Gloria D. Gonsalves: On Jai the Albino Cow – Kumhusu Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru

When it comes to listening and writing children’s stories, I am always excited and motivated.

Today, I am happy to interview Gloria D. Gonsalves, a prolific author of children’s stories. She has written eight books for children, some of these in her mother tongue Kiswahili. One of the books is the beautiful tale of Jai the Albino Cow/Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru, which my children and I love. It recently received international recognition through the NYC Big Book Award in the category of Multicultural Fiction as a distinguished favorite. The book is bilingual, featuring both English and Kiswahili languages. The book is also available as a German edition featuring both German and Kiswahili languages. Gloria plans to publish a French edition of the book too.

Linapokuja suala la kusikiliza na kuandika hadithi za watoto, huwa nasisimka na kuhamasika. Leo nina furaha kumhoji Gloria D. Gonsalves ambaye ni mtunzi wa hadithi za watoto. Gloria ameandika vitabu nane vya watoto na baadhi ni kwa lugha ya Kiswahili. Kitabu kimojawapo ni hadithi nzuri ya Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru ambayo mimi na watoto wangu tunaipenda. Hivi majuzi  hadithi hii ilipata kutambuliwa kimataifa kupitia tuzo ya NYC Big Book katika kitengo cha fasihi simulizi za tamaduni mbalimbali. Kitabu hiki ni cha lugha mbili, Kiingereza na Kiswahili. Kitabu hiki pia kinapatikana katika lugha ya Kijerumani na Kiswahili. Na hivi karibuni, Gloria anapanga kuchapisha toleo la kitabu hiki kwa lugha ya Kifaransa.  

What pushed you to write for children? Tell us what age group do you write for?
The calling to write for children was an idea that came to me while at my day job. By this time, I had published two poetry books. I recall seeing diamond poems on a brochure of an international school. I was curious about that form of poetry. I did an online search and found out it was a popular form of teaching poetry to children. I thought it would be fun to write a book of such poems. However, I figured it would be boring for young readers to read just text. Then another idea came to mind. In 2008, I published my first children’s book Diamonds Forever: Never Let Your Inner Child Stop From Glittering, illustrated by children of different ages and nationalities.

On age group, I enjoy writing what others call children’s writing. However, I see it as writing for people not limited by genre. I like to push boundaries and dislike being confined by rules in creativity. Adults can read and enjoy my stories too.

Nini kilikusukuma kuandika hadithi za watoto? Na unalenga watoto wa umri gani?
Wito wa kuwaandikia watoto lilikuwa wazo ambalo lilinijia nikiwa kazini. Mimi ni muajiriwa katika shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa. Kufikia wakati huu, nilikuwa nimeshachapisha vitabu viwili vya mashairi. Nakumbuka niliona mashairi ya almasi kwenye kipeperushi cha shule ya kimataifa. Nilitamani kujua aina hiyo ya ushairi. Nilifanya utafiti mtandaoni na nikagundua kuwa mashairi hayo ni njia maarufu ya kufundisha watoto ushairi. Nikafikiri naweza kuandika kitabu cha mashairi kama haya. Walakini, nilifikiri kuwa kitabu bila picha kitawachosha watoto kusoma. Kisha wazo lingine likaja akilini. Mnamo 2008, nilichapisha kitabu changu cha kwanza cha watoto cha mashairi ya almasi. Kitabu hiki kinaitwa Diamonds Forever: Never Let Your Inner Child Stop From Glittering (Almasi ya Milele: Usizime Mng’aro wa Utoto Wako), kilichochorwa na watoto wa rika mbalimbali na mataifa tofauti.

Kuhusu umri wa watoto walengwa wa vitabu vyangu, uandishi wangu unajulikana na wengine kama uandishi wa hadithi za watoto. Walakini, mimi binafsi natafsiri kuwa namuandikia mtu yeyote asiyejali umri. Ninapenda kuvuka mipaka na sipendi kufungwa na sheria katika ubunifu. Watu wazima wanaweza kusoma na kufurahia hadithi zangu pia.

