Vipi Radio
Gospel singer and Vocal coach Ruth Matete recounts painfully, the family deaths that have hit her life since she was a young girl.
The single mother of one shared intricate details about how her mother, dad, and herself lost their spouses.
She talked about how her mum lost her life due to domestic violence when she was 8 years old.
My stepfather beat her so badly and she was taken to the hospital because of the injuries,”
Ruth Matete
Ruth Matete at the time was living with her stepdad and biological mother. She was born out of wedlock.
Due to the domestic abuse, her mother knew that she might lose her life. She called her biological father to go and get her, her dad was married to another woman back in Nairobi during that time, the woman later died.
My father just used to come and visit me in the village. Since my mother was still alive, it was better to be with her. My dad came and took me with him to the city. This is where I have been since then my mother later died a few months after I came to Nairobi,” she said.
Ruth Matete
Matete was a few months pregnant with her daughter, her first child, when her husband passed away to a fire gas accident at their home. On the way to the hospital, he knew he would not make it, he told her so many things, including what to name their child. The child was to be named Toluwa, a gender neutral name.
My daughter’s father died two years ago. While in the ambulance after the accident, he told me he wasn’t gonna make it. I thought it was just fear. So I kept encouraging him that he would be fine.
He told me all he wanted me to do (I felt like it was those Afro-cinema movies).
He gave me the name of the baby regardless of the gender. Toluwa is a unisex name. Gave me a message for his sister and brother as well God gave him two weeks.
In those two weeks, each time I went to visit him, he would ask me “Oh! Am still here?’ It’s like he waited for death,”
It’s like he waited for death. I felt like he didn’t fight to live. But anyway, I will never know fully,
Ruth Matete
My daughter’s life. My family pattern when it comes to death. I don’t know.
My father losing my mother. My father losing his wife. Me losing my husband. Just a pattern of people losing their spouses. Am I overthinking?
In all these, I have been praying fervently to God for long life. Keep praying for me and my family. Thank you all for your love and for those who stand with me in prayer even when we have never physically met.”
Ruth Concluded .
