 |
| provided by D. Jones |
Let me introduce you to Uzo
I don’t remember how we met. Uzo reminds me that he was
surfing Wordpress looking for authors, found my blog, and read some of the
posts about Mali. He made a comment, I responded and a new friendship was born.
Uzo is a young Nigerian with a blog. He lives in Asaba,
Delta State (South-South Nigeria), one of the oil producing states in his
country. I’m an older Canadian with a blog. I live a world away (in so many
respects) on Vancouver Island, Canada.
Uzo writes novels. I write novels. Uzo writes in English,
which is not his first language. As he says, “English is quite a vast language.
Every day is a learning process for me.”
We begin by talking about books. We both like Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie. I’d read Half a Yellow
Sun. He told me about Purple
Hibiscus. Here’s what he had to say about that book. “Purple Hibiscus is a
wonderful story. Adichie did a marvelous job there from the first person pov.
Kambili's account is so real and reflects the life of a rich, caged Igbo child-woman
during one of the military regimes in Nigeria.” We’re both anxious to read
Americanah.
Uzo says, “I’m a no-good writer. I'm just a wannabe like you
guys call it.” On the contrary, Uzo is a powerful writer. Here’s a sample.
Although the Liberian war is now over, I cannot wish away
the memories. There are nights in my sleep when I still find myself dressed in
army uniform, AK-47 ready. On these nights I hear the voices of parents calling
their children; others joking, shouting: “Where’s your bunker?” The air cracks
and I hear the sounds of diving jets and stuttering LMGs. Fire, blood, bullets
and bodies everywhere. Things soon simmer to normal as danger passes. People
fill the streets, young boys and girls going on various errands. Then he
appears in a blood-stained enemy uniform. His oily dark face is teased with
abandon. He’s about to aim his rifle at me. In my dreams, he dies in different
ways. I’m his killer. Something tells me that he is my son. But I’m too afraid
to believe it.
I’m not a professional editor, but I’ve offered to help Uzo
with his English as he’d be drained if he had to pay an editor, so files are
sent back and forth. I’m careful not to tamper with the uniqueness of his voice.
Only the eyes that
moved swiftly would see the legs that desperately sprinted across the farms and
pathways. Thereafter thoughts would arise if the runner was after something, or
rather, was the prey.
Beautiful, right? And yes, my life, as a person and as a
writer, is richer for having met him. That’s the beauty of the Internet.
Here’s what Uzo has to say about himself on his blog. (I
don’t like the harmattan season either when the West African trade winds blow
incessantly from the Sahara.)
- I love
the game of Scrabble a lot. And I’ve won a big-money competition in that
regard lately.
- I love
the smell of the air immediately after a cold, long rain. It’s so refreshing!
- I
don’t like the harmattan season.
- Music.
Highlife music takes me to a different place entirely. It’s a gift to W.
Africa.
- I want
to learn how to speak Hausa and after that Swahili.
- I
usually write with my right hand. But can also do so with my left…and it’s
legible too.
- I
still watch a lot of cartoons and can’t do without my PS3!
- Biscuits–I’m
addicted.
- My
favorite time of the day is very early in the morning for all the right
reasons.
- I’ll
get my dog friend a partner once I publish my first book. Well, that’s
more like a promise.
In the meantime, he can woo those around him.
- I
still have most of my childhood toys and comics with me.
Thank you for taking
the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas.
#cursescanbebroken
