A STORY CHASES YOU AND TERRORISES YOU UNTIL YOU WRITE IT-ZAZA MUCHEMWA

 Where do I begin?

Kampala International Theatre Festival totally ripped Kampala to shreds with their talent. I often fully immerse myself in art, I enjoy theatre and I like talking to new and established artists in every field.

What was different then, about KITF's tenth edition? 

I have participated several times before as a moderator and met many of their guests. This year was undeniably earth shattering. Everything was lit from the get go.

I don't know what was in the air but its infusion was an increasing chant from the worlds' greatest.

Being called to moderate the artists' conversation, I thought-how on earth am I going to moderate a conversation with ten or more of the most outstanding theatre practitioners, playwrights and musicians from the continent, with those from Germany, too?

I had only two hours to turn this into not just a conversation but into a memory. Moderation is about transference of spiritual connectivity and making memories. And that's what we did!

L-R Wanjiku Mwawuganga, Beverley, George Bwanika Seremba, Zaza Muchemwa, Kaya Kagimu.

(some of the artists in moderation) 

Photo by Wilhelm. 

Citizen Kane Kollektiv. Photo by Diamond Media

                            Max Sprenger and Beverley: Photo by Lwazi Diamond

While I had read the bios, and watched some of their performances online, nothing prepared me for the magnificence of their craft, their thought processes and their vulnerability. That's what separates artists.

They are able to change their vulnerability into strength, not by mind games or wellness camps but through churning their honesty and strength into an interaction with everyday people going through the same experience.

I will mention by name, each artist who was part of the discussion, because their words sent reality checks and beautiful thoughts into my system.

Citizen Kane Kollektiv-Max Sprenger, Christian Muller and Simon Kubat, Christine Mbabazi, Ssentumbwe Kabuuza, Wanjiku Mwawuganga, George Bwanika Seremba, Zaza Muchemwa, Kaya Kagimu and Ogutu Muraya. Ten in total.

Wearing their hearts, their passion and their future and past on their sleeves, they dove right in, treating me and the audience as if their were friends chatting by the fireside. 

A few quotes:

"A story chases you and terrorises you until you write it"-Zaza Muchemwa

"What is my why, when telling a story?"-Kaya Kagimu

"Artists should also be allowed to fail."- Ssentumwe Kabuuza

Whatever happens, always endeavour to attend Kampala International Theatre Festival-the organisers give their heart into every detail. They are highly meticulous, prepared and every single team member is willing to lend a hand to assist guests. Ndere Centre, too, with its picturesque environment, is ideal for a good old artists' weekend.

.....

A Poem for Honourable Joyce Mpanga

 For Honourable Joyce Mpanga

You crossed the river

with your children on your back

asking you about their daddy

You held the earth

with sadness in your heart

when money disappeared like the sunset

you fed an entire generation

even before they were born

with salt in one hand and hope in the other

you built pyramids made from the doors

that slammed in your face

until the world finally listened

and your voice will never be silenced again.

...

Written by Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva, for Honourable Joyce Mpanga, Uganda's first Women Affairs Minister, Africa's first female lecturer at Makerere University, the first woman in Uganda to hold a Master's degree, former State Minister of Education in Uganda,  amongst so many other accolades.

Teaching my Mother How to Give Birth-A Review of Warshan Shire's Poetry

There are those poets whom, when their words touch paper, tremors are felt across the earth. Warsan Shire a  Kenyan born Somali-British award-winning poet, is one of those. She strikes her pen with a sublime swish, and nothing remains the same.

Photo taken at a literary festival in Kenya, in 2013

Beverley-R and Warsan-L

Her chapbook poetry collection, 'Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth,' is a genuine interaction of the intimacy of women's individual turmoil in conflict situations, displacement, families, and the questions about women's bodies that never seem to have the right answer.

The simple connection with images like in, 'Questions for Miriam Makeba,' 

Did you ever tell people that songs weren't 

the same as a warm body, a soft mouth?

..

Did you know of the girls who sang into their fists

mimicking your brilliance?

...

This homage to Miriam Makeba is in itself a song, a conversation with the musical icon, who, in the poem, is not a wife, mother or sister, but is a singer. She is defined by her brilliance and not by her reproductive ability.

Warsan is bold and bodacious and her observation is sharp, as she peels off layers of pretense and hypocrisy to celebrate the realness of women.

