
Ackson: It took me 21 days to just write the whole raw manuscript.
Briefly, give an overview of the book.
Ackson: I wrote this book at my lowest moments of my life, and not only for my comfort but I wrote it with you and all the other readers in mind. I stretched my thoughts to search for wisdom that would not only assist a young child who has lost his parents but to reach that 40-year old individual who wanders around searching for why at 40 he is still struggling to put a meal on the table for himself. I stretched further to reach for that group of individuals who have been taught to FEAR God enough to jeopardise a fatherly relationship with Him, and I also had in mind that aspiring entrepreneur who doesn’t know where to begin.
What encouragement can you give to the readers of Gateway News?
Ackson: The essence of life is to discover that one thing that you were born to die for, and then thrive to live for it.
You can connect with Ackson and get inspired through the channels below:
www.facebook.com/AcksonKing | Twitter: @AcksonKing | YouTube: AcksonKing
