Makerere University dons on Saturday honoured novelist and literary activist, Goretti Kyomuhendo, during the 6th Mashariki (Eastern Africa) Literary and Cultural Studies Conference held at the Yusuf Lule Auditorium.
The conference was organised by Makerere University College of Humanities & Social Sciences (CHUSS) in collaboration with the University of Witwatersrand and the British Academy.
Kyomuhendo, now a famous writer and scholar, rose from a newspaper columnist to a novelist.
Dr Edgar Nabutanyi, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Literature, in his introduction, described Kyomuhendo as “one of the best Ugandan female writers”.
“She has published four books including; “Whispers from Vera”, “The First Daughter” and “Secrets No More”. She is also the first Director of FEMRITE,” he stated.
In her own remarks, Kyomuhendo gave a brief background about her novel “Whispers from Vera” which was re-launched at the closing ceremony of the Mashariki Conference.
She said the book, which is about two sisters from different settings sharing experiences, started as a serialized column in a Ugandan Newspaper The Crusader.
“’Whispers from Vera’ started as a column in a newspaper called The Crusader. However, within one year, the newspaper closed down and in 2002, I changed it to a novel,” she narrated.
“Raised in a dusty town called Hoima, at the age of 14, I came across a copy of “Things Fall Apart”. Reading it touched my life and I believed that Okonkwo and Umuofia really existed. When I finished reading the book, I drafted a letter to Chinua Achebe (deceased Nigerian Novelist) requesting him to kindly help me meet Okonkwo and Umuofia to which letter I never received a reply. In 1997, I was invited to the UK for a conference in which I met Chinua Achebe,” she revealed.
Whispers documents Vera’s experiences as she navigates through the lows and highs of motherhood and the wifehood of a middle-class, modern-day, Ugandan career woman. Generally, it documents the experiences of a young woman grappling with living in her context.
Kyomuhendo stated that her novels depict strong women who can stand on their own and question things in society.
“Vera is the strongest character that I have ever written,” she said.
Insights into Whispers of Vera
The panellists, later, shared insights into Whispers from Vera, describing how the narrations in the book relate to our day-to-day lives and how Ugandans use humour to cope with absurdities.
The panellists of “The Journey of Goretti Kyomuhendo’s Whispers from Vera” included; Dr. Isaac Tibasiima, Ms. Gorreti Kyomuhendo, Dr. Lynda Spencer, Dr. Evelyn Cindy Magara, and Ms. Racheal Kizza. The panel was chaired by Dr Susan Kiguli and Dr Edgar Nabutanyi.
From a serial text to a novella to a novel, the book guides us on how to cope with challenges in our lives.
According to Lynda Spencer, Whispers from Vera highlights the characters and features of a young lady grappling with living in a young context.
“In this book, the men are not so much important. Most of the women in this book are in their 30s and above. They are of the working class and tend to concentrate on their jobs. They have disposable incomes and a special “me time”. They are not afraid to talk about sex and any sexual subject,” she stated.
She added: “Whispers from Vera talks about women’s inferiority, women’s experiences and position in marriage.”
Dr. Isaac Tibasiima said he enjoys reading the novel. “I enjoy stories. It is interesting to read a novel that keeps you wondering who the next character is.”
Dr. Susan Kiguli highly recommended the novel. “I recommend that you read it.”
Dr Evelyn Cindy Magara said she has introduced Kyomuhendo’s works to her children.
“A prolific writer with four novels in her name, I applaud you Goretti. In this era where children are so much addicted to TV and phones and lack what to read, I have introduced my children to Goretti’s novels,” she said.
On her part, Rachael Kiiza said Whispers from Vera is a good relation of how Ugandans use humour. “As Ugandans, we process through humour.”