Jai the albino cow is a beautiful story. Why did you decide to write about albinism?
The original idea, as is in my morgue file, was neither African nor about albinism.

The idea to write about a cow protagonist came to me while on a nature holiday in Austria, after a calf licked my sweaty, salty face. As any writer would know, the genie will find ways to nudge you to write a story that wishes to be written. In the process of inspiring myself, I looked at photos of cows. One picture I took during a forest walk in Germany, was of mating white cows. I recall thinking, I don’t think I have ever seen entirely white cows. My mom kept a cow for milk, and my dad owned several. But a white cow with no patch was a first for me. The idea to make the cow protagonist different from others stemmed from this experience.

I keenly observed cows dotted on the Usambara pastures for more inspiration when I visited Lushoto for holiday (I studied at Kifungilo and I went to show my husband my former school).

Additionally, Tanzania was making headlines about the mistreatment of people with albinism.

All these events added to the story development.

Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru ni hadithi nzuri sana. Kwa nini uliamua kuandika kuhusu ualbino?
Wazo asili la hii hadithi kama lilivyo kwenye faili langu la mawazo ya ubunifu, halikuwa la Kiafrika wala kuhusu ualbino.

Wazo la kuandika kuhusu mhusika mkuu kuwa ni ng’ombe lilinijia nikiwa likizo kule Austria, baada ya ndama kulamba uso wangu wenye chumvichumvi ya jasho. Kama mwandishi yeyote anavyojua, jini la fikra linaweza kukushawishi kuandika hadithi inayotaka kuandikwa na siyo unayotaka wewe. Katika harakati za kujipa hamasa, nilitazama picha tofauti za ng’ombe. Picha moja niliyopiga wakati wa matembezi ya msituni huku Ujerumani, ilikuwa ya ng’ombe weupe wanaopandana. Nakumbuka nilifikiria, sidhani kama nimewahi kuona ng’ombe weupe kabisa. Mama yangu alifuga ng’ombe kwa ajili ya maziwa, na baba yangu alikuwa na ng’ombe kadhaa. Lakini ng’ombe mweupe asiye na baka la rangi nyingine ilikuwa ni mara ya kwanza kwangu kumuona. Wazo la kumfanya mhusika mkuu wa ng’ombe kuwa tofauti na wengine lilitokana na hiyo picha.

Pia, nilitazama kwa makini ng’ombe waliokuwa kwenye malisho ya milima ya Usambara kwa ajili ya kupata hamasa zaidi. Nafasi hii niliipata nilipotembelea Lushoto wakati wa likizo (mimi nimesoma Kifungilo na nilimpeleka mume wangu huko kumuonesha shule niliyosoma).

Zaidi ya hayo, Tanzania ilikuwa ikigonga vichwa vya habari kuhusu unyanyasaji wa watu wenye ualbino.

Matukio haya yote yalichangia ukuzaji wa hii hadithi.

Your book is in two languages, English and Kiswahili. Why did you decide so?
I wanted this story to reach readers globally and my native country Tanzania hence the English and Kiswahili narrations. We cannot pretend that people with albinism are not living in fear inside our local borders. I wanted to tell a story that will shape the humane treatment of people with albinism, particularly in areas where they are maligned, whether in Tanzania or abroad.

I would also like to clarify the choice of the word albino. I know that this word has negative connotations and disrespects people with albinism, depending on where you grew up. There are other places in the world where people with albinism call themselves albinos with pride. This story is about an albino cow, and I hope it will help reclaim the pride of being an albino by taking ownership of the word albino.

