Wiljo Woodi Oosterom

An enchanting tale about Africa

On November 23 a new novel will be presented by publishing Wereldbibliotheek Wiljo Woodi Oosterom, A Veil of Sand.

A self-conscious white, western woman falls in love with a TRADITIONAL African man. She decides to marry him and moves to Africa to join his life. This means she has to live together with his other wife and conform herself to the strict precepts of the community . Sokhna, the African name of the protagonist, gets great respect for the African culture, but is also hrown back at herself, because so much is contrary to the achievements and assumptions of her own culture. Thus, A Veil of Sand, is next to a love story in Africa, most of all a sketch of the struggle inflicted by the transition to African life for a liberated, independent woman. At the same time the novel introduces us to an Africa, where westerners have no idea about. The descriptions of everyday life, cultural practices, but also of the subordinate position that many tribes in Africa still have, provide a detailed picture of life there.

Wiljo Woodi Oosterom

A Veil of Sand

Paperback with flaps 320 pages * * * approx € 17.90 ISBN 978 90 284 2344 2

Wiljo Woodi Oosterom (Chairwoman of Silent Work) lives and works most of the year in Africa. In 2005 Wereldbibliotheek published her novel Confess Colour about her introduction to this continent. She is available for lectures and interviews.

Sincerely,
Kirsten Krooman, publiciteit@wereldbibliotheek.nl

Just a message from ‘hot’ Africa. Make the birth cake ready: in Holland a biscuit with pink (girl) or blue (boy) sweet anise grains called mice…. So: blue mice.
The cow the family received about 6 months ago, has a calf now. Mother and child are doing well. It’s been a while, but we arrived on the spot later.
Everyone is happy, they fit well in the herd, the rainy season is starting soon (about half May). Not that it rains a lot but the air is moist and thus the grasses grow.
So, mother and child can fill their stomachs full of food.

In Mauritania, a fourth major water project has been realized. At least 100,000 liters daily drinking water is pumped by solar energy. In such a well-built water tower. An expensive project, but so very important for the health- and community development.
An adjacent smaller village is now equipped with this water. We have built pipes and fountains. The amount and strength of the water is more than sufficient to provide both villages with clean drinking water.

A few years ago In a village in Mauritania a former slave community settled. They live at the edge of the village and receive drinking water from the village. Ensuring their own maintenance (at least) by the raising of sheep and a piece of agricultural land, where particularly care for. It is a strong community.
A few years ago at a visit to this village, a crying mother brought to me this child, severely malnourished, high fever. Everyone knows that images on TV. But getting this child pushed in your hands by a weeping woman in rags, grabs you. We took baby and mother to the hospital. The Doctor saw no possibility of healing, he could not invest time and money. We went to the pharmacy to buy the necessary medications and helped ourselves the child to survive the first day in the hospital. We took home the mother and child until it was strong enough to return to the family.
Now four years later this kid: healthy and bright.
Poor, but yet so rich.

filmed in TIMBUKTU, Mali, West Africa,
featuring Blues traveler Markus James and three masters of traditional Malian music:
Hamma Sankare (Ali Farka Toure), Hassi Sare, and Solo Sidibe.
The film will be followed by an intimate concert by Markus James
and Pape Thiam (Senegal) in the ‘Melkweg, Amsterdam’, December 12, 20:00 hrs,
in benefit of Silent Work!

Timbuktoubab flyer | poster markus

Friday, November 26 from 10.00-16.00 hours
Saturday, November 27 from 10.00-15.00 hours

Last time support for the karate training, this time: training women to become tailors in Dabbé, Mauritania. All exhibitors donate 15% of their proceeds to a project of Silent Work.
Wilde Ganzen will yield double the amount!

What to see and buy:
- Flower arrangements
- Various jewelry
- Paper art, watercolors
- Embroidery and patchwork
- Painted silk and textile
- Toys of tissue
- Ceramic and mosaic
- Statues and cement figures
- Different types of cards
- Etchings and ink drawings
- Tiffany
- Jams and honey
- Screens and Boxes
- Reborn dolls
- Soap
- Candles

More information: 0172-571307 / 0172-571604
Thanks to all who are ready for us again!

Foundation Wilde Ganzen (Wild Geese) supports as well our action on the recruitment of finance for our projects.