Sylvia Anderson
asked
Pramudith D. Rupasinghe:
Is there any special reason to select the protagonist from the Kissi tribe? While reading, I got a notion that the author is making an attempt under cover, to address the tribal frictions in West Africa. otherwise why does the author take Tamba a long journey across different tribal villages exposing him to different secret societies ?
Pramudith D. Rupasinghe
Hi Sylvia, Why Tamba, from a Kissi village from Lofa? Yes, its a sharp question. As you have felt, there is several reasons to select the protagonist from Kissi tribe.
1- Epicentre of the Ebola outbreak in West African was in Kissi communities.
2-There were some community memory about Ebola like outbreaks in Kissi villages in triangle borders between Guinea, Sierra Leone and Libera.
3- Kissi belongs to the larger Mande ethnicity spread in majorly affected countries by EVD, and they are considered as of the strongest tribes.
4- Kissis were highly affected by the recent epidemic
Considering all of these reasons mentioned above, I selected the protagonist tribe to be Kissi.
Actually the long journey of Tamba via Loma and Kpelle villages has been intentionally used for diverse reasons but tribal frictions or conflicts have not been intentionally highlighted here. However, readers are free to perceive the story based on their experience.
1- Epicentre of the Ebola outbreak in West African was in Kissi communities.
2-There were some community memory about Ebola like outbreaks in Kissi villages in triangle borders between Guinea, Sierra Leone and Libera.
3- Kissi belongs to the larger Mande ethnicity spread in majorly affected countries by EVD, and they are considered as of the strongest tribes.
4- Kissis were highly affected by the recent epidemic
Considering all of these reasons mentioned above, I selected the protagonist tribe to be Kissi.
Actually the long journey of Tamba via Loma and Kpelle villages has been intentionally used for diverse reasons but tribal frictions or conflicts have not been intentionally highlighted here. However, readers are free to perceive the story based on their experience.
More Answered Questions
Amy Johnson
asked
Pramudith D. Rupasinghe:
How did you get a very deep understanding about West African life style and society during a very short time? When I read Behind the Eclipse, I realize that you have tried to think completely different from who you are, for example you are from Asia, from a Buddhist background, reserved society but you succeeds to bring the African traditions and life style to the surface. What skills helped you in it?
Roger Martines
asked
Pramudith D. Rupasinghe:
Hi, I heard about the launch of the new low cost edition of Behind the Eclipse which is linked to 'zero stigma' campaign, is it possible to order that from Liberia ? 300 copies are needed for students of the University of Liberia and Cuttington University College in Bong County Liberia.
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