Upclose. Teddy Noeline Akongo is an entrepreneur, musician, performer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. She thinks of herself as reserved, soft-spoken, loving, hardworking, and very humble. Akongo is a no-nonsense young woman, writes Edgar R Batte.
The first thing I do in the morning is…
Meditate and I pray when I am on the road to work or school.
The first thing I do when I get to work…
I get right on to my day’s tasks.
My earliest childhood memory…
When I was six years old, I fell and hit my legs on a septic tank at home. I have two scars on both legs that are almost on the same spot.
My first best friend…
My mother.
Why?
Because I was always beside her; in the house, kitchen, I followed her around and even slept on the same bed with her. I would watch her read novels, sing hymns and she also advised me a lot about “boys” and how bad they are (laughs out loud).
My first kiss…
It was in Senior Two, in a field near home. The kisser was not bad but the experience was very disgusting and I dumped him the next day. I knew having a boyfriend at that time was not the right thing for me. We rekindled the relationship six years later.
My first boyfriend…
A boy from Teso whose name will go unmentioned!
My childhood hero…
Again, my mother. She always fought so hard to provide for us as a single mother and balance with her studies. She is an amazing cook. One more thing, she has pretty legs and always looked gorgeous in her nurse uniform.
The first book I read…
I cannot recall the actual title but it was a book with a story about Gipir and Labong in primary school.
My first job…
I was a reporter and writer at The Razor, a newspaper but did not stay for long because music was calling.
My first salary…
At Kampala Music School where I teach guitar, classical and contemporary music.
My current job…
I am an administrator at Clear Wall of Dreams Ltd. I am still a guitar teacher at Kampala Music School.
What I like about my job…
On teaching; I am teaching what I love most which is guitar/music in general. It is fulfilling when one gets paid for doing what they love most.
As for Clear Wall of Dreams Ltd, I go beyond administrative work and I make furniture using plastic bottles before looking for the best fabric and colour to give it a classy finishing. This is art and creativity, I could not ask for more.
What I dislike about my job…
(Scratches her head), nothing. I am not sure, everything is easy in a way and I am comfortable with no complaints.
Most memorable experience…
I am not sure how old I was but we travelled from Tororo with my aunt to Kampala. We suddenly stopped and then to my surprise there was my father. I ran and gave him the biggest hug. That is one of the few times I ever saw him. It is painful and, I still love him a lot.
Biggest regret in life…
Oh man, I am what I am today because of the path I took. All I can say about this is that I spent so much time in school studying other things instead of music but then again I am grateful because I am using most of the writing and communication skills I learnt at university. So yes, the past does shape the present. It is not a regret anymore but a blessing.
