Gogo Inga Grand Makunike

At 103 years old, she still feels the need to earn a living on her own, a fairly rare phenomenon since most retire at 70.

Gogo Inga Greater Makunike’s life is so remarkable.

She’s too alert for her age.

“I owe this blessing to the Almighty, I can’t say it’s because I’m smart to reach this stage,” Gogo Makunike told NewsDay Weekender during a visit to her Southerton home.

“I can’t say I survived on diet, even though I eat what most of you young people will never be able to eat.

“Some of the native foods I eat make my grandchildren cringe and they’ll never be able to join me, so maybe that’s where I benefit from an extended life.”

However, she does not dispute the hand of God in her longevity.

She still knows when she was born and told NewsDay Weekender: “I was born on December 25, 1920, early on a Thursday morning.

“I always thank God that at my age I still see well, I can speak and I still know my children and grandchildren very well. I consider this a blessing because most of the older generations won’t be able to do this.

Returning to her livelihood at 103, Gogo Makunike discovered she could reminisce about life while doing something with her hands, and for decades she practiced crocheting, commonly known as madhoiri in the vernacular, taking commands and doing magic with his hands.

“I spent my days doing this, earning a little money while finding comfort in the profession,” she said.

His work is evident as it is displayed in his home.

At the beginning of this year, she decided to take an indefinite break because her hands could no longer cope.

She feels alone and during the interview, she was crying while talking about her dear deceased.

However, she forgot the date of her husband’s death.

“Baba Dorca died several decades ago, I was still young and I can’t say the exact year now,” she said.

Gogo Makunike says she takes time to thank God for blessing her in such a way that most of her peers are long gone.

When asked about the new generation, she says the ama2000 pandemic is failing the nation as it is losing a much-needed generation to drug and substance abuse.

“They don’t have time to listen to us, the older generation. Most young people think we don’t know anything and are too old to give them advice,” she said.

She added that they have an “I know” attitude, but they don’t know what they are doing, which destroys their lives.

Gogo Makunike said she had never tasted alcohol in her entire life and therefore did not encourage its excessive consumption. She is a revered figure in the community and is treated with love and respect.

“The community is loving, they come to check on me, gain wisdom and knowledge,” she said.

Indeed, according to the interview, she is a source of knowledge and this is facilitated by the fact that she is in the right state of mind, unlike most older people.

Gogo Makunike’s assistant, Esther Gopo, said she found it difficult to accept that she was so old because she did not give him a hard time like most older people.

“I always make fun of her that her age is not right, that she should be younger because she is too energetic for her age,” Gopo said.

“Compared to other seniors from the older generation, most of them would give their family a hard time at this age, but she is still active and still goes to the bathroom by herself. »

The two have been together for four years now and have developed a strong bond.

Gogo Makunike said she was traveling alone to visit her second daughter who lives in London, without any help.

“I’m going to London alone to visit my second daughter, at this age. I love the attentive service I receive on airlines. They treat the elderly really well. Thanks to this, I can go alone,” she said.

She last went to London last year.

Longevity is in their genes, she is the last of a family of four and recently lost her older sister, who died at the age of 106.

Gogo Makunike is the mother of five children, three of whom are already late.

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