Anthony Coetzer-Liversage, a South African visiting Virginia Commonwealth University this twelvemonth every bit a Humphreys Fellow, did non initially honor a programme on a mass laid upwards inwards Nigeria to live on an obvious tally for himself. Yet his presentation on Teju Cole’s Every Day is for the Thief at the Around the World through Books programme on Jan. 28 had the audience listening inwards sympathy every bit he tied the issues inwards the mass to his ain hard experiences every bit a swain inwards Cape Town.
He used quotations from the mass to highlight issues inwards Nigeria such every bit corrupt authorities officials, the endemic organisation of bribery, the hopelessness of poverty in addition to drug abuse, in addition to the harshness of revenge justice, in addition to showed how those things are likewise prevalent inwards South Africa in addition to many countries that are struggling toward democracy.
Coetzer-Liversage’s sense providing pith abuse prevention in addition to handling services to minority groups inwards South Africa bring given him a peculiarly astute agreement of how hard it is to brand positive changes in addition to overcome systemic moral in addition to economical obstacles, withal he expressed a neat promise that progress tin terminate live on made through little private contributions. One audience fellow member wrote, appreciatively, “Anthony modelled what he says nosotros involve to a greater extent than of—truth, addressing our fears, taking risks, etc.”
Around the World through Books is sponsored yesteryear the Multicultural Enrichment Council.
By Lisa Bishop