Meet Rawder Kidula: Road to Radio and Christ, In Her Own Words

I love my pieces articulate and declamatory. The kind that stirs your mind, leaves it in a trainwreck of thoughts and later buries it in a bubble. Tea or coffee. They are my companions in this quest.

Today, I chose tea. And guess what my teabags reminded me of?… Women! “They are like teabags”, Eleanor Roosevelt once said. “You never know how strong they are until they get into hot water.” 

Rawder Kidula swam in these very hot waters years ago. She is a celebrated Radio Host, Content Creator, Digital Media Consultant, Blogger, among other things. Formerly at Hope FM, she now hosts the youtube show ’50 Years Of Marriage’ where she interviews wives with the aim of encouraging young ladies and wives that marriage works.

I spoke to her and she now gives us a glimpse into her journey.

You have been on Radio for over 10 years in different radio stations and in diverse roles. What first got you into Radio? Did someone inspire you to be a radio presenter?

I first got into radio because I had listened to radios for a long time and thought I could try that. So when I joined Daystar University, I immediately got interested in working on the student radio. After some time, I was more attracted to the production and technical work behind the scenes. So I became a producer until one time there was an emergency and I had to step in and read the news. It is then that everyone told me reading news is what I should be doing. So reading Sunday afternoon news grew into hosting shows and even becoming a manager.

You grew a loyal following for your shows and you had become a household name in the  ‘gospel industry’. Why would you quit Radio after such a success?

I have always told people that I am the kind of woman who would resign and take care of my family. I didn’t know if I meant it, but I proved myself legit when the time came. It was a big decision for me to resign from radio, especially a Christian radio, I was doing so well, growing in media and in ministry.

I had to resign because once I got married my responsibilities as a wife grew, and being a mother as well, there are things I had to reconsider. As a single mother, I had ‘neglected’ my child to fend for her, but now that I got a partner and someone who understood my mission, it was easier to let go and pursue other passions.  I decided to quit employment to start my own ministries on digital media so that I don’t lose track but still have enough time to be an active wife and mother. I am happy, but who knows, if God allows I might find myself back on the radio.

You became a mother at a teenage (18 years old) and many will argue you hadn’t finished growing up yourself. Yet, you owned the story and now you are a ‘couple goals’ to many. Has it always been like this since the day you had your daughter(the joy and happiness)? How would you explain this experience?

Yes, I got pregnant at 17 and had my daughter at 18. Oh, it was such a painful experience, emotionally, mentally and even physically. I contemplated suicide while pregnant. I had disappointed my family and thought my dreams were no more. I spent many nights in tears. I got born again while pregnant too and resolved to do my best to live for God.

That is when my life changed, I got a new perspective and started praying for miracles. Well, God opened a door and I went to campus, I grew in my confidence in God, and my esteem also was boosted through serving in ministry. The process was not smooth, but I learnt to take refuge in the Lord, my parents also supported me greatly by taking care of my daughter, God indeed has turned everything around for me.

I am certain your daughter is one of the best things to have happened to you. How would you explain the perspective around early pregnancy, especially based on our cultural and Christian foundations? (from your experience)

Well, early pregnancy is not what I would wish for anyone, but no one plays with fire and doesn’t get burnt. In my time, early pregnancies were a big deal, I was isolated, I was lonely, I was condemned, It was a sin, an unusual thing. But now, it is almost becoming normal, it is celebrated and many young girls are falling into the ‘trap’

So for me, I pray we get to that point of speaking about the sin, but embracing the sinner and being real with those playing with the fire. Our morals are decaying by the minute, abortions, ‘sponsors’. So parents need to take up their role in parenting and be intentional about impacting good morals to their children.

What role does family play in your life?

FAMILY is important. My family was there for me when no one else was. They were disappointed in me but did not throw me away. I value family, my family, my marriage,  and my inlaws

Coronavirus has disrupted normalcy in life. How has it affected you and what have you been most proud of learning during this period?

If you could invite anyone, living or dead for dinner, who would that be and why?

I would invite Rahab, the prostitute from the Bible. I am always inspired by the prostitute who made it to the wall of faith in Hebrews 11, and also in the genealogy of Jesus. I want us to be best friends and keep talking about how God transforms.

If you were to die this evening(God forbid) with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

I am sanguine, I think I say more than I should. I say my ‘i love yous, my sorries, and all I need to…well, I would regret more of not starting some projects that are in my heart because of second-guessing, and thinking I am not cut for that.

When people come to you for help, what do they usually want help with?

Most people come to me when they need someone to pray with and for relationship advice. You should see my inbox.

What question would you most like to know the answer to?

What does my daughter think about? i always want to read her mind sometimes.

Are people better at creating things, or destroying things?

People do both. Creating and destroying. Sometimes we take so much time to create then destroy within seconds. We tend to do bad things because the flesh is always at war with the spirit, the things of the flesh often appear to more satisfying and enticing, and many times we fall.

Would you rather have hiccups for the rest of your life or always feel like you’re about to sneeze but you can’t?

I would rather have hiccups because at least I have some remedies…but that feeling ya kusneeze I don’t know how to overcome. But both are NO. Niko tu sawa.

Finally, given a time travel machine, What advice would you give to your younger self?

Dear younger me, don’t have sex before marriage, please don’t beg a man to be with you, please study hard in school and explore your passions, please keep the right company, please serve God, keep praying, God is faithful and He is able to bring your craziest dreams to pass. AND LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. She knows things you don’t.

Rawder Kidula does daily devotional blogs #TreasuredTruth on her website www.rawderkidula.com. She also uses social media as a ministry platform in encouraging and mentoring young people through her pages ‘Rawder Kidula Kedaha’ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.