Local author aims at cultural resurgence

Mandi Rukuni Seminar is currently hosting the monthly Tanganyika Shows which will see the launching of four books written by local renowned author, Professor Mandivamba Rukuni.

by Kennedy Nyavaya

The books titled Wisdom to Lead, Courage to Lead, Spirit to Lead and the already launched Pathways to Success are aimed at cultural revival to necessitate development in a quickly globalizing world.

In the books, Professor Rukuni takes the reader on a journey of thoughts as he triggers an inherent sense of self-reliance by outlining the locally underutilized capabilities and resources.

The "Tanganyika" concept is based on African renaissance and focuses on returning confidence in the essential values of local culture, heritage, and economic resources.

Show coordinator, Evelyn Munetsi said the review seminars to be held at the Book Café will embrace people from all walks of life, enabling the audience to engage with the author's idea of promoting Africanism and autonomy in the contemporary society.

These monthly seminars have been crafted to promote the idea that Africans should modernise rather than "Westernise" or "Easternise".

"It is all about cultural revival as we drive towards helping us (Africans) to remain in touch with Ubuntu or Unhu," Munetsi said.

She said that in addition to the four books the award-winning author was set to introduce more new books to support the same cause till the end of this year.

"The initial four books will be launched until the month of May, after that we have more books of varied thrusts including parenting, adulthood and the local education system to take us through the year," she said.

Tanganyika is a Sankofa cultural philosophy which expresses the need to look back in an attempt to progress hence the initiative, in local context, inspires thoughts, values and practices underlying the traditional African system as plainly interpreted in his famous book, 'Being African'