Discussion

I think this is fantastic. I understand the criticisms and yes a lot has changed in the way Africa is viewed and written about but not that much. I'm from a little country that has found a small degree of fame in the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and let me tell you that is a VERY romantisized version of life in Botswana.
It's true some partnerships do span continents, like the fact that where ever you're from in Africa you get asked the same questions about pet lions, mud huts and if you know this guy who lives in Kenya. If we have to endure this 1st world ignorance (and shame how could they know. They only have easier access to information and education than the rest of the world.) then we should be allowed to poke fun at them from time to time. I believe humour is the best way to highlight social problems. We are also doing our bit to spread enlightenment to the west. http://www.stuff-about.com/2010/03/educating-west-part-1.html
So thank you Binyavanga, I really enjoyed this article.

P.S. CharleyS, this does NOT negate the work you and other NGO workers do or the reasons you do it.

Of course, I agree with all the above. I took this issue of Granta to Bali with me and read this story today. Here, if you run over a dog you must make amends to the Gods, but not so with a cat! I would love to hear what Ms Gaitskill has to say about that.

The author, compelled to come closer to the source of genocide seems to be driven by the desire to bear "witness". In his essay "A God Who Remembers" Elie Wiesel discusses the important work of bearing witness to events such as genocide as essential to the prevention of future atrocities. By bearing witness to this genocide, the author continues the important work Wiesel has called on us to do.

It is annoying, but I think I understand the point.

If nothing else, Africa the continent is so poorly represented in the media.

I work for an NGO. I suppose some of my colleagues are guilty of some of this type of writing.

Then again, how much does the world get to hear - or the US media audience anyway - about the ongoing war and genocide in DR Congo? If it weren't for Hotel Rwanda, I'm not sure I'd even know a million people were brutally murdered there. Now I've been to Kigali, visited the memorial, and spent time in South Kivu in the DRC.

I hope what Binyavanga is doing is poking a little fun.

This white NGO expat man for one definitely feels like he's found his calling when it comes to victims and refugees of conflict throughout the African continent.

Maybe I'm just a sap.

This story has brought tears to my eyes. It made me remember being a teenager and having to save my money to buy one or two books at 'La Feria del Libro'. Since my birthday is on July, sometimes I would go with friends and they will gift me original books (weeks later after my birthday). In a good year, I will have 3 or 4 new originals.
The rest of the year, I had to go to Amazon, as everyone else in my family and get my books there.
The part about the vendor of books being small too, is also so true, and so sad. It's the peruvian government's fault to be so careless, with both the authors, and with the unemployed people.
Now, as an adult, who lives in the US and can afford to buy books, I buy excessively too many of them. And every time I go back to Peru, without exception, I buy at Amazon as well as in the Feria del Libro.

I agree with Vic, she has captured all the nuances of our relations with dogs and what it can mean to be a vet.

This is one of the most heart-rending and uplifting articles I have ever read. Dr Jalloh is the Mother Teresa of the Dog world - a pure hero. Aminatta is a writer of genius, in that she can present an 'issue' that reaches far in practical, moralistic and spiritual terms, in a seemingly objective style. Her own compassion is, though, not in doubt. This story has shaken me.

Fascinating story, I would be keen to know if there are any tell-tale signs that a book is a pirated version. Do they have ISBN numbers for instance?

Wow, what an amazing writer. Brilliant, beautiful piece.

Topography of Essex.

Contrary to the impressions formed on the author's memory long ago, of the three seaside towns close by each other, Clacton, Frinton and Walton, the latter is the northernmost.

That was a really interesting read and very unique look at book piracy. It happens here in my country India too, but certainly not on the scale you've talked about here.

I just finished of read the article. I'm agree with the author, piracy is the biggest problem for books industry in Peru but I'd would love to get something more about to the kind of succes that the fairs are having. The last 3 or 4 years people here in Peru is getting more interested about books and that's good anyway. In addition, there's something that wasn't told in the article and is if editorial houses must have some kind of own iniciatives to fight against pirates. Let me make an example. In the last fair Ricardo Palma in Lima i bought a copy (original) of Alarcon's "Guerra en la penumbra" edited by HarperCollins for 12 soles (the same price of a pirate copy). The same book edited by Alfaguara was 35 soles. After the fair, I saw the book on book shops, the HarperCollin's was 20 and Alfaguara's 35. There's a big difference in the price and both were original books.

I think there's a chance to fight against piracy but is a real hard work. People buy pirate books because they're cheaper but what happen if the difference is just a 20% or 15%?

dear francesca,
i have greatly enjoyed reading this wonderful piece. i knew your father, erich, in 1970/71 when we were then dating. he was teaching at yale, and i was living in nyc. i have been mourning his loss since i heard of his passing just yesterday. he was a wonderful young man, and i have great memories of having shared many good times together....including a jewish holiday dinner at your grandparents' home here in nyc (your uncle was there i recall).
my father died when i was 18 and he was only 48. i miss him everyday. he grew up in brooklyn, but i doubt i would find him there, just as you were unable to.
please get in touch with me if you should care to. your dad and i lost touch after the early 70's, as we each went on to marry and start families.
i now have two daughters aged 21 and 14 and have been happily married for 30 years.
my email is michellemurphy@mac.com
my no. is 6312676828
please send my sincere and heartfelt condolences to your mother and to your sister.
with kindest regards,
michelle murphy (strada)

This article is quite annoying. Firstly, it might apply to near post-colonial days but very people who write about Africa actually do any of the things the author is parodying. Secondly, people often write about Asia as a whole, or Latin America as a whole.

