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piqer for: Global finds
Ciku Kimeria is a Kenyan author "Of goats and poisoned oranges" - (https://www.amazon.com/goats-poisoned-oranges-Ciku-Kimeria-ebook/dp/B00HBBWPI6), development consultant, adventurer and travel blogger (www.thekenyanexplorer.com). She writes both fiction and non-fiction focusing on African stories that need telling. She has worked on diverse pieces for various international and local publications including Quartz, Ozy, The East African etc. She has travelled to 45 countries – 16 of them in Africa. 153 countries to go and 63 territories!
"Of goats and poisoned oranges" has been extremely well received in Kenya and beyond. It tells the story of a Kenyan middle aged power couple and their complicated marriage. The novel explores issues of greed, revenge, betrayal and murder. It runs from the 1960s to 2013. It has been described as “Wicked, funny, poignant, wacky, human, a big ball of fun and danger”, “A unique and captivating book”, “Fun and intriguing”, “Impossible to put down once you start reading.”
She recently moved to Dakar, Senegal from Kenya to work on her second novel. She also works at as the Africa Communication Manager at a leading global strategy consulting firm.
She holds a B.S. in Management Science from MIT with minors in Urban Planning and International development studies.
Insights From A Series Of Conversations With Members Of The LGBTQIA Community In Ghana
A few weeks back, I was in a taxi in Nairobi. When I told the driver that I am a writer, he was excited as he loves literature. He asked me which African writers I admire and I started listing a few names. After mentioning the name of one openly gay African writer who really inspires me, the driver immediately slammed on the brakes and yelled, "That gay man!" The driver who had up to that moment been very friendly, warm and polite was instantly turned into a very angry man. Key words that emerged from his diatribe after my announcement included, "disgusting", "abomination", "sinful."
His reaction reminded me of the difficulties that LGBTQIA communities face in the African context. In listening to this podcast episode of Hagtivist, in which the host interviews members of the community in Ghana, a lot emerges about just how difficult it is in the African context to be LGBTQIA. One of the interviewees insists that the community is not even asking to be accepted, just to be given their basic human rights and protected from violence. Another talks about how difficult it is to be out in Ghana. Rather than ask LGBTQIA celebrities and influencers to come out, he asks, "Please stop the self-loathing, stop spreading hate speech against a group that we know you are part of."
In 2012, a network of freethinkers was formed via social media and the first meeting of freethinkers in Ghana was organised in the country’s capital Accra, where it has been based ever since. The Humanist Association of Ghana (HAG) is an organization of atheists/agnostics living in Ghana who subscribe to humanism as a life stance, fight to protect human rights & promote critical thinking. We believe we can create a better society through discussion and action based on science, reason and respect for human dignity.
I salute all LGBTQIA folks on the continent, as for most of them merely surviving (let alone being able to come out) is a constant struggle.
