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| image credits: Guardian.co.uk |
Her book The Memory of Love was written to reflect a time in Sierra Leone, when the country was torn to shreds by a violent civil war in which her father was killed.
Here is a short interview where she describes her work with Bola Mosuro
Typically, western audiences have enjoyed what has been aptly named African Poverty Pornography. When stories depict war torn villages, tyrannical dictatorships, the doe-eyed journey of a village boy to the city or the starvation of human beings and animals. This book teeters dangerously towards this genre and my fear of delving into the kinds of stories I myself have lived through does not give me the sense of urgency required to spend $17 on it.
However, only a few totems of the female descendants of Africans around the World (fancy way of saying black women, no?) get recognized for their mastery of whatever foreign language they have had to learn in order to produce a literary piece of art, or for their creativity and verve. So I will read The Memory of Love to support another sister and to enjoy a masterful work of art.
If you have read the book, please let us know by including a link to your review in the comment section. Thank you!
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I've not read the book yet but will be sure to! May even do a review :)Its always interesting to hear African stories especially from a woman's perspective.
I do understand your scepticism about African stories to do with poverty or war. You've actually made me think about that. I read a lot of African books and don't always notice just how much more successful books about our 'suffering' are. Think I'll be more perceptive now.
Excellent Mwanabibi! I will be looking forward to your review! Make sure you tag me in twitter or let me know somehow when you've done it! Thanks for dropping by!
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