DailyGood: Mary Oliver On Mornings

DailyGood: Mary Oliver On Mornings

Enjoy the mornings

Brightening a child's world

I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.

- Rachel Joy Scott -

What I've Learned From The Children In My Life, by Shaheen Mistry

Mistaken for Petina Gappah

Finally, the Book Café in Harare has a Book Club. Last night I joined 14 others in a discussion of Uwem Akpan’s book ‘Say You’re One of Them’.  

Well, not everyone was discussing per se. Our numbers were boosted just a little by the cancellation of the Women In Media event that was planned for the Book Café main stage the same evening (a few curious individuals ventured to the back room where we were tucked away and were warmly invited to join us). They sat quietly curious as the 6 or 7 people who had read the book discussed it. Others, who had just come along for the discussion did chip in with questions and observations and requests to read the book (not available locally as far as I know). Which is also part of this book club deal. If book club does not make you curious to read the books discussed, then frankly it hasn’t done its job! And if you want to read this book, copies will eventually make their way to the shelves of the Harare City Library where it is hoped the book club discussions might continue (and other events cascade, a reading, theatre, films that expand the issues?). That is half the reason for my attendance.

The other half is because it is just such a good idea, made a reality through the combined efforts of Sunanda Ray, Book Café staff Extra-Blessings and Taku as well as Irene Staunton from Weaver Press.

Zimbabwean authors Simmer Chinodya and Virginia Phiri were in attendance last night (cool) and lent the weight of their literary experience to the discussion. Virginia had in fact read the book when invited by USAID to participate in the oldest continuous book club in America, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) and shared with us that she had found it both a rewarding and a compelling read. Shimmer took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes vigorously and peered deeply at the book, eventually taking the copy I had borrowed home on loan to read. I do so hope they both keep attending.

So what did we share, this largish, diverse and tentative group?

The five dark and seemingly hopeless stories, told in a child’s voice each time was almost too painful to bear for some. Not just an African tale, we agreed, but a universal one (can the brutality on the street of Nairobi be any less than those on the streets of Brazil or the disappointment in the heart of the two Ethiopian girls forced apart by culture be any less so than in the hearts of the London parents whose son was shot dead by racists). So let not the book be too quickly judged as portraying Africa as victims when victims today are everywhere. We appreciated the books honesty in relating the harshest of lived realities that some of Africa’s inhabitants face. Every story told a tale of coping.

The authors skill was noted in how beautifully Uwem painted such an ugly picture and how well a child’s voice this grown, Jesuit priest spoke. In the final short story, to which the book is titled, he manages to drain Rwanda’s rivers of it’s broken and bloated bodies and replace this image instead with the voices of those dead. Never again his stories whisper. Never again. 

Discussions wound down after some one and a half hours had passed. What book next we asked? Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was suggested and accepted (locally available through Weaver Press). Another Nigerian, she also tackles the harder aspects of life in Africa through the narrative voice of a teenage girl, but in this one does the sun shine through? Look out for the notice. 

We stood up, shook hands, introduced ourselves and mingled a little. It was at this point I discovered what must have been the combined effect of my late entrance, Sunanda’s quick greeting of ‘Welcome Katrina’ and my association with Harare City Library that had led at least one participant to confuse my identity.

‘Are you Petina Gappah?’ Munyaradzi asked after he introduced himself. Interesting. 

Pippi Longstocking at Harare City Library

Pippi Longstocking is a fictional character (but she was at the Harare City Library today). What a hectic but entertaining 3 hours we had at the Renovation Project Launch.

Speechification followed by some, erm.....interesting? violin playing by some young ladies from Mabelreign Girls High School (I would have heard the Henry Olonga tune better if it wasn’t for those darned cats screeching....) and of course, Pippi.

Pippi appears in a series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lingdren (and has been adapted into multiple films and television series).

Nine-year-old Pippi is unconventional, assertive, and has superhuman strength ( being able to lift her horse one-handed without difficulty). She frequently mocks and dupes adults she encounters (ki ki ki), an attitude likely to appeal to young readers. However, Pippi usually reserves her absolutely worst behaviour for the most pompous and condescending of adults. Pippi's anger is reserved for the most extreme cases, such as when a man ill-treats her horse. Like Peter Pan, Pippi does not want to grow up (and why should she people!). She is the daughter of a buccaneer captain (the stories were written and published in the 1940’s but publishers keep it updated) and as such has adventurous stories to tell. She has four best friends, two animals (her horse and a monkey) and two humans, the neighbour's children Tommy and Annika.

Part of Pippi’s story was read in English, Shona and Ndebele by three youngsters (very interesting, Pippi imagines her father has become a king of cannibals over in wild Iceland and the Shona translation for cannibal king was 'mambo anodya vana' and in Ndebele??? ...translations can be fun:)

Anyways, 100 books were handed over in a token gesture to start the 1 million renovation and banners were hung as people celebrated (go Sweden, go Sweden) and lots and lots of networking afterwards.  Cool.

Too much for this blog to tell all at once so I will leave you with a picture of some young Chipawo stars [www.chipawo.org] who entertained the crowd and were treated to eats, fizzy pop and music afterwards (as were the children who attended from 6 different schools around Harare). Gorgeous.