7 Insightful Motherhood Lessons From The Movie “Queen of Katwe”

“Sometimes the place you are used to is not the place where you belong”.

These words are the most quoted and remembered from the movie, “Queen of Katwe.”

It is a beautiful true life story about a young girl, Phiona Mutesi, who grew up in the slums of Uganda.

The movie takes you on a journey of how an encounter with the game of chess and the support of a coach completely changed the life of this young girl.

But my focus is on Phiona’s mother, Harriet Mutesi, a role played beautifully by Lupita Nyong’ O and many lessons we can learn from her.

Some minutes into the movie, you are introduced to the fierce and protective side of a mother, when Harriet confronts a man preying on her older daughter.

Harriet was a young widow with 4 children. She had also previously lost a child and was struggling to survive through each day with her children.

I watched with my ‘Mother Eyes and Heart’ 😃😃😃 and extracted 7 Insightful Motherhood Lessons :

Here you go……

1. NEVER LET THE PAST DETERMINE THE FUTURE YOU CAN GIVE YOUR CHILDREN.

This mother held on to the believe that life had nothing better to offer her.

Her past and struggles had become her limitation.

Her dreams never came to pass, so it was hard to let go of what she was used to and believe for greater things for her children.

2. FIGHT TO REMAIN STANDING IN THE MIDST OF LIFE’S CHALLENGES.

This mother sold maize to survive. She struggled through each day to feed her children and was eventually thrown out of her house.

She and her children became homeless. They walked into the night with no hope of where to lay their heads.

That particular scene in the movie brought tears to my eyes. I saw how a mother’s limits was tested yet she kept fighting.

3. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR VALUES INTACT.

There is a scene in the movie where Harriet meets a man from many years ago. They were from the same village and it was obvious that the man liked her.

She was in his shop to sell off a valuable piece of fabric. She states her price and
he promises to increase the money, but only if she can give him her body.

She refuses, collects the original amount agreed on and walks away with her dignity intact.

I saw how a mother’s values was put to test and she triumphed.

4. LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN.

When her son spoke to her about giving Phiona, his sister a chance at this new game of chess, she had her fears but she listened.

Her next course of action tells us that she listened to the words of her son.

I saw that a mother’s heart was made to listen.

Wisdom and insight shows up when she does.

5. ALWAYS BE WILLING TO HELP YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN GO FOR AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.

Phiona needed to read and learn more about the game of chess, but they lacked enough oil to keep the lamp burning at night.

Remember that valuable fabric I wrote about earlier, her mother sold it off and had some money to buy extra oil. With this, Phiona could now read at night.

I saw how a mother gave up something of value to help her daughter pursue her dreams.

6. NEVER GIVE UP ON A STRAYING CHILD.

When Phiona’s sister shows up and says that she is pregnant, Harriet takes her daughter in with open arms.

This particular child gave her a lot of trouble, kept her awake and worried at night.

She had left home and gone to live with a man, this was enough to shut her out but….

Then I saw how powerful and selfless a mother’s love is.

7. BELIEVE THAT YOUR LABOUR WILL NOT BE IN VAIN.

Phiona once told her mother that one day, she will buy her a house.

Imagine how powerful our words are.

Those words Phiona spoke came true.

There is a beautiful moment in the movie where Harriet is brought to tears, while standing in front of the house Phiona had bought for her.

She must have remembered the words her daughter spoke sometime ago. Those words echoed in her heart as she let the tears roll.

I saw a strong woman, a fighter, a protector and a giver.

She laboured to keep her family together and despite all odds, she triumphed and her daughter’s success eventually wiped away her tears.

Her labour of love, hope and faith was not in vain.

If you have watched this movie,

What lessons did you learn?

And if you have not, please go and grab some popcorn and see it soon.🙂🙂

©2018, Fijabi Ufuoma