Mwaliko Kutoka Red Wing, Minnesota

Leo nimepata mwaliko kutoka kwa mratibu wa "Education and Outreach" wa kaunti ya Goodhue, jimbo la Minnesota, ambayo makao yake ni mji wa Red Wing. Ananiuliza kama nitaweza kwenda kuongea kuhusu hadithi. Ameandika:

I recently found information about your program last February with the Kofa Foundation “Folklore, Food, and Fun with Dr. Mbele –Celebrating our Roots.” Your presentation sounded fun and informative and, I would love to bring your expertise and insights to Red Wing.

If possible, I would like to schedule you for a presentation in February to celebrate Black History Month. I would like to host something very similar to the Kofa Foundation event but, without the potluck aspect. I think our audiences would still enjoy the story-telling and fun. If you would like to bring your book 1Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences to sell at the conclusion of the presentation, you are welcome to do so.

Ninahisi kuwa taarifa inayotajwa ya Kofa Foundation, ni hii hapa. Nilifahamiana na Decontee Kofa, mwanzilishi na mkurugenzi wa Kofa Foundation, nikafahamu jinsi taasisi hii inavyojitahidi kuwasaidia watoto walioathirika na janga la ebola Liberia na maeneo mengine. Niliguswa nikawazia namna ya kusaidia.

Niliwasiliana na mkurugenzi, nikamweleza kuwa niko tayari kufanya shughuli kama kutoa mhadhara au kusimulia na kuelezea hadithi za jadi za ki-Afrika. Tulipanga siku, nikaenda kufanya mambo  niliyoelezea katika blogu yangu. Nilikwenda na nakala za vitabu vyangu viwili, Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences, na Matengo Folktales, kwa ajili ya kuuza. Fedha zilizopatikana niliikabidhi Kofa Foundation. Nilifarijika kwa kutimiza ndoto yangu.

Mada ninayoombwa kwenda kuongelea ni moja ambayo ninashughulika nayo sana. Hadithi za jadi ni hazina ya tafakuri juu ya maisha, tabia za binadamu, na mategemeo yake. Hadithi nyingi ni chemshabongo, na zingine ni burudani. Kila hadithi, kwa namna yake, ina utajiri wa mambo hayo kwa namna mbali mbali. Hadithi za jadi zilizokuwepo kwa miaka maelfu, zilichangia kuibuka na kustawi kwa fasihi andishi. Mambo kama haya ndiyo ninayaongelea ninapohutubia juu ya hadithi.

Nimefurahi kupata mwaliko wa Red Wing. Ninaona maongozi ya Mungu, kuanzia ule msukumo nilioona katika dhamiri yangu wa kuisaidia Kofa Foundation, hadi hayo yaliyofuatia. Kujitolea muda wangu na pesa nilizonunulia vitabu haikuwa hasara, na uthibitisho moja ni huku kukaribishwa kupeleka vitabu vyangu vikauzwe Red Wing. Pia ni fursa ya kutangazwa shughuli zangu. Hao wanaonialika watasambaza taarifa kuwavutia watu waje kunisikiliza. Nami ninapotoa mhadhara ninahakikisha nimeweka rekodi nzuri, ambayo huleta mialiko mingine. Ni baraka kote kote.

Nimeaandika ujumbe huu ili kujiwekea kumbukumbu, kama ilivyo desturi yangu katika blogu hii. Lakini vile vile ujumbe wangu nimekusudia uwe changamoto kwa wengine, kwa kuwa ni ujumbe kuhusu uwajibikaji na pia kujitolea. Ni jambo jema kufahamishana mambo ya manufaa.