| FOREWORD
By: Professor Joe Pemagbi
National Commission for Democracy and Human Rights
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Former Head, Department of Language Education
Njala University College
Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Sierra Leone |
| Hybrid Eyes is a moving and insightful account
of the experiences of a young, first class Sierra Leonean university
graduate who achieves his dream of going to Europe for further
studies. As he encounters people and institutions, his idealistic
expectations of German society soon give way to the harsh realities
of discrimination and other disadvantages foreigners, especially
black Africans, face in their host country. His first shocks
are not just the bureaucratic sluggishness of German institutions,
or unfriendly eyes staring at him, but also that he has to pursue
an undergraduate programme because his degree, though first
class, has been obtained from an “unknown” African
University. This motivates him to work hard and prove that his
qualification has been unjustifiably underrated - perhaps like
everything else African from European perspective.
Hybrid Eyes the writer revisits with fresh vividness and
objective analysis the theme of clash of cultures in African
creative writing, with him himself in the centre. He uses
his “hybrid eyes” to intensely focus the reader's
attention on, and unhesitatingly express, what he appreciates
and does not appreciate about the African culture in which
he grew and the European culture where he studies. He paints
a nostalgic picture of the warmth and caring nature of the
polygamous African family and communal life, and juxtaposes
this with the individual and lonely German culture in which
even the music of an indoor party must not be heard by next-door
neighbours. At the same time he strongly abhors the “wicked”
treatment he receives from his primary school teachers and
a relationship with his father that readily reminds one of
that between Okonkwo and his son in Chinua Achebe’s
Things Fall Apart.
But not all Germans discriminate against blacks and blame
the problems of their country on foreigners. He comes across
many kind hearted and helpful Germans, and he deeply appreciates
in particular the contribution of the German media and citizens
to his appeal for financial assistance for his daughter's
heart surgery. This is a lesson against stereotypes and generalisation
of attitudes.
Hybrid Eyes is not just about life history and personal experiences;
the author attempts to give the reasons for the prosperity
of the German society, and the economic problems the host
country is grappling with. He emotionally presents this against
the ineptitude and visionlessness of African leaders, especially
leaders of his home country, as the reasons for the underdevelopment
and suffering of their people.
Hybrid Eyes is a compelling reading for everyone: The writer
talks to the reader directly and asks questions to guide his/her
judgement, as he takes him/her on an irresistible tour of
his life and experiences. It is a story young people who aspire
to study in Europe should read to help them to prepare for
adjustment to the demands of their prospective foreign environment.
It is also a sound warning to those who wish to explore the
greener pastures of Europe that the grass is not as green
as they think, or are made to believe.
Written in simple, straightforward English, and neatly structured
in interwoven episodes Hybrid Eyes is also a highly recommended
answer to the stubborn problem of scarcity of supplementary
reading materials in schools in many countries in sub-Saharan
Africa including Sierra Leone. |
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