In the poem, 'Maymunn's Mouth,' we read of  the subtle changes that overcome us when we relocate to another place. It begins with the way we speak, the way we dress, and then we begin to think that our old traditions and loves should be replaced by the new.

And yet it is not as simple as forgetting and adjusting, because there are memories, families and friends involved in this entire process.

The title of the collection itself, is mind-blowing, reflection of ho the world has actually turned on its head. There is no justification in situations of war; no justification at all, when children and women suffer unbearable torment.

Published by Flipped Eye publishing in 2011, copies are available on Amazon.

Reviewed by Beverley N Nsengiyunva

A Book Review of Step Out; Written by Julian Ogwal, Reviewed by Beverley N Nsengiyunva

 When an author is able to weave words and create a page-turner, we must give them respect.

'Step Out,' by Julian Ogwal, a Chartered Certified Accountant and mother of four home schooled children, is a captivating and courageous journey of a mother who worked her way into a successful and practical home schooler and educator, through asking questions, studying intensely and being real with the ups and downs of daily decisions.

Courtesy photo

Available at African Books dot com and all Aristoc Booklex outlets in Uganda

The beautiful reality with this relevant, relatable and rich collection of testimonials, learned lessons and advice for educators, parents and policy makers, is that there are pieces of wisdom to guide any adult or child on finding the path that pushes them to their full capacity. And through the learning and unlearning that we invariably face, the book is a tapestry of local, regional and international expertise that will change the mindset of a reader.

The book offers options, not just for teaching children but for life. In every aspect of our lives, as parents, acre-givers, career-makers, we need to decide what paths are actually best for our fullest capacity where we will leave an indelible impact.

What increases the profundity, is that it is a remarkable guide for Ugandan and African homeschoolers, without the pressure of adjusting to a western teaching methodology.

Decisions concerning school, curriculum choice, interaction with staff and peers, are endless. Parents and guardians alike agonize over these decisions and often, in despair, hope against hope that the schools will turn their children into miracles.

'Step Out,' is firm in underscoring the need for a parent and guardian's involvement. And in the busyness of  their lives, the book offers practical and workable solutions around work schedules, holidays, that enable quality time of bonding with children without the feeling of compromising on one's career.

The book is a genuine interaction of a mother who has experienced, learned, sought advice, travelled in quest for truth and opened her heart and vulnerability to mastering what education is truly about.

Step Out is a gift, and highly recommended for parents, teachers, guardians and teenagers alike, for them to appreciate that the journey of education extends beyond examinations, uniform and classroom instruction.

Well done, Ju!

Reviewed by Beverley N Nsengiyunva

Get A Mentor Who Meets Your Mojo

Do you want a mentor who meets your mojo?

A mentor who seizes the day with you and if you'd like to fly a rocket, is willing to advise you on the best online deals.

Those are the worthwhile mentors, the one who listens, offers appropriate advice and does not take offence when you soar beyond possibilities. 

That is another reason why mentors who have known you from school, your childhood or when you were starting out in your career, are probably not the best fit.

 

There are certain individuals who have known me from childhood, because our families were friends and when we meet they give off an embrace of care, understanding my individuality and passion and light up when I share my goals. And yet, they always conclude by telling everyone who cares to listen how they knew me from childhood as the girl who used to play hide and seek with long curly hair. 

In their mind, their vision does not go beyond little sister or cute childhood neighbour. No matter the accolades or distinguishable moments in my life, their myopic vision remains stunted. I therefore made up my mind that my mentors will be those who have met me closer to my stage of actualization.

There are also mentors, whose very lives will become disrupted, when they sense that your success is overriding theirs. Their nostrils flare and their  commonsense dissipates like a puff of smoke. They make you second guess your abilities because you have exceeded beyond their understanding. Much as they'd like to take credit for all your success, deep down both of you know that the only part they played was to make you second guess yourself every step of the way.

And yet we still call them our mentors because they happen to be in the same profession as we are and because we happen to know the same people.

It is far better to get a personal coach whom you pay to unearth your limitless potential and to guide you on a path of singular success and experience. This coach will most likely give you more than you paid for. They have studied the manner of self-development and they have mastered the journey of self-awareness.

And then pay for a mastermind. A class whose focus is to nurture, meet a goal, build a business or create a strategic plan.

Mentorship is wonderful if the mentor is cognizant of  their own limitations and your own capacity. If you find a group or an individual, congratulations!

