(Kaieteur News) – Fondly known in grassroots circles as the “Godfather” of Guyanese sports, politics and pageantry, Odinga Lumumba’s life has been defined by humility, resilience and an unwavering commitment to national development.

Lumumba’s roots were imbued with humility, independence, and reverence. Lumumba was born in July 1949. His mother, Elaine McNeal, who was raised under impoverished circumstances, was adamant that her only child, Odinga, would not go through life with a similar fate.

McNeal was firm in her belief that education was an important pathway out of poverty, and she dedicated much of her time teaching Odinga to read from a young age. At 4 years old, Lumumba was precociously reading short articles in the newspapers with his mother’s guidance. Lumumba jocularly recollected, “She ensured that I studied every night under candlelight until 9:00 pm because there was no electricity during my early years. She supervised my studies with the assistance of a belt,” he said in an interview.