Makerere University Journalism and Communication graduand, Ms Melanie Joyce Nabukwasi Kibooli launched her first book on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
The book is titled, ‘My Culture, My Identity’, “Bamasaba”.
The new era is eroding away the traditional culture and people have abandoned their cultures to the western culture referring it to civility and modernism.
“However much we are trying to run away from culture, it defines us”
According to Ms Nabukwasi, she wants to appreciate her culture of the Gishu (Bamasaba) and inspire the young generation especially the ladies,
“Basically what inspired me to write is trying to depict culture from a female perspective especially our generation that has been blinded by the 21st century desires and activities that are making our traditional ways of living become so hard,” she noted.
On an interview with this reporter, she said her motive to write generated from her father who wanted to appreciate the same culture.
“I’m blessed to have my dad alive, he made 80 years early this year, and he was able to provide me with most of the information I needed. He also wanted to write a book about our culture,” she stressed.
This idea of owning a book came in November 2019 according to her, but started writing in 2020.
“Around February 2020, I started listing the things I wanted to write about.”
The passionate journalist says her father raised her in a manner that culture is a cloth, and she had to wear it.
“I love my culture and everything to do with it. I make sure that whatever I do rotates around culture.”
Her message contained in this book, is to change the narrative that even females can appreciate their culture even when they are considered inferior.
“After people reading this book, I believe they are going to start valuing their culture. The book cuts across other cultures because of its emphasis on sticking to our respective norms, so it will help all people,” Nabukwasi lamented.
The Gisu also known as Gishu or Bamasaba people of Elgon, are a Bantu tribe of Masaba people of Eastern Uganda closely related to the Bakusu people of Kenya.
Anyone who can read is encouraged to purchase this book.
You must be logged in to post a comment.