By Caroline Uliwa
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| Illustration by Mosab Zkaria as found in SAWTI's Zine-'Natoka Kurudi' |
They are etchings on paper
that stir the soul, that delicately conjure to prick your psyche to a validated
stance. It fairs this is the intention with this Zine from project SAWTI titled
‘I come from Returning’. In it is a bunch of poems, illustrations, photographs
even letters & an interview; all from East Africans in Sudan, Somalia,
Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda and the Diaspora.
“I come from dirt & to
dirt I shall return, which is to say, every step I take is an ode to a finite
feeling a reminder to humble my spine & memorize the way back...” Excerpt
from ‘Questions of Origin’ a poem by Daad Sharfi found in this publication.
SAWTI is a project supported
by the British Council since last year; it ran a poetry prize whose winners are
featured in this book. As well it sent a call to photographers, illustrators,
to hand in their works, those selected have their works in this book too.
The poem ‘questions of
origin’ which is prefixed in the foreword, shares the crux of ‘Natoka Kurudi/I come from Returning’. A
book that comes off as a diary from ideally a bunch of East Africans who say
studied together or worship together. Alas no they do not or have not, which is
an endearing thing. As their works here flow beautifully introducing a
refreshing identity of East Africa.
‘I come from Returning’
takes an intimate look at what we hold on to in deciphering the landscape
called home. “The question of who do we return to when visiting a ‘home’? Often
coupled with ‘Who do we leave behind when creating one elsewhere?’ Re-location,
not solely in the context of the diaspora but also from rural to urban, from
where your language/dialect is a majority to forming new bonds with new
vocabulary that often still feels insufficient-these are the voices we
champion.”- As written in the foreword of ‘Natoka
Kurudi’.
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| An illustration as found in SAWTI's Zine 'أنا قادم من العودة' by Elaf Abdal Wahab |
There are some real literary
gems in this book like the poem by Safia
Elhilo titled ‘from GIRLS THAT NEVER DIE’-“I wash my name of its every tyranny its purity | & wrap it tight about
myself my body | is ancient is mine & hers & hers before |
fallen like milkteeth only to grow eternal” The work stains necessary
affirmations for convictions of feminine worth.
Then they are candid
rumblings of notable figures like the acclaimed author Sulaiman Addonia from Eritrea/Ethiopia who is captured in the book
via an interview. “I think I am made of memories – in the way that my body is
made up of 70% water. Memories are incredibly important to me. I lived without
my family for such a long time, that memory binds me to people that I have
lost, to the love I knew I could have had.”Sulaiman answers a question by
writer Hibaq Farah
In ‘Natoka
Kurudi’ you will bump into refreshing illustrations capturing vivid figures
steeped in culture from East Africa, like the illustration on the cover of a
woman in tribal wear from Sudan by Mosab Zkaria. There are works of emerging
cinematic photographers like Calvin Kulaya to experienced photojournalists like
Mwanzo Milinga.
What as well makes the book authentically East African
is its use of the three major languages of the region to include English,
Kiswahili & Arabic. We also get a close look into the voices of Sudan, a
country which has made headlines of civil unrest. Yet here we get to hear
voices that are rational and seasoned with humanity. “I’m following the SPA, |
who are part of the FFC, | that are negotiating with the TMC | who’s being
pressured by the RSF | because of influence from KSA and MBS | not to mention
the UAE and President CC…We lost our leverage, our blood flowing in the Nile
like a beverage.”-Dear AZZA by Osman
Salih (2/2/19 part of a letter series).
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| The book cover of 'I come from Returning' SAWTI's debut Zine the cover illustration is by Mosab Zkaria |
As well the placement of picture & words though placed with great care was a tad messy. In the next edition, as the fine artists are many perhaps their works can feature in the middle page to page. Then one illustrator can accompany the writers all round the book.
Still the book is definitely a must have for any East
African, in these last couple of weeks it has been officially launched in London, Zanzibar
and Khartoum. It is available online via SAWTI’s website https://sawti.co.uk/zine/. The book was
published in the U.K with the sponsorship of the British Council.
This article was first published in The East African newspaper with this online
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