A Meeting With My Readers

On October 1, 2022, in Burnsville, Minnesota, I met with two of my readers: Sarah B. Kamsin from Sudan, and Brighid McCarthy from the USA. Sarah had organized the meeting. She and I had known each other since July, 2019, when she met me at a book festival in Blaine, Minnesota and acquired my book Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences. 

Later, Sarah published a book of her poems, Vita, Babel, Cauliflower," which I read and reviewed. You can see a section of my review on Amazon. Sarah has a talent as a composer of poems in English.

From our conversation two days ago, I learned that after reading my book, Sarah had started telling her long time friend Brighid about me and my book. As a result, Brighid was very happy to meet me.  She had a copy of the book, bearing much underlining on many pages, proof that she has been reading it with much reflection. I was impressed by her recollection of specific details.

We talked for about three hours, mostly about cultural differences mentioned in the book. We also talked about the need for us to collaborate in dealing with needs of certain areas of East Africa, such as water and education. We were pleased to realize that we have already been doing such work. Brighid, for example, has been doing things in Arusha. We are inspired to do more.

Cross Cultural Dialogue in Tanga, Tanzania

On June 11, 2022, I was the featured guest speaker at the first meeting of Cross Cultural Dialogue, a group based in Tanga, Tanzania. Here is what group coordinator Georgina Harris Hill wrote on her Facebook page about the event:

Tanga’s first official cross cultural conversations meet up with special guest speaker. Professor Joseph Mbele was our guest, several months ago I connected with him online after reading his book; Africans and Americans embracing cultural differences. Teaching and living in Minessota at a university there but from Tanzania originally his book is a unique perspective on cross-cultural interactions. 

Having lived cross culturally my whole life this topic has always been a deep interest of mine, so discovering his work was exciting and I began sharing it widely with others. 

I had started already informal gatherings with a few friends who had a shared interest but when I heard Joseph was coming to Tanzania and we had a chance to hear from him and buy his books, I got into motion organizing a group meet up and extended the invite to him to come to Tanga. Thankfully he accepted. 

The attendants were from different parts of Tanzania, Germany, Russia, Barbados and Latvia but between us all had lived all over the world. But all currently call Tanga home. 

Talking culture can be stressful or at least awkward and maybe a bit taboo but this great group all had so much to share. 

Listening to professor Mbele talk about the importance of embracing cross cultural differences allowed us all to freely discuss our own unique experiences we faced living, working and communicating cross culturally. 

We got a chance to see and frame them in a new light and validate our experiences. 
We laughed at how we misjudge and label one another and ways to talk, see and understand cultural differences in a way that unites and builds bridges. We shared stories and insights and I think we all left with excitement to meet up again and continue this important conversation! 

Thankful to Professor Mbele for taking the time to come and meet us! And so excited for our next group meet up. One thing I love about living in Tanzania is it has taught me so much about stepping outside my comfort zone and introduced me to some incredible people and cultures!

I really recommend reading the books available on Amazon--Mbele's books

Or at Novel idea in Dar Es Salaam or Arusha for Tanzania based folks

Mbele Reading “The Second Coming,” Again

Listen to the recording here
http://dlvr.it/SR08Mz

My Cross-Cultural Conversations

http://dlvr.it/SQzhWc

I MIGHT WRITE ANOTHER CULTURE BOOK

On August 25, 2021, I published a book, Chickens in the Bus: More Thoughts on Cultural Differences, a sequel to my Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences. After publishing these two books, I felt that I didn't need to write another culture book.

Then, several weeks ago, I launched an online program I call "Cross Cultural Conversations," which I have been conducting every Saturday. I give talks by Zoom and engage participants in reflecting on various topics relating to differences between African and American culture.

In the process, I find myself going deeper into issues I addressed in my books, and even introducing new insights and perspectives on those issues. I now feel that if I continue this way, I will eventually publish another book, probably titled "Cross Cultural Conversations." This will take time, certainly some years.

My Books: An Extension of My Self

My culture books are not entities existing apart from me. I write them so that people can know me, not some fancy arguments and abstract theories. These books are an extension of my self. My spirit exists in them and my blood flows in them. I breath and speak through them. 

Long after I have departed from this world, my books will continue to be my voice. Through their works, writers seek or attain immortality. It has been this way since ancient times, and Gilgamesh, the Sumerian hero, is a perfect example. Thus, Shakespeare and Shaaban Robert live on, as do Tolstoy, Muyaka, Achebe and thousands of others. 
 

Feedback From my Cross-Cultural Conversations

On April 16, 2022, I launched an online program I call Cross Cultural Conversions, an extension of my work as a cultural consultant. I conduct these talks every Saturday, from 10:00 to 11:30am US Central Time, on various issues raised my books and beyond.

The network of participants is growing, the feedback from them is positive and enthusiastic. Apart from writing comments, participants keep coming again and again to these conversations, and they spread the word.

For example, on May 7, Kelly, one of the participants, posted on her Facebook page a nice photo of my books, together with the following message:

Beautiful afternoon to sit in Miss Samantha's yard! I'm reading work from Joseph Mbele, suggested by my friend Anita. Joseph is leading a recurring Zoom call on Saturday mornings (10 to 11:30) with intriguing conversations, focusing on different topics. My inbox is always open, I'd be happy to share the next Eventbrite link. 

Invitations to these conversations are posted on my facebook page in advance of each session.