Today, we have Sultan Somjee in our studio, who was born and raised in Kenya. He graduated with a Ph.D in Ethnography and Education in the Arts from McGill University and has written several articles and books. Sultan has been recognized by the United Nations for his efforts in utilizing cultural exhibitions. Among them are the Coming of the Satpanthis to Africa followed by the Asian African Heritage that ran for five years at the Nairobi Museum. Some of the stories in the books that he will be reading/discussing today, Home between Crossings comes from his research from these exhibitions. As a senior living in Vancouver, Dr. Somjee teaches Stories from Things. Showing seniors how to write their memoirs from the things they have.
During our 1st podcast with Somjee, he shared stories of his first book, Bead Bai (2012), which covers approximately the 1880 to 1940 period focusing on the Ismailis migrating from India to East Africa during the time of the British raj. The stories focus on Sakina and the marriage shawl called the Bandhani.
Today, Somjee is going to discuss his 2nd book, Home Between Crossings (2015) which covers the two decades of the 1950s and 1960s. Moti Bai, the main character is close to Riziki, her dark-skinned sister-in-law who is a Swahili from the Indian Ocean coast of Africa. Moti Bai learns about the Swahili culture and family stories embedded in the kanga, also known as the ‘Speaking Cloth of the Indian Ocean’. This colourful printed cloth that adorns the woman’s body is the item in Home Between Crossings which unfolds stories of the Swahili and Satpanth Khoja Ismaili relationships in the mid-20th century. The historical backdrop in Home Between Crossings is the rise of African nationalism and emigration of Asian Africans to Canada and generally to the West.
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Email: Yasmin.jamal(at)kpu.ca
