About the Author
Shiko Clayton is a Naturalized American. She was born and raised in Kenya in a family of five. She has two brothers; one is her twin. She has also lived in Uganda and Djibouti, Africa. Shiko attended Amboseli College in Kenya and was crowned the first Miss Amboseli in 2002. She holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Nkumba University, Uganda and a master’s degree in human resources from Bellevue University, in the U.S. She has worked in various capacities at the American anti-terrorism base in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Shiko loves reading about writing and writing about reading. She also loves cooking and all things hospitality related. Currently, she is doing her best to write while tending to her husband and juggling their three children at their home in Greenville, South Carolina. This is her first book.
A Personal Note from Shiko Clayton
“A word in the heart never wins, be true to yourself and speak up. This is a mantra that I have lived by. I am a strong believer in individuality. Individuality is the essence of uniqueness that everyone is born with, even if they are a twin. My joy has been to learn and understand that we are all individuals first before we are linked to others as brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, parents and grandparents, wives and husbands, leaders, and indeed members of the larger community. Considering the cultural and social expectations that life sometimes deals us, we are individuals first and have our own unique faith, aspirations, hopes and desires. As an individual, I am excited to share with you the lessons that my experiences have taught me.”
A Tribute to My Grandmother
This very special woman was my grandmother, Cucu (Sho-Sho) Julia. I lost her on Jan 2, 2009, to diabetes. I learned my native language Kikuyu from her and my parents. With my siblings Evan and Eric, I cherished the visits to her homestead in the countryside on the far slopes of Mt. Kenya, in Kirinyaga County. She taught me to believe in myself when engaging in relationships and to respectfully stand my ground. “A word in the heart never wins. Intentions are in the heart, but a spoken word sees the light of day,” she would say. This is how I fondly remember her and with deep appreciation, I would like to share the wisdom she demonstrated in her thoughts and words.
Testimonials
“Shiko Clayton carries herself with dignity, respect, and her ever smiling and jolly face leaves a good impression on others. Shiko’s insight on understanding diverse cultures is eye-opening. In her memoir, she explores why it is essential to understand the genesis of culture and how it has evolved over time. Her strong belief in culture and tradition, intertwined with strong faith in God makes her the right person to tell it all in the book.”
- Dr. Lucy Gitonga- Lecturer at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
“Shiko’s unique perspective having grown up in a military family with her father absent for extended periods of time, coupled with the wisdom from her grandmother and others, found her well suited to navigate the challenges that having a military spouse presents. Shiko’s rare life experiences make for a wonderful book that will both enlighten and entertain.”
- Gabriel Shoemaker. US Army Veteran and Firefighter, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
“Shiko’s memoir offers inspiration to the young generation whose culture entails dowry before marriage. Dowry is a fundamental cultural practice where the couple receives blessings from their parents and their families get to meet and know each other. As a couple, we observed this tradition as we share in Shiko’s Kikuyu culture. It was therefore a privilege to accompany Shiko and her husband to Kenya where he graciously respected and observed the culture. The tradition of dowry, how it has evolved over the last two decades, and its importance even in modern-day life, is accurately narrated in the book.”
- Mr. and Mrs. Peter and Susan Thuo Olathe, Kansas, USA
