Tribute to Matenneh

Matenneh was an extraordinary woman—one whose strength, courage, and wisdom far surpassed the limits of formal education. She may not have had the degrees that society often praises, but she possessed something far greater: character, resilience, insight, and a heart that refused to give up on people. Her life was a lesson in courage, in generosity, and in the kind of love that shows itself through action, not words.

By Ruth Jappah-Samukai

I will forever remember the role she played in my life. She was not just a family friend—she was a mother to me too. Despite the difference in our ages, she cared for me with a tenderness and commitment that still humbles me. During the war, when danger was close and the world felt uncertain, she came to me. In the passing of my father, she came again. And later, when my mother passed, she showed up once more—steady, compassionate, and present.

She brought me food when she knew I was hurting. She sat with me when silence felt heavy. And she advised me as only someone with deep life experience could—about womanhood, about childbearing, about raising a family, and about marriage. She would tell me, with her signature humor and honesty, the “do’s and don’ts” of living with a husband, reminding me that men, whether in love or in frustration, often remain who they are. She spoke without judgment, but with a protective wisdom born out of living through life’s storms.

I remember her trip to the embassy as if it were yesterday. When the lady behind the counter asked her, “Why do you want to go to America?” Matenneh answered in that bold and unpretentious way that only she could:

“Just how you are in my country seeing it, that’s how I want to go see your country.”

The officer could do nothing but smile—and stamp her book. That was Matenneh: honest, simple, fearless, and charming in the most natural way.

Today, as we mourn her passing, my heart also goes out deeply to her children—Massa, Sadaatu, Zoe, and Ina. Your pain is mine too. I share in your loss, because Matenneh loved not only her own children, but she took others in as her own. Her love stretched far, and I am one of the many who benefitted from that love.

To Massa, Sadaatu, Zoe, and Ina:
Your mother was a pillar—strong in spirit, rich in dignity, and generous beyond measure. Her legacy lives in all of you. And please know that my heart hurts with yours. I mourn with you because she was a mother to me as well. I will forever carry the warmth of her kindness, the strength of her courage, and the memory of the countless ways she stood by me.

She will be missed—more than words can ever fully express.

May Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate, receive her soul with peace and forgiveness, and may He grant her a resting place among the righteous. May He also bless and keep the souls of all our departed loved ones.

In loving memory of Matenneh—
A mother, a friend, a warrior, and a blessing.