A book launch with a difference.In her introduction to "Between Yesterday and Tomorrow" Elizabeth Elizabeth, sister of King Louis XVI of France Elizabeth, 1764–94, sister of King Louis XVI of France, known as Madame Elizabeth. Deeply loyal to her brother, she remained in France during the French Revolution, suffered imprisonment, and was IKhaxas writes: "Our enjoyment of life is exactly that--dreaming and plotting for women's rights--that is what gives us pleasure." On 27 June 2005, this dreaming and plotting became reality--the anthology of Namibian feminist writings was launched at the Katutura Community Arts Centre An art center or arts centre is distinct from an art gallery or art museum. An arts centre is a functional community centre with a specific remit to encourage arts practice and to provide facilities such as theatre space, gallery space, venues for musical performance, . Her enthusiasm and creativity became apparent in the variety of the evening programme--a book launch with a difference. Breaking out of gendered 'homelands' The book was officially launched by the Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Marlene Mugunda. She reminded the audience of Nadine Gordimer Noun 1. Nadine Gordimer - South African novelist and short-story writer whose work describes the effects of apartheid (born in 1923) Gordimer , who had challenged and opposed apartheid apartheid (əpärt`hīt) [Afrik.,=apartness], system of racial segregation peculiar to the Republic of South Africa, the legal basis of which was largely repealed in 1991–92. with her writings and who was awarded the Nobel Prize Nobel Prize, award given for outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, peace, or literature. The awards were established by the will of Alfred Nobel, who left a fund to provide annual prizes in the five areas listed above. for Literature for her courage and literary merit Literary merit is a quality of written work, generally applied to the genre of literary fiction. A work is said to have literary merit (to be a work of art) if it is a work of quality, that is if it has some aesthetic value. . "We have defeated apartheid as a political system of oppression The offense, committed by a public official, of wrongfully inflicting injury, such as bodily harm or imprisonment, upon another individual under color of office. Oppression, which is a misdemeanor, is committed through any act of cruelty, severity, unlawful exaction, or ," Mugunda said, "but men and women in Namibia still belong to different 'homelands', separate worlds divided by invisible barriers of ignorance and prejudice ... we have to chase away the ghosts of apartheid. The book 'Between Yesterday and Tomorrow' shows us where the ghosts are hiding. It is bringing them to the daylight, where they feel insecure in·se·cure adj. 1. Lacking emotional stability; not well-adjusted. 2. Lacking self-confidence; plagued by anxiety. in and gradually lose their power." Sharing their work But the launch was not limited to speeches. Twelve of the writers read excerpts from their short stories and poems, their voices strong and clear--and they were enthusiastically applauded by the large audience. In-between the readings, Nepeti Nicanor, Director of Ceremony, encouraged the audience to make comments and to ask questions, which the writers answered willingly and confidently. But the women hope for more. After actually holding the finished product in their hands and reading from it, they would like to see their book being introduced in schools, colleges and to parliament. And they have a prominent supporter of this idea: Dr Becky Ndjoze-Oje, Deputy Minister of Education writes in the foreword fore·word n. A preface or an introductory note, as for a book, especially by a person other than the author. foreword Noun an introductory statement to a book Noun 1. to the book, "I believe that writing, and in particular writing by women, can be used as a catalyst for change. I therefore hope that this book can be used in our schools, tertiary tertiary (tûr`shēârē), in the Roman Catholic Church, member of a third order. The third orders are chiefly supplements of the friars—Franciscans (the most numerous), Dominicans, and Carmelites. educational institutions, churches, and other places ...." Hopefully the launch has created advocacy for this ambitious objective.
Goodbye
Lydia Heelu
I feel like I've been here far too long
It feels like I'm growing mould
The tears are falling without fail
As we sit and watch chances fade
It must be a wilting dream
If you don't feel the way I do by now
The things we've never done
All that was never said
Too much pride
Too much time spent in the frigid
Shadow of cold politeness
I think I'm losing my cool
I guess I'm just a little tired of this
All the things I tried to be for you
Many times I've gone an extra mile for you
But it all got lost in the inability
To see past yourself
Why can't I be your every day's celebration?
Your daffodil in a far-away land
A place you can't wait to go?
I feel closer to loneliness than I've ever been
It feels like I'm heartache bound
So it must be time for me to go home
Time to say goodbye
Goodbye!
From: Between Yesterday and Tomorrow--
Writings by Namibian Women
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