The first time I devoured Encounters From Africa was in November 2003 when I was in Form 2 at Starehe Boys' Centre. And I devoured it simply because it was one of the set books we were expected to study when we transitioned to senior high school the following year.
Although my motive for devouring the book was to excel in academics, I actually enjoyed it. I read the book over and over again in the next two years. My favorite stories in it were, and still are, "A Handful of Dates", "The Man", "Innocent Terror", "Africa Kills Her Sun" and "Amnesty".
Allow me, my beloved reader, to briefly tell you more about those favorite stories of mine. If I become boring, stop me.
- "A Handful of Dates" by Tayeb Salih: Charming in its simplicity and refreshing in its narration, this story is about a bright boy who loves reading the Holy Koran. As he associates with his rich grandfather, he finds himself feeling compassion for a poor man named Masood who owes his grandfather a substantial amount of money.
In the couple of times I have reread the story over the past thirteen years, I have wished to have a voice like that of the boy narrating the story. And I believe I have finally found that voice, my voice! - "The Man" by E.B. Dongala: This was the story that gripped me most when I first read the book in November 2003. Its flow of words lingered in my mind for years. About a decade ago, I googled the story and shared some of its parts with my high school classmates in a Facebook group of ours.
The story is about a villager who goes to the city, enters a tightly guarded palace and assassinates the president. He does so in order to free his people from oppressive rule. And he is never found out.
Exaggerated though the story sounds, it sheds light on the nature of leadership in the African nations that have experienced political upheavals after they gained independence from their European masters. A riveting read it is. - "Innocent Terror" by Tijan Sallah: This story is about a simple, humble cook who is shot down by the son of a rich merchant. When the younger brother of the cook sues the merchant's son, he loses the case due to his lack of means and connections.
The story is brought to life by its vivid imagery and interesting vocabulary. Another riveting read that was worth my while. - "Africa Kills Her Sun" by Ken Saro-Wiwa: This captivating story is a letter written by a man to his childhood girlfriend. The man pens the letter on the night before he is to be shot dead by a firing squad for engaging in crime. He discloses to his girlfriend that he chose to go into crime after he was unable to stop the massive looting in his nation's treasury.
When I was studying the story during my days in senior high school, I was touched by the following words of the narrator:In the love we then shared have I found happiness, a true resting place, a shelter from the many storms that have buffeted my brief life. Whenever I've been most alone, whenever I've been torn by conflict and pain, I've turned to that love for the resolution which has sustained and seen me through.
So much did those words touch me that I plagiarized them when writing a note in the valedictory booklet of my classmate Lawrence Sikuku as we were finishing our high school classes in October 2005. The words still touch me. - "Amnesty" by Nadine Gordimer: Obviously inspired by Mandela's fight for the freedom of South African black people, this story is about a woman who becomes engaged to a man. The man is eventually imprisoned for his involvement in a struggle to free his people from oppressive rule.
Even though I liked the story well enough to remember it for years, I never knew its author, Nadine Gordimer, was a white woman till I heard about her death in July 2014. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed my review of Encounters From Africa, you might also enjoy a story titled "Books I'd Love to Read Again" which I wrote a couple of years ago. Just click on that link in blue to dive straight into the story.
