Achebe on Nigeria

A short BBC interview with Achebe on Nigeria's first 50 years.

Baking Cakes in Kigali

Ah, the fascinating world of Angel Tungaraza, cake-maker extraordinaire! Although a tad like Mma Ramotswe's setting in the beginning, the book develops its individuality quickly and captures your attention. Interesting (and often funny) characters, mouth-watering cakes and stories (both happy and sad) will come your way as you read on about people and their situations and circumstances in current day Rwanda. I found the cross-cultural and language aspects particularly interesting. Angel is very endearing and Parkin shows her witty side often in this enjoyable book.

Naming my daughter

A friend shared this interesting piece and it reminded me of a recent BBC article about naming children in Africa. Not to forget the wonderful punning capabilities of the current Nigerian President's name, Goodluck Jonathan. :0)

Naming My Daughter

"In the Uruba tribe of Africa, children are named not only at birth but throughout their lives by their characteristics and the events that befall them."

The one who took hold in the cold night
The one who kicked loudly
The one who slid down quickly in the ice storm
She who came while the doctor was eating dessert
New one held up by heels in the glare
The river between two brothers
Second pot on the stove
Princess of a hundred dolls
Hair like water falling beneath moonlight
Strides into the day
She who runs away with motorcycle club president
Daughter kicked with a boot
Daughter blizzard in the sky
Daughter night-pocket
She who sells sports club memberships
One who loves over and over
She who wants child but lost one.
She who wants marriage but has none
She who never gives up
Diana (Goddess of the Chase)
Doris (for the carrot-top grandmother
she never knew)
Fargnoli (for the father
who drank and left and died)
Peter Pan, Iron Pumper
Tumbleweed who goes mouths without calling
Daughter who is a pillar of light
Daughter mirror, Daughter stands alone
Daughter boomerang who always comes back
Daughter who flies forward into the day
where I will be nameless.

"Naming My Daughter" by Patricia Fargnoli, from Necessary Light. © Utah State University Press, 1999.

The Danger of a Single Story

I just watched this interesting talk, 'The Danger of theSingle Story', by Chimamanda Adichie.



The first part of the talk reminded so much of my own childhood when I set out to write a book about the "Secret Nine", modeled of course on Enid Blyton's "Secret Seven" stories. There are so many other parallels I drew between her early life in Nigeria and mine in India. I found her concept of the misleading single story eye-opening and profound.