Kitabu chako kimeandikwa kwa lugha mbili, Kiswahili na Kingereza. Kwanini uliamua kuandika kwa lugha mbili?
Nilitaka hadithi hii iwafikie wasomaji duniani kote na nchi yangu ya asili ya Tanzania hivyo basi masimulizi yake niliandika kwa lugha ya Kiingereza na Kiswahili. Hatuwezi kufumbia macho kwamba watu wenye ualbino hawaishi kwa hofu ndani ya mipaka yetu ya nchi. Nilitaka kusimulia kisa ambacho kitachangia kuheshimu utu wa watu wenye ualbino, hasa katika maeneo ambayo watu wanawanyanyapaa, iwe Tanzania au nje ya nchi.

Pia ningependa kufafanua chaguo la neno albino au zeruzeru. Ninafahamu kuwa neno hili lina maana mbaya na kutoheshimu watu wenye ualbino, kutegemea na mahali ulipokulia. Kuna sehemu nyingine duniani watu wenye ualbino wanajiita albino au zeruzeru kwa ufahari. Hadithi hii inahusu ng’ombe zeruzeru na ninatumaini itasaidia kurudisha fahari ya kuwa albino au zeruzeru kwa kuchukua umiliki wa neno albino au zeruzeru.

What is your motivation to write children’s books? And, I know you also write poems, tell us about that.
If my book can positively impact one child only, that is enough reward for me. My first children’s book was poetry, but I quickly realized that I enjoy writing stories for children more. I have written four poetry anthologies for adults. However, I have not forgotten the children. Through World Children’s Poetry Day (WochiPoDa) initiative, I inspire learning and writing poetry in an annual event. WoChiPoDa and its local coordinators and representatives have been in service since 2014. We held annual events in hospitals, schools, and orphanages in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Pwani, and Rukwa regions.

But what is a book if a child does not have a place to get one? I am a Program Advisor and investor of Watoto Reading Club, currently located in Dar es Salaam. I have previously installed a library at Mabogini Primary School in Moshi, which operated under the name Akili Reading Club.

Ni nini motisha yako ya kuandika vitabu vya watoto? Na pia ninafahamu kuwa unaandika mashairi, tuambie kuhusu hilo pia.
Ikiwa kitabu changu kinaweza kumsaidia vyema mtoto mmoja pekee, hiyo ni thawabu ya kutosha kwangu. Kitabu changu cha kwanza cha watoto kilikuwa cha mashairi, lakini haraka nilitambua kwamba ninafurahia kuwaandikia watoto hadithi zaidi. Nimeandika vitabu vinne vya mashairi kwa watu wazima. Hata hivyo, sijawasahau watoto. Kupitia mpango wangu wa Siku ya Ushairi wa Watoto Duniani (WochiPoDa), ninahamasisha kujifunza na kuandika mashairi katika hafla ya kila mwaka. WoChiPoDa na waratibu na wawakilishi wake tumekuwa katika huduma tangu 2014. Tulifanya matukio ya kila mwaka katika hospitali, shule, na vituo vya watoto yatima katika mikoa ya Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Pwani, na Rukwa.

Lakini kitabu ni nini ikiwa mtoto hana sehemu ya kukipata? Mimi ni mshauri na mwekezaji wa klabu ya usomaji vitabu inayoitwa Watoto Reading Club iliyopo Dar es Salaam kwa sasa. Hapo awali nilifungua maktaba katika Shule ya Msingi Mabogini iliyopo Moshi, ambayo inaendeshwa kwa jina la Akili Reading Club.

When you write, do you write for a Tanzanian child or a world child?

I write for the world child and in it is a Tanzanian child.

I wish to affirm that a Tanzanian can write a book for any child to enjoy. I want to be the example of no geographic boundary on creative imagination. The world belongs to us all, and there are plenty of stories for everyone and each child’s imagination. A good example is my book Swahili Folklore: A Compilation of Animal Facts, Folktales, Nursery Rhymes and Songs, also illustrated by children of different nationalities and stories originally written in Kiswahili by the children of Mazoezi Primary School in Korogwe, the town where I grew up and is still home. This book provides an opportunity for international children to learn through Tanzanian children and vice versa. My idea was that through that book, I am like a ship that brings together children of different nationalities, including Tanzanian children.