 Coaching and mastermind classes will elevate you to excellence. Go for that, too.

Marial Awendit Strikes Gold, Again

 Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation, stretching its poetic arm across Africa, in 2018, celebrated their fourth poetry festival in Mbale and Sipi Falls, Eastern Uganda. It was there that the highly gifted South Sudanese poet, Marial Awendit, was awarded the $700 prize. His poetry, a gift of the ages, has since been published by Babishai, in a poetry collection, titled, 'The Night Does Not Drown, Us.'

Again, the unstoppable Marial strikes gold. In November 20203 at the African Writers Conference in Ghana, Marial was awarded first prize in the poetry category for his poem, The Nilotic Coddiwomple.

At The African Writers Conference, discussions around Artificial Intelligence and their interaction with creative writing came up. Marial strongly feels that,

"How will A.I be of practical help for the cattle rustlers in South Sudan? The reality is far removed."

Marial further went on to praise Babishai for the elevation that the prize gave him. 

"Babishai helped to elevate me into the limelight. My poetry is being taught at The University of Venda and many South Sudanese writers have been in touch with me."

The Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation continues to support the work of African poets through publishing, training and poetry events. 

 

 

Maama Golparii's Cure for Eczema

Every parent and caregiver has gone to extraordinary measures to protect their child from injury, illness and other forms of harm.

Our eldest, who's now 15, suffered from severe eczema as a child. We tried all kinds of ailments and the treatment that worked  most effectively was kyogero, the traditional herbal mixture that is boiled from mainly the barks of specialized trees. 

My husband and I , reluctant at first, used it and marvelled at the positive results. Sustaining this method was difficult and as time went on, we stopped using it. Gradually, the severity of the eczema reduced. Occasionally, as a teenager she will react to certain harsh elements.

In 2010, crossing over to her second birthday, my husband and I booked a Mash Poa bus to Nairobi, to visit relatives, before heading to Mombasa. What a treat!

Mombasa in 2010.

Fort Jesus, camels and oceans, singing paths, stories of pirates, heat and freshly squeezed juice at every corner.

And Mama Golparii.

It was at Fort Jesus when a tour guide, upon observing the young tourist couple with their toddler taking walking across the Fort, offered to share the history of the place. He was more captivating than the history lessons in primary. 

He went on to tell us that as a tour guide, he had learned several languages namely German, French and Italian. Yes-all that from his job as a tour guide. Impressive! 

The Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site,  is located in Mombasa City on the coast of Kenya. Designed by Giovanni Battista Cairati, it was built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596 to protect the port of Mombasa. (https://museums.or.ke/fort-jesus-mombasa/)

This observant tour guide then, upon noticing how our two year old was itching and fidgety, offered to take us to Mama Golparii, the lady who heals all skin ailments.

Skeptical, we thanked him for his service, paid his exhorbitant fee of 2,000 Ksh per person and boarded our tuk tuk back to the guest house.

That first night, a in a room where the mosquitoes teased the mosquito net like an accountant teases employees with their salaries, threatening to come close, disappearing and then attacking. Our first night in Mombasa was unpleasant, and the next day we opted for finer lodging.

Our eldest bore the bring of it.

The next morning, over a scrumptious breakfast which for the life of me I am unable to recall, we went back to Fort Jesus. After the night we had had, we welcomed the idea of Mama Golparii's healing powers.

The tour guide, saw us instantly and in a casual demeanour, told us he would take us to the lady of healing powers.

We went winding down Old Mombasa, in an out of old buildings closely packed together, along the winding paths with closely kept stories. We followed him with no other choice since we had no idea of our way back. It was solemn. It was foreboding.

"Here we are," he said.

He called for her and as part of her welcoming committee, five or so cats leaped out of the front door before the presence of a maternal looking pleasant faced woman came out.

She and the guide spoke in Kiswahili and then she greeted us.

She was warm and had a broken tooth, visible every time she spoke or laughed. 

Afterwards, she explained at length how she uses natural medicine from the trees and herbs to cure all types of skin conditions from boils, sores, acne and more. 

And yes, she had just the right ointment for our daughter's eczema.

Going back indoors, she returned with various sizes of jars with a creamy mixture, that looked like odii, the sim sim paste from Northern Uganda.

