#kwani

I feel as though Shuler’s novel entitled She Who Remembers had a lot of potential, but it simply did not deliver. It recounts the life of Kwani, a blue-eyed Anasazi who is forced to flee from home after she is accused of witchcraft. She miscarries during her travels and is taken in by a trader known as Kokopelli, who falls in love with her. He takes her to the distant Eagle Clan, where he insists he wait for her until his return. She waits and finally he arrives to sweep her away to a distant land he calls his home, which will one day become hers now that she has become his mate.

First, this novel should have been called “The One Who Waited” because Kwani spends roughly half the novel waiting for Kokopelli to return to her so that she may be safe at his side. Secondly, I don’t feel as though the novel properly represented Native American culture. This belief stems from two different occurrences within the novel. First, the characters use a sort of halting speech, which is often devoid of articles and other parts of speech. It is the sort of representation often used in movies involving Native Americans and suggests that they are incapable of speaking in the manner of their invaders, which simply isn’t true. Secondly, most Native American cultures honor women because of their ability to give life. Many of their societies are matriarchal and women hold an honored position within a tribe or clan. In this novel, it simply wasn’t so. Women were looked down upon by many men and were expected to keep a place beneath them. Such is evident when we consider the inner monologue of the Medicine Chief and his son, who plotted against Kwani. They were also viewed as prizes, which allowed men to gain prestige depending on if the woman they bed was beautiful and bore them sons.

Third, the novel is immensely shallow. Kokopelli and Kwani claim to be in love with each other because of their sex and how they instill feelings of lust with one another. However, they are completely incompatible. Kokopelli does not respect Kwani and expects her to submit to him. He dislikes her independence and expects her to accept the fact that he will sleep around although they are mates. He also does not respect her culture and she doesn’t understand his. It isn’t until the end of the novel that they both realize this and it is decided that they will go their separate ways. The fact that a large portion of the novel also concerns itself within whom is fucking whom also adds to the novel’s shallow nature. Women vie for Kokopelli’s attention and his seed. Women also vie for Okalake and his seed. Oftentimes, they seek revenge upon one another when one seems to be gaining favor with either man. It’s pathetic.

Fourth, women are reduced to weak, sniveling morons in the novel. They are expected to seek men for protection and want to seek them out for protection and care. Why can’t a woman do anything for herself? Seriously? Furthermore, Kwani is a moron. She makes one stupid decision after another and thinks too much of herself. If she hadn’t slept with her “brother” Okalake, her pregnancy could have been avoided and so could have all the unnecessary problems it raised. Furthermore, she’s dumb as a doornail for not figuring out that her relationship with Kokopelli would never work until the last few pages of the novel. Seriously woman, it’s really not that hard.

Sooo guys I need to know if anyone knows. 

Is there like a common name for the potential Peacock Kwani? I’m looking to slightly work them into a fic I’m working on and I have no clue what to possibly name them. 

Kwani? to host World Storytelling Day event this Saturday

Nairobi’s finest storytellers will gather to launch a global online writing contest and recreate a magical day of storytelling on 19th March 2016 at Kwani? in celebration of the World Storytelling Day. They will be joined by writers and artists to recreate a magical day of stories.

The day-long event which starts at 11am and ends at 9pm will include interactive performances; reading nooks;…