It has been a while since I wrote on here due to several unlinked factors, but which all conspired to keep me off here. My mom has now been here for almost three weeks and we are all enjoying the company of my cousins (who have been here for nearly a week), my uncle (who came to visit for a day from Canada), and our great neighbors.
I have received many family heirlooms from her and I now feel a stronger connection to her side of the family...now I have to brush up on my Russian and gear up for my visit up there in the summer.
I also received, as a gift from my mom, a new Canon Rebel 500D (Rebel T1i) camera with the 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS lenses, but my goal is to take and sell a few pics to buy myself a quality "L" lens. I'll keep you folks updated on that.
I keep repeating that I consider myself to be an artist, rather than just a writer or a poet or playwright, so the camera will give me a chance to utilize my artistic skills through a different medium.
I think I said this before, but I am planning to release an e-book of about 50 of my poems through a collection titled "Visions of a Homeland: Poems in Exile" at the end of March. I want this collection of poems to showcase a small piece of my culture. Our people’s history extends from one end of time to the other; a period as indescribable as it is enjoyable.
I will be posting updates often. I hope you are enjoying the start to this new year.
Showing posts with label writing in exile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing in exile. Show all posts
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Identity
It's hard for someone in exile to find a category in which to place himself. Many times, the exile wants to distance himself from his past, its pains, and its baggage, yet is unwilling to fully embrace the present, whether or not it welcomes him or not. Exile is a dubious place to be. No matter how accepted you might be, those open arms can be withdrawn at any time, leaving you friendless in a hostile land. So, for the exile, life, dreams, possibilities, and future are all constantly weighed against the approval, or disapproval, of their new communities as well as their old.
I have found it is even more precarious as a writer. I have to determine who to hawk my writings to. Who do I target? My people? My adopted brothers and sisters? Do I classify my work as Black or White? Does "American Literature" describe it? Do I have to write in my native language in order to be perceived as a Rwandan writer?
I write my stories and the people here say it's too African, while the Africans say it's not African enough. I am told I speak with a foreign accent by both sides. Not American enough, and too American. I try to diffuse the sentiment; to make them understand how it is to be in exile; to see the lens through which I am forced to view life.
So, I write a short story about a teacher- an African teacher- who came to America and focused on his work. He is an exile, haunted by past memories, yet trudging on forward at his task. He is successful and doesn't burden the system that has opened its doors to him. He shares the pains of both lands. He shares their identity. He is born and groomed in Africa, but he achieves his success and dies in America. Well, the story is written through his eyes, so he is not dead yet- but will be soon.
I want the story to appeal to both groups, but it does to none. It might lie in the story itself not having the qualities of a good story that I addressed in an earlier post, but I am wondering if it might not be a detachment of sorts by an audience unable to relate to the protagonist.
That's a poor example, besides the story just came out yesterday and only a handful of people have seen it, let alone commented on it. My poor mother thought it was true and almost had a heart attack - she should have read from the beginning where it clearly stated the subject's age as seventy-three. There have also been many exiles who write stories about it and who have garnered a lot of support, so it's not impossible to accomplish, but it's a lot harder than I previously thought.
I am up to the challenge, though, and I am working hard to project my experiences the way they impacted me. God-willing, I will accomplish that to the enjoyment of many...myself include.
I have found it is even more precarious as a writer. I have to determine who to hawk my writings to. Who do I target? My people? My adopted brothers and sisters? Do I classify my work as Black or White? Does "American Literature" describe it? Do I have to write in my native language in order to be perceived as a Rwandan writer?
I write my stories and the people here say it's too African, while the Africans say it's not African enough. I am told I speak with a foreign accent by both sides. Not American enough, and too American. I try to diffuse the sentiment; to make them understand how it is to be in exile; to see the lens through which I am forced to view life.
So, I write a short story about a teacher- an African teacher- who came to America and focused on his work. He is an exile, haunted by past memories, yet trudging on forward at his task. He is successful and doesn't burden the system that has opened its doors to him. He shares the pains of both lands. He shares their identity. He is born and groomed in Africa, but he achieves his success and dies in America. Well, the story is written through his eyes, so he is not dead yet- but will be soon.
I want the story to appeal to both groups, but it does to none. It might lie in the story itself not having the qualities of a good story that I addressed in an earlier post, but I am wondering if it might not be a detachment of sorts by an audience unable to relate to the protagonist.
That's a poor example, besides the story just came out yesterday and only a handful of people have seen it, let alone commented on it. My poor mother thought it was true and almost had a heart attack - she should have read from the beginning where it clearly stated the subject's age as seventy-three. There have also been many exiles who write stories about it and who have garnered a lot of support, so it's not impossible to accomplish, but it's a lot harder than I previously thought.
I am up to the challenge, though, and I am working hard to project my experiences the way they impacted me. God-willing, I will accomplish that to the enjoyment of many...myself include.
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