We offered to buy enough supplies worth 2,000 Ksh, thanking her profusely and hoping that she did not notice how we just wanted to get out of there fast. Winding back through the dark corridors, mysterious alleyways and whispering buildings, we finally boarded a tuk tuk back, this time to a much better guest house.

That was not after paying our guide 1,000 Ksh for his services.

It was upon return to Nairobi, at my aunt's that we noticed something a little rather 'off' with the medicine. Our daughter's skin was drying up like a deserted leaf. 

My aunt watched her niece struggle to walk and expressed shock when she learned of our little medical tourism adventures. That was the end of Mama Golparii's ointment.

It may have worked for other people. For us, that was not so. 

I remain curious to know if she is still there in Mombasa. She made our trip memorable.

.......

 

Book Review of FINE BOYS, by Eghosa Imasuen, reviewed by Beverley N N

 

This novel is for a guy’s guy.

Imagine a group of college boys taking turns at retelling heartfelt conversations about their family life, parents’ bizarre marriages, sibling rivalry, failed relationships, girls out of their league and the rivalry between deadly gangs within their neighbourhoods.

A fast paced novel with such convincing dialogue that portrayed each character so vividly that the scenes came

to life. The imagination and thought behind the telling of this novel is impressive.

First person narrations for these types of novels work well. The beginning with the interaction between

narrator Ewean, a boy in his formative teen years, his father and the colonial figure of an oil executive. 

That triangle is a powerful pivot into this intricate novel of a boy caught between family, university life, ambition and politics. Amidst all of this navigation and complexity, Ewean is able to learn how much power he has within self-control, how powerful gang affiliated structures are and how deep the political waters of Nigeria actually run.

In all of this, the main character is a reflection of any adult that has studied in a typical university in Africa. There are unwritten rules, constant need for validation and representation, a heightened sense of belonging and the creation of new and cemented identities through academia and friendships.

The on and off relationship between Ewean’s parents is an honest account of a boy’s strong emotional turmoil in the face of this. Often, boys and young men in certain African cultures are warned against showing emotion and this vulnerability, sometimes subtle and sometimes overt, that we see along the novel is refreshing and authentic.

Eghosa’s second novel, FINE BOYS, is a tale that is entertaining as it endears a reader towards real life situations of a university student catching up on missed opportunities, learning how ambition and politics are closely tied.

There is deep sadness in the novel, just like in life. It is the political fractions that continuously ruffle the journey of an average Nigerian student and the tragedy that befalls in unprecedented.

This powerful injection of emotions is one of the many reasons why you must purchase the novel, published by Farafina Books and available on amazon, for purchase.

Reviewed by Beverley N Nsengiyunva, who met Eghosa in Nigeria in 2014 and had the pleasure of receiving an

autographed copy of the novel.

Satisfying A Hungry Photographer

How many takes for a photographer's satisfaction? 

How many body twists and turns before a photographer tells you that s/he has found the perfect shot, where your eyes carried the right mischief and laughter?

How many times before you learn to smile without inhaling and exhaling deeply?

Is there such a thing as a natural smile?

What is an authentic laugh? Belly laughter? How about men who laugh at women for their misogynistic taste?

How about women who laugh at other women, because their laughter hides their lack of self-esteem? 

Photo by Victor Ehikhamenor, Nigeria 2014.

I want a photographer who will catch me with a million different smiles and styles, from the time I wake up, sometimes certain of my day, vigorous, radiant and full of conviction, at 3am, 4am and any other am.

I want a photographer who will catch me when I wake up unsure, the uncertainty stretching for an hour. How different do I look during both of those times? I want a photographer to tell me that there is no difference in my smile when I am happy or forlorn, that a smile is not the curving of lips but the beating of a heart.

I want a photographer to tell us the truth about when they actually see when they take photos, that most people do not like surprise parties and that brides detest the layers of makeup on their wedding day.

I want a photographer to tell us the truth that the self indulgent person always placing themselves in the middle of photos is terribly insecure and that the reason they are always the last to leave a party is because they are afraid to return home. 

I want a photographer to tell us that in class photographs, the teacher selects whom they will stand next to, because some of the students are sociopathic and even the school counsellor is at their wit's end. The parents choose to pray about it, while leaving their children to the care of nannies, teachers and grandparents.

I want a photographer to tell us that the moment after the photograph, the obvious relief and eagerness to carry on with the day, is the moment that the real photo should be taken.

Beverley N Nsengiyunva, 2023.