HOW I SHOOK HANDS WITH THE QUEEN!

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise

At first I thought I was watching a kinigeria (Nigerian movie). Then I thought it was a dream. But upon touching myself, I realized it’s real. It was happening. I was seated next to her. The lady that has always inspired me. I was shaking hands with Doreen Baingana, the multiple award-winning Ugandan writer I had always longed to meet.

If you haven’t been a keen follower of literature on the global scene, you may not know much about this charming mother of one son. A powerful author that has traveled to every corner of the world because of the power in her pen. ‘TROPICAL FISH: Stories out of Entebbe’ is the most popular of her books. It won her an Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Prize for Short Fiction in 2003; & a Commonwealth Prize for Debut Fiction, Africa Region in 2005.

Doreen is not like any lady you meet next door. She has won the Washington Independent Writers Fiction Prize and has been nominated twice for the Caine Prize for African Writing. She is currently writing a novel and a creative nonfiction book on Somaliland as part of the Pilgrimages Project of the Chinua Achebe Center for African Writers, Bard College.

Last week I got a chance to meet Doreen at the Authors’ Forum, a monthly inspirational event that World of Inspiration organizes at the National Theatre, every first Wednesday of the month, 5-8pm. This is when I got the chance to engage her during our ‘Celeb Interview’. Her creativity, simplicity and humility fascinated me. She was simply irresistible; the whole audience across the auditorium sat and listened quietly. Her choice of words made me almost suspect she could be a niece to Shakespeare or Chinua Achebe! No wonder she managed to work as an editor with Voice of America (V.O.A) for ten years; and Story Moja (in Kenya) as the Managing Editor).

During this interview, Doreen challenged each one of us to come up and showcase what we can do. She urged us to be more creative and to write relevant literature that will move the masses. I enjoyed every bit of this interview. Doreen holds a law degree from Makerere University and an MFA from the University of Maryland. She is currently the Chairperson of FEMRITE, an association of female writers in Uganda.

It was not only Doreen that impressed me at the Authors’ Forum. There were other creative, talented and enterprising minds. Notable among those