A Girl Called Problem. As preparation for this adventure, I read the novel A Girl Called Problem by Katie Quirk. It is about a thirteen-year-old girl named Shida whose name translates to problem in Swahili. Shida and her Sukuma tribesmen decide to relocate from Njia Panda to a neighboring village where resources are shared among the community. This opportunity also meant that Shida could pursue her dream of attending school and becoming a healer. Shida’s mother believed that her family was cursed and that the ancestors would be upset if they moved to a new village. Adversity led many of Shida's community to believe the cure of her family was present which gave her the opportunity to fulfill her dreams of becoming a healer while also saving her village. This book allowed me to recognize the internal and external battles individuals undergoing cultural and generational change, not only in countries like Tanzania but all over the world. |
Nairobi Half-lifeIn addition to the novel, I watched the film Nairobi Half-life, which follows the life of Mwas, an aspiring actor from Kenya who travels to Nairobi for a greater chance of success. Mwas meets a gang member that eventually teaches him that the only way to survive a city like Nairobi, is to make a living without thinking about the moral consequences. Mwas manages to survive by stealing and selling items while also attending rehearsals for his upcoming show. This movie changed my perspective on how society views people who commit or have committed crime. For example, many incarcerated individuals are seen as bad people rather than viewing them as a human first, separate from their crime. Frequently, criminals are not given the opportunity to answer why they may have done what they did. The character Mwas is a person with career goals and aspirations however, his life circumstances geared him towards taking actions that allowed for another day to survive and chase his dream |