Submitted by Clayton Goodwin
Some twenty years ago a lady and her then schoolgirl daughter approached us at the staging of the Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth contest in the theatre of the Polish Centre at Hammersmith, West London. Hildah Mulenga, for that was indeed the lady’s name, was keen to institute a charity to honour the memory of her late son Mumba, and was finding it difficult to know just where to start and whom to trust. Well, you wouldn’t have thought that she was a newcomer, because Hildah had the panache and intrinsic feel for promotional presentation, as well as a clear thought of where she intended to go and how she would get there. Very soon she had instituted the Miss Malaika (UK) contest in which she would give all angels from across Africa the opportunity to play their part and, in so doing, to gain confidence in themselves and their ability.
Hildah’s own special angel, daughter Brenda, the young lady by her side that day, set the pace, and lived up to all her mother’s expectations. After dipping her toes into the business as a contestant, Brenda found her true metier in show promotion and presentation, in which she made rapid progress, while still completing her college career. I know that to be true because I have shared a stage with her – at that very Polish Centre. Though having been side-lined from the business in recent years due to increasing age and spells of ill-health I have read of her continued success in reports online.
But my words alone are not enough. Hildah has taken to the pages of Facebook to name-check some of those people who helped her establish her charitable enterprise and assisted with its growth. Let me quote her comments word for word. Over to Hildah.
“Twenty years on this will remain the proudest moment of our charity journey. I once dreamt of camera, flash lights and interviews on big television station – I achieved it all on that 25/06/2005. Shed tears of sorrow and happiness. Thanking the inaugural class of Miss Malaika Uk 2005 with our gorgeous winners – yes they were all winners with a team leader being Bodam Taiwo
I thrust my 17year old daughter into presenting and she did a tremendous good job. You would think she was born for it – if i can say so myself
Mavis Amankwah you will always be a star in our Mumba Life
Clayton Goodwin Thank you for the ground breaking support you gave us and featuring us on Caribcommx all the time
@SABC thank you for the support
@OBE tv (though not there anymore) we were really grateful for the support
@BEN television hats off@Steve Bent Photography – wow always indebted.
Yemi Kosibah Osunkoya God, you were a life saver thank you for the authentic Kosibah designs
@Denise Dotse and Michelle Walker you guys did a good job as MUA
@UKZambians and the then ZamUK -thanks, memories will last a long time.
Now to the main men themselves
Blaylock Mathew Francis and Reuben P Joseph thank you 20years on I still cherish your work and your help thanks.
@Angela Cox you are marvellous.”
Well, Hildah, many people will remember that evening, and what developed from it. Much has changed since then. There was Covid for a start, and almost for an end of all that we hold to be dear. And Ms Mulenga has moved home from the UK mainland. I am told that the Channel Islands are very nice, especially at this time of year. When English friends, and those of other nationalities, ask me as to what I have found to be the distinguishing characteristics of Zambians, I can point to Hildah and Brenda, what they have achieved, and I know that they will be impressed.