I AM NOT MY SKIN

In an interview with Vijana FM, a journalist asked Neema Komba this question: "Many would argue that writing is a dying medium. Why is it important to you?" Here is Komba's reply:

"To me, writing has always afforded me a great deal of freedom – to see, to be, to say, to dream. It has been a vehicle that has given me an eye to see the world, sometimes differently, sometimes just more in depth. It has also been a way for me to make others see what I see, feel what I feel – a powerful tool to connect with others, especially those who are different from me, and learn to see them and understand them even more.

"I truly believe that writing can change the world, because many times over, I have been changed by great writing. I have been moved to see outside myself, to be more empathetic, and just all the more human. I have never thought of it as a dying medium, I think as long as we are alive, people will write, and people will read or consume writing though another medium – like film.

"I am reminded of what James Baldwin said about the power of writing, that, "You write in order to change the world… if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it."

REFLECT: How can writing change the world?

Tanzania is a country in Eastern Africa. It borders the Indian Ocean between Kenya and Mozambique. It has many famous parks, including Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa, and the Serengeti, a wildlife refuge known for African safaris.

Tanzania's diverse cultural heritage reflects the many different groups that live in the country. Tanzania was under Portuguese control as early as 1498 until about 1700 when the Sultanate of Oman became the dominant power in the region. Beginning in the mid-1800s, European explorers, traders, and Christian missionaries became more active in the region. The Germans eventually established control over mainland Tanzania – which they called Tanganyika – and the British established control over Zanzibar, a nearby archipelago. Tanganyika later came under British administration after the German defeat in World War I. Tanganyika gained independence from Great Britain in 1961, and Zanzibar followed in 1963.

Tanzania is home to about 63 million people. This is the largest population in East Africa. Most people are Bantu; a small number are Asian, European, or Arab. The country's long history of trade led to Swahili as a common language in much of east Africa and the introduction of Islam into the region. Swahili and English are both official languages here, but Arabic is also widely spoken in Zanzibar. Most people are either Christian (63.1%) or Muslim (34.1%). While the country is stable, it is also poor, and many of its people live below the World Bank poverty line.

REFLECT: What effect(s) can a common language, like Swahili or English, have on the development of a country?

1. "Tell us about yourself." is a common question in a job interview. Many people share simple things, such as hobbies. Why does Yona share very personal details of his life with the strangers of the interview committee?
   

2. Yona's faith in religion is "elusive". Why?
   

3. Why does Yona decide to confront Saimoni and the intruder in the graveyard?
   

4. What does Yona mean when he says, "There was something magical about being ignored, something extraordinary about being ordinary"?

1. This story is based on real-life events. Watch this video about people with albinism in Tanzania. Why do you think the author wrote this work of fiction when there is so much of this story in the actual news?
   

2. Explore the United Nations' website about International Albinism Awareness Day. What is happening to people with albinism in other parts of the world?
   

3. Standing Voice is an organization that defends the rights of people with albinism in Africa. Visit this page of its website to read the stories of people's experiences. Compare their experience with Yona. How does it make you feel to know that Yona's story could be real?
   

4. In addition to discrimination, people with albinism face major health problems. What are they? Explain.