A LEGACY OF GIVING & SHARING
KEM-AWOR-WAH means, "Hold my hand" in my mother's native tongue.
KEM-AWOR-WAH was inspired by two extraordinary women whom I had the privilege of knowing; my mother, Diana Ara Nkwo, and grandmother, Agnes Mbengchang. They were exceptional examples of what it is to live a life of service. Their legacy of sharing and giving is what we hope to emulate and continue through KEM-AWOR-WAH.​
When someone asks me how my mother died, I tell them she literally gave of herself until she had nothing of herself left to give.
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They say when you help another soul connect to the light within themselves you are partaking in the spiritual mission of creation. And so every person you help in that way becomes your spiritual child.
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My mother and my grandmother have left behind countless spiritual children. Every person they met was either their child, their brother or their sister.
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Grandma and mom knew that the secret to a life well lived is in sharing and caring. And because they were the biggest givers, I got to experience magic everyday growing up in the shadow of their LIGHT.
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I once asked my mom to share one of the biggest lessons grandma taught her. She said, "My mom always said to me, 'chop na sh*t'." Meaning it takes nothing from you give food to someone in need, and because the food we eat eventually turns into excrement, there is no reason to be stingy with it. "CHOP NA SH*T"
My mom and grandmother always sought to relieve everyone else’s pain and make their lives a little better than before. Perhaps because they knew pain all too well, but rather than let pain cripple their spirits, they turned it into something incredibly beautiful by becoming fierce advocates and cheerleaders to everyone they met.
Aside from sharing food and extending their care, they guided, inspired, uplifted and alleviated. If you had a load to carry they were sure to make it lighter for you. As a child I watched them do this over and over again.
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Everyone they touched became a better version of themselves. They had the rare ability to make anyone feel like they were the most precious person in the world to them.
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Everyone called them, "Mama". They were Mother to all. Both warriors and healers by birthright, mom and grandmother truly had a special mission to fulfill in this world.
​So when people tell me, “Thank you for sharing your mother with me.” My reply is, "How can I trap sunlight in a bottle, or hold it in my fist?" Sunlight doesn’t discriminate, it shines wherever it finds itself. My mother and grandmother were like the sun. I learned from them that a of service to others is the greatest act of worship, and kindness is the most fervent prayer.
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