Blessings for ‘watoto’ gospel singer Rose Ohon
This is a legacy edition story. True stories of past pregnancies in yester days (or years), as published in Pregnant Magazine.
Blessings for ‘watoto’ gospel singer Rose Ohon
Rose Ohon is widely known for her gospel track ‘ Watoto which has been riding high on the local gospel charts. She has two children, 7 year-old Chelsea and 3 year-old Joy. She is expecting her third baby in May this year. Rose spoke to Pregnant staff writer Emma odaba about her pregnancy, family and career.
‘I have a passion for children,’ says Rose Ohon. ‘That is why I composed the song Watoto which implores parents and guardians to take good care of their kids. I prayed to God…and that is the song that He gave me. I started with the chorus that goes, ‘Watoto tuwachunge wasiharibiwe’ and then I wrote the verses. The song is a message to all that children need to be protected.’
Family of singers
Rose was brought up in a family of singers. ‘My father sang in the church choir so did my mother. I too joined them as the youngest member of the choir. Later I moved to renowned gospel musician Mary Atieno’s choir. My love for music increased as I grew up. Luckily, I met Ohon, my husband, who gave me a lot of support in my singing ambition.’
Rose is pregnant
Rose is pregnant with her third child and talks passionately about her hopes. ‘This pregnancy was not my plan; I found out when I was almost one month pregnant. I had been feeling sick with persistent stomachaches and went to see a doctor.’ Rose believed it was amoeba and surely that was confirmed.
Later on Rose’s husband was called by the hospital and informed that she was required to change her medication for amoeba as she had been found to be pregnant. Ohon was thrilled by the news.
Even though the pregnancy was unexpected and she was suffering from amoeba, Rose did not panic. She decided to accept the child from the onset. ‘I knew that God had a plan for us. I also recognise that if one rejects a pregnancy the baby grows up with that rejection, therefore I changed my attitude towards the pregnancy.’
Why was Rose surprised at being pregnant?
She explains, ‘Initially I wanted one child and then I decided to have two and now I will have three!’
Carrying the pregnancy has also not been easy. ‘This has been my toughest pregnancy compared to the other two; my first one was easy to carry—I guess because I was very young. The second one was a bit harder but this one is the hardest of them all. Maybe if I go on to a fourth one it will be a disaster!’
For this reason, she hopes she will not conceive a fourth time. ‘I am praying for a baby boy, since my other two children are girls. But it is God who gives babies. I told God that I trust Him with my life and He knows what I want. I took a step of faith and told God to give me a baby which befits me.
When I went for an ultrasound scan the baby was too small for the sex to be determined. So right now I don’t want to know the sex; I want it to be a surprise. If all goes well I think this will be my last baby, because I have realised that the older I grow the more difficult it becomes for me!’
How has Rose faced the task of balancing career, family and pregnancy?
‘Managing children is quite challenging! My two children need a lot of my time and attention because I have to monitor, discipline and give them the best a mother can. My kids come first.’
For her the choice between her children and her career is a foregone conclusion: ‘It’s not so much about the money; in today’s world you need to spend time with your children.’ She is lucky that her job is not full-time. ‘I can still do my shows since most of the time I am indoors and only leave when called to go somewhere to perform. I’m also lucky because I have not ‘lost’ my voice even though I do sometimes go out of breath because of my pregnancy. Last Sunday I sang twice in church—during the morning service and in the afternoon service, all of which was a real task.’
Rose plans to head back to her singing and performances immediately after delivery
Rose plans to head back to her singing and performances immediately after delivery. She is a church minister and will not let the baby hinder her from serving God. How will she manage that? ‘Experience! After my second baby was born I went to a kesha (overnight prayers) in Kiambu when my baby was only one week old! On that day I led the praise and worship.
God is the one who gives me the strength I need; I am hoping that this time round it will take me some two to three weeks to get back to my normal working life.’
Rose has never had spontaneous labour pains
She is however aware of potential limitations. ‘This will only be possible if I have a normal delivery as I did with my previous pregnancies. I am praying for that as well.’
Naturally, she is anxious about her fast approaching EDD. ‘I have some fears of labour pains because of what I went through with my past deliveries, but I try to ignore these feelings and hope for the best.’
Rose has never had spontaneous labour pains. To deliver her first baby, as with the second, she had to be induced. ‘For the first one I went to hospital before full term and was induced. It was so painful that I almost blacked out! My vision was blurred. I checked into the hospital in the morning at around 6 a.m. and gave birth the following morning. I was about to give up when the baby came.
With the second pregnancy I did not count my day’s right, probably because it was a surprise. I went to hospital believing I was past my EDD and needed to be induced. After the preliminary investigations, the doctor told me that my cervix had started opening up. I requested to be induced as by then I wanted to get over with it because I felt very tired. This time round I will wait to get natural labour pains; I don’t want to be induced!’
I seem to have lost my appetite
‘As the pregnancy progresses I seem to have lost my appetite. The cravings I had before for fried fish straight from the pan, sprinkled with lemon, are gone. Generally though, I love fish. I would go to a local roast meat market with my husband, order fish and Ugali and start eating just like that, even before the stew came. I also loved French fries and Indian food, though it has a lot of chilli which is not good for me. Now the only thing I like is fresh juices. I can’t stand any bad smells as they make me choke and easily vomit.’
According to Rose, she would not have been so strong or realised her dreams had it not been for Ohon. ‘My husband is the kindest and most loving person I know. On many occasions I write him a letter and give it to him as he goes to work. I want him to know how much I appreciate him and the way he is taking care of me. He has stood by my side from the word go. This man is driving me crazy,’ she smiles, looking at Ohon, who accompanied her for the interview with Pregnant. Rose says she met Ohon back in 1998 in Nairobi’s Buruburu estate. ‘It was love at first sight,’ she concludes, on a light note.
Birth 9 November 1979, in Nairobi.
Siblings Three sisters and one brother.
Education Bidii Primary School in Buruburu and Arboretum Sixth Form College for O-levels.
Likes… Giving my children the best even when it means sacrificing the little I have for them.
Dislikes… People who cheat on their spouses. I think it is better not to commit oneself by saying ‘I Do’ when you actually don’t mean it.
To contact Rose Ohon for Ministry 0723-123019, 0734-942386
END: PG 06/ 19-21