I also want the global child to witness that a Tanzanian can write a story for them too. This experience can nurture respect for foreigners, arouse their curiosity about other cultures, and break stereotype thinking and perceptions early.

Ukiandika, unaandika kwa ajili ya mtoto Mtanzania au mtoto wa dunia?

Ninaandika kwa ajili ya mtoto wa dunia na ndani yake kuna mtoto Mtanzania.

Napenda kuthibitisha kwamba Mtanzania anaweza kuandika kitabu kwa ajili ya mtoto yeyote duniani kufurahia. Ninataka kuwa mfano wa kutokuwa na mipaka ya kijiografia kwenye mawazo ya ubunifu. Ulimwengu ni wetu sote, na kuna hadithi nyingi kwa kila mtu na mawazo mengi kwa kila mtoto. Mfano mzuri ni kitabu changu cha Ngano za Kiswahili (Swahili Folklore) ambacho kimechorwa pia na watoto wa mataifa mbalimbali na hadithi ziliandikwa kwa Kiswahili na watoto wa Shule ya Msingi Mazoezi iliyopo Korogwe, mji ambao nimekulia na hadi leo ni nyumbani. Mimi nilitafsiri zile hadithi kwa Kiingereza na pia kuongezea nyimbo za watoto. Kitabu hiki kinawapa nafasi watoto wa kimataifa kujifunza kupitia watoto Watanzania na pia wao kujifunza kutoka kwao. Wazo langu lilikuwa kupitia kitabu hiki mimi niwe  kama meli ya kuwakutanisha watoto wa mataifa mbalimbali wakiwemo watoto Watanzania.

Pia nataka mtoto wa kimataifa ashuhudie kuwa Mtanzania anaweza kuwaandikia hadithi. Uzoefu huu unaweza kukuza heshima kwa wageni, kuamsha udadisi wao kuhusu tamaduni zingine, na kuvunja mawazo na mitazamo potofu mapema kuhusu watu wa jamii nje ya za kwao. 

You grew up in Tanzania; what change do you wish for a Tanzanian child?
I wish for safe places for children to enjoy reading and writing. We need literary spaces that keep children in mind: reading corners at bookshops, libraries with enough books and fun settings, and host literary events for children. On the latter, there is still a considerable exposure gap between children in big cities and towns and those in remote places. I hope event organisers will keep this in mind by bringing literary experiences to children beyond their locality.

Umekulia Tanzania, mabadiliko gani unatamani kuyaona kwa mtoto Mtanzania?
Ninatamani sehemu salama za watoto wafurahie kusoma na kuandika. Tunahitaji nafasi za kifasihi zinazowakumbuka watoto: ndani ya maduka ya vitabu, maktaba zilizo na vitabu vya kutosha na mipangilio ya kuvutia watoto, na kuandaa matukio ya fasihi kwa watoto. Kwa upande wa pili, bado kuna pengo kubwa kati ya watoto kutoka miji mikubwa na wale walio katika maeneo ya mbali. Natumaini waandaaji wa hafla watakumbuka hili kwa kuwapelekea watoto walio mbali na miji mikubwa sherehe na matukio yanayohusu usomaji na uandishi wa vitabu.

The love Jai received from her family inspired my children and me. My daughter loves the beauty of Jai. She can’t have enough of those flowers on Jai’s head. Thank you for creating a beautiful world for our children through stories.

Mimi na wanangu tumevutiwa na upendo anaoupata Jai toka kwa familia yake. Mtoto wangu wa kike anaupenda sana uzuri wa Jai. Maua yaliyompamba Jai kichwani yamemvutia sana. Asante sana kwa kutengeneza dunia ya kuvutia kwa watoto wetu kupitia hadithi.

You can learn more about Gloria at: www.gloria-gonsalves.com

Kwa habari zaidi, mtembelee Gloria kwenye tovuti yake www.gloria-gonsalves.com