Glitters In Dark Valleys (Paperback)

A victim of an oppression and a sympathizer may have confluences in their narratives anyways but the former may have many words untold. Ebuka, a young Nigerian immigrant, has seen it all. He has just a single goal. it was to make others understand how difficult it is to express certain conditions one finds himself in life. Victims always toll a different line of story from the sympathizers or the oppressors. Ebuka felt that many who argue against the victims are most likely insensitive to their situations. Though sometimes situations are exaggerated, so also some insensitivity are exaggerated too. Some may call it ignorance, but one wonders whether crass ignorance is an excuse. For the young immigrant "It is most annoying arguing with someone who knows exactly what he is talking about. One can tale more of a story because he is involved than another whose sources are not actually internal." Ebuka could not help but appreciate the presentation on TED made by a famous Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, on what she called "The Danger of A Single Story." Adichie has faulted the first tellers of the Story of Africa for transmitting a deflated Story of the African people, which for ages has formed the impression of Africa. First travelers to the coasts of Africa like the London Merchant John Locke, who came to Africa in 1561 and was one of the foundations of how African stories are being told in the Western World, gave a very negative impression of Africa and its people. According to Adichie, John Locke told the story of catastrophe of Africa. He wrote on his travel account that Africans are "beasts who have no houses". He went on to say that some people in Africa have no heads, having their mouths and eyes in their breasts. And this has presented Africa till today with negativity and, especially "Dark Valleys", where it seems to some that nothing good are found. And as Ebuka's friend, Gianluca told him, "the problem of the Africans are their colours". Gianluca said it is second to the "original sin". For some sensitive victims of these narratives, it is always a psychological challenge to deal with. Ebuka knew it was a battle he must help to win. It was a story he must contribute in rewriting. He refused to keep quiet and accept some narratives that do not represent him and his people. But he seemed to be weary of the fact that one does not put off an ocean of fire with a cup of salty water. He sat on a sofa in his living room waiting for his friends. Weekend beckons. The usual reunion with friends is more of a pleasure than tortures of thoughts that kept protruding in his mind. But he can't help it. It is part of life anyways.