I very much enjoyed this piece and the author's video discussion of his thoughts behind it. I just finished reading Macfarlane's THE WILD PLACES. It's a beautifully written book and a great example of the new type of nature book he described (travel/nature/literary/historical).

I was just browsing and looked at the photos.
Number 15 made an impression the one of the shopfront shutters. Reminded me of shop parades in Liverpool.
I know Liverpool well but not Netherley.
Enjoyed the article because it made me think of Netherton and Croxteth - two areas I know.
Also found the previous comment by Mikool fascinating

A knee slappingly good piece that accurately depicts the expatriate/foreign/non-black African perspectives, depictions and writings about Africa and things African. Excellent stuff Binyavanga!

In tenera fronda.

Al par del
sol che nel
chiarore avanza
rimembrando
l'infinito, e come
augello sconsolato
in ribalda cantilena,
odo mesto, al
primo accenno,
leggiadro il
passerotto, che
dalla via corrente
fugge dimorando
nei pensier.
Da soave mormorio
rinasce il fiore,
e candida
apparmi d'eterno
respiro sì lieta
e fugace l'amabile
sorte d'estremo
poetare.

Francesco Sinibaldi

Le cours de la vie.

Quand je pense
au premier
âge de ma
jeunesse, une
corporelle rime
m'appelle
silencieuse comme
une blanche
harmonie, et
un chant disparaît....

Francesco Sinibaldi

watched this TED talk today and found it quite enlightening... felt it was along the same vein of Wainaina's essay and wanted to share...
Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

How about (Wainaina) try to to avoid the broad brush stereotyping and generalization that you're criticizing in others? How about recognize that some things do change over time, some people are involved in good work, some writers do avoid stereotypes, and some partnerships span continents (Even from Africa (not the country, specifically Kayanga, Karagwe, Kagera, Tanzania) to North America (not the country, specifically Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America)? http://amizadeeric.blogspot.com/

As a lifelong resident of Delhi, I could immediately identify the “nouveau rich” Dasgupta talks about in this article. It is made out to be a new phenomenon, but we have seen this time and again over the last four decades. Delhi attracts entrepreneurs, and when they succeed, some crass behaviour follows, and is talked about. Delhi-wallahs have learnt to ignore this. Fortunately Delhi still has a substantial majority of people one will love to meet.

Sadly, Dasgupta does not talk about some simple pleasures of Delhi. A visit to the walled city, a stroll through some quaint streets with mouth watering delicacies, charming bookshops and, for a discerning visitor, a sense of history to be read in the old buildings and monuments. Khan Market has some compelling restaurants and the Habitat Centre is ideal for a cultural evening.

The reason some people made lots of money to flash around is because the educated middle class Indians had money to spend. When recession squeezed their spending power, the businesses suffered. The proposed gigantic “Mall of India” in Gurgaon, has not taken off, because of a lack of buyers. So, to conclude that the rich have made money at the expense of the downtrodden is misleading. Everybody gained from the economic boom, some more that others.

The article belabours the infamous BMW case, as an example of judicial inequity. It is undeniable that such inequities- social, political and economic do exist in India. This is no different than any other country at India’s developmental stage. The point is that the schisms are recognised by the society and the government takes steps, albeit sluggishly, to address this.

Notably disappointing was the utter lack of cultural aspects of Delhi. The article dismissed a few Delhi-wallahs interviewed as dinosaurs, ill equipped to handle the feral ferociousness of Delhi’s moneyed. Fortunately this is far from the truth. Delhi hosts a vibrant cultural scene- try the theatre district in central Delhi, the endless painting exhibitions, the exuberant music festivals, and the historic Red Fort/Qutub festivals. I could go on at the risk of making this a tourist advert. Thankfully none of these are the favourite haunts of the upstarts and t

wow, great piece, i studied in Delhi (LSR, JNU) in the 70s after which i left India for a number of years. Whenever i return to Delhi now i'm astounded at how monstrous its become, and ruthless Gurgaon! i particularly appreciated your expose of how and why it came into being--

While i don't hold much brief for the angst of the Englsh-speaking elites it IS scary to think of the kind of business mentality that has taken over...its a petty provincialism that's global in its reach...being replicated in many cities around the world i'm sure.

The poor Ethiopians! They haven't a clue of the rough beast slouching their way.

A fascinating article. I admit to being totally unaware of the situation that the author writes about and he's opened my eyes to, for which I'm grateful.

Sandra Beasley, the poet, gave me the link to this piece when I brought Mary's name up in an exchange of e-mails.

Granta unerringly publishes only the best of the best. With the publication of "Lost Cat," Granta has not veered from its usual, perfect path.

Mary Gaitskill is a writer of enormous talent -- this, because she writes from the heart, warts and all.

RRB