Strength Through Hardship: A year of Sudanese Lit

Reflections on reading a year of Sudanese Literature

Book One: God Grew Tired of Us By John Bul Dau
Book Two: Season of Migration to the North By Tayeb Salih                 Book Three: The Translator By Leila Aboulela                                       Book Four: Minaret By Leila Aboulela

 
     Throughout the year I have been exposed to the literature of a country many know very little about. ­ Through my readings I have learned an overwhelming amount about the unique country. Having some background knowledge about the history and its people I found it surprising that I was constantly being introduced to new information. The nonfiction piece God Grew Tired of Us reinforced what I had known about the southern people of Sudan and their struggles during the civil war. These accounts and tales of destruction and heartbreak are what really inspired me to learn more about this nation. To be quite honest (and all brownie points aside) the stories of the lost boys of Sudan changed my outlook on several aspects of life, and have stuck with me to this day. To me the most influential piece of literature I’ve read this academic year is certainly God Grew Tired of Us. Though I was particularly fond of the nonfiction work I realized through the novels I’ve read I was introduced to the culture of the Arabic people of Sudan, which prior to reading I knew very little about.
          I found it difficult finding a variety of Sudanese authors that had their work published in English, the only two I came across were Taeyb Salih and Leila Aboulela. Both authors are distinguished writers and for good reason, they both eloquently capture societal issues that their people face. Salih reveals a cultural conflict in Season of Migration to the North where young Sudanese adults are exposed to the ‘riches’ of western culture and find themselves disillusioned when they return to their native land. I found this interesting, specially because Salih’s writing made these stories relatable. In addition to the disappointment faced by adolescents I was introduced to the way women lived through Leila Aboulela’s work. Coincidentally in Minaret the reader is introduced to a Sudanese young woman living in Europe. Though the setting is similar the fortunes differ greatly from that of the protagonist in Salih’s novel. We actually see the attempt of assimilation into the Western world displayed by the protagonist which I also found relatable having been raised by immigrant parents who at times had their own troubles ‘fitting in’ with US cultures and customs. Aboulela’s novel The Translator also has a European aspect to it. This novel covers the love story of a Sudanese girl and a European intellectual. It seems to me that within the Arabic/industrial parts of Sudan there is fascination towards the West, for the characters and settings seem to glorify and praise the customs and intellect of the European state.

       Though at times the work may have been weary, it is certain that I enjoyed culturing myself through independent reading. It is a fascinating matter traveling in depth into a world that differs immensely from your own. Through the year long process I learned about a unique and immensely diverse ethnic group that is the Sudanese people. Whether it be running from seemingly imminent death, facing your past, coping with the troubles at home, or even just love, Sudan serves an epitome of all these things that make up life.         
Fin.

“For as long as the book lasts, we are poised, no future, no past

- Leila Aboulela

“Darkness was created so that, like plants, we could yearn and turn to the light.”

- Leila Aboulela

Book 4, Week 5; One word summary: Relativity

This week’s one word summary is relativity. This was chosen as the week’s summary based on the connection that the reader can feel towards Najwa. Throghout the story we’ve been engulfed in her issues and hardships and are able to see how she manages them. The thing I really enjoyed about the way Aboulela writes is that though she means to convey a completely different culture from that in which I live in, she still manages to keep it relatable to young people even from separate spheres of the planet. The end of the book (which I will be sure not to spoil) goes into detail about Najwa’s and Anwar’s relationship. This is where I believe the story takes on a more Islamic woman standpoint, meaning that it is something that that particular audience could appreciate more. Not being 100% familiar with the culture and gender roles, it is safe to say that Najwa comes from a conservative patriarchal society, in which women are expected to please their partner. Najwa manages to be very much involved with Anwar and holds some old traditions and values but then again also manages to keep the new independence she has claimed while in London. Though she is a Muslim woman coming from a very conservative world and is expected to act a certain way, Aboulela is keen on making sure that we remember the humanity in her. Overall despite having come from completely different worlds, I can say that Najwa is very relatable and the novel does a great job in depicting her world. The straight forward tone and exposure to her culture did not make it too foreign for someone like me to comprehend. Aboulela does a great job in keeping her work a universal piece of literature.

"Why do bad things happen? For pedagogical reasons, so that we can experience the power of Allah, catch a glimpse of Hell and fear."

-Leila Aboulela

"Words on a page were seductive, free, inviting everyone, without distinction."

-Leila Aboulela

Book Four Week Four: One Word Summary: Questioning.

This week’s one word summary is questioning. I chose this as the one word summary because of Najwa’s attempt to make sense of the way her life is winding. There is an introduction to a romantic interest of Najwa in this week’s reading. Anwar, is a former classmate from the university Najwa attended in Sudan. He is a communist who is often criticizing religion and the flaunty wealthy lifestyle that Najwa lives (lived). The contrast between their lives and ideals creates for interesting development in their relationship. Though most of the time it is seemingly difficult. They have a sexual relationship which I assume is to be considered a bit taboo since they are young and unmarried. Throughout their relationship along with the loss of her family it seems as though Najwa is attempting to redeem herself for the way her life has turned out. Through the loss of her wealth and stability, she is able to create something for herself. 
During this week’s reading we constantly see Najwa attempting to make sense of the current situation she is in. She questions her faith and does what many humans do when they find themselves in hardships and try to make sense of all of the sadness and woe. Once again the novel does a good job not having an over religious tone. It is interesting to be able to live vicariously through the eyes of a Muslim woman, especially since I usually look at things at a secular standpoint. Overall the novel has been easy to keep up with since I find it amusing and different from traditional pieces that I’m so used to.

"All through life there were distinctions - toilets for men, toilets for women; clothes for men, clothes for women - then, at the end, the graves are identical."

-Leila Aboulela

"In the distant past, Muslim doctors advised nervous people to look up at the sky. Forget the tight earth. Imagine that the sky, all of it, belonged to them alone. Crescent, low moon, more stars than the eyes looking up at them. But the sky was free, without any price, no one I knew spoke of it, no one competed for it. Instead, one by one those who could afford it began to sleep indoors in cool air-conditioned rooms, away from the mosquitoes and the flies…"

-Leila Aboulela

Minaret by Leila Aboulela

This week’s one word summary is breakup. The reason I chose this as the one word summary is simply because of the paths that separate our protagonist, Najwa, from her family. As we learned from last week (based on the early years of Najwa’s life) we saw that she was very disconnected from real world issues. She was heavily involved in pop culture, and material desires. We see in deeper detail the turmoil occurring in her country, and her oblivious nature to the situation. Having said before, her father was an advisor to the president, rendering her and her family as targets to the new socialist regime that takes over the nation (Which reminds me of The House of Sand and Fog). Najwa’s father is tried for treason and is executed. Her father’s execution forces the family to seek refuge in London. 
The story did a great job depicting a large gap between the two major social classes (Working class vs. upper class). It is apparent that there are major differences between the two classes, a somewhat major one being religion. The members of the upper class show much less effort towards their faith than do the working class. Najwa rarely notices or interacts with the servants that live/work in her home. This detail is what I found interesting, especially since we have an idea as to what her life in London will be like. The distinct conflicting lifestyles between working and upper classes seem to be heavily emphasized. Given my prior background knowledge, I know that Sudan is at a constant conflict between social groups, so this may have been an illusion to what Leila Aboulela was observing in Sudan.