Are African mothers powerful?

Uganda's government has recruited the mother of Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony to try to end the long war. Will the elusive rebel leader respect his 70-year-old mother's wish?

Nora Oting, along with other family members, is to be escorted to a bush camp in north-east DR Congo, to see her son for the first time in 15 years.

The world over, mothers are known for their tireless devotion to their children, often making enormous sacrifices to nurture and raise them. Some say there is no relationship as close as that between a mother and child.

How powerful are our African mothers? Has your mother had a positive or negative impact in your life? How different would your life be without a mother? If you were to write a poem about your mother what would it say?

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This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments. You can read a selection below.

A Mother is a Newday! New-week! Newmonth! Newyear! Newlife! Newmercy! Newhope! Newstrength! Newpeace! Newjoy! Newsong!
John Alphonsus, Nigeria.

African mothers are some of the most powerful women in the world. They manage feats that today's modern woman would not even contemplate. When it comes to their children, they are selfless, tenacious, encouraging, hardworking, strong, support. A typical African woman would rather die than see her child suffer and she'd definitely would go to absolutely any length to cater for her children. I am simply mesmerised when I think of the African mother.
Nia , London, UK

Oh! how can I ever forget mothers, not women, because all women are not mothers, but all mothers are women oh, how can I forget the one who has been there and is still there amidst strife and glory, caring and giving life.

MOTHER M- She's a Motivator O- She's an Orator T- She's Thoughtful H- She's a homemaker E- She's energetic R- She's a realist

My Mother has came through so many times for my family, that I cannot imagine life without her. She was a source of encouragement before I even knew what encouragement meant. I remember when she was so sick...even then she made sure her family would not go without some necessities. God bless your heart Mom.
Adwoa,

My life without a mother would be sorrowful. Without my mother i would have not being educated. Imagine poor mother selling in the local market paid my school fees up to high level. My mother is my roll model.
Fatoumatta Touray, Stockholm/Sweden/Gambian

African mothers seem to have a very stronghold on their children especially males, but they need to respect the fact that boys grow into men and should leave them to make their own decisions in life.
Taiwo, London

The impact African mothers have on their children especially those who are educated, or politicians is very minimal or non-existent. In most African countries you find that most grannies are illiterate and don't fully understand political problems. Another most crucial issue is that most children tend to take their mothers' opinion for granted. For me because my mother is not illiterate, I respect her views but they can hardly change my way of doing things.
Maurice Gilbert Ujeneza, Durban, South Africa

Words are not enough to describe the love I have for my mother. She is everything to me. She has impacted my in a very positive way. Apart from death, no one can separate us. My mother has been a great source of inspiration to me. She is so full of wisdom and I have learnt so much from her. Money cannot compensate for the enormous sacrifice mothers made for their children. I will always love my mother. I love you mama.
Omorodion Osula, Boston, USA

Most men, no matter how big, will ignore every member of the family except their mother!!!
Anonymous

My mother stopped in primary six but she wants all her children to attain the highest education possible for them. I graduated in 2005 but she played a great role in my education. my father retired and could not afford all fees. My mom stayed in the village tending cows, goats and growing crops to sell for my education. I have not yet got a job but she prays for me everyday to get a job.
Cornelius Engwenyu, Kampala

My mother is the best mother anybody can wish to have. I remember those days when I was growing up. My mother was such a beautiful young woman. She was bubbling in energy. Even as a petty trader, she made sure I had everything that I needed for my schooling. Today, after thirty years, she looks old and is sick most of the time. Each time I look at her, I still see the love and care she has always given to her children from birth until now.
Gabriel Onyekuru, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Africa's Anthem, voted by the readers and listeners of BBC is Sweet Mother by Prince Nico Mbarga. This should tell you how powerful African Mothers are to Africans. My mother Catherine Befu Ngwa is for me the best Mum in the world. She has had such a positive impact in my life and I believe that our family will be blessed for generations to come because of her.
Wilfred Ngwa, Orlando, Florida (Cameroonian)

Mothers are extremely powerful in Africa. Whilst fathers tend to be strict and hardline, African mothers tend to be gentle and caring to their children. This is why children in Africa love and respect their mothers. I know that Nora Oting, the mother of Joseph Kony will touch her son in a very special way and she remains a beacon of hope for Uganda.
James Muiruri, Sheffiled UK

The most powerful people in African continent are Mothers. They have the power to persuade their children to act otherwise. Like in this case, it is the only hope for peace in Northern Uganda. But if Kony is arrested for war crime against humanity as has been contemplated, this poor woman will suffer the rest of her leftover life with lots of humiliation.
James Obote, Cockeysville, MD USA

I come from a family of eight and my father left us when I was 13 years old. I have three younger siblings who were seven, five and one at the time, my mother worked up to 14 hours a day just so we would not drop out of school and have food on our table, sometimes she would go without eating just so we could have something. I am very proud of my mother because all eight of us have finished our schooling and are doing well.
Chola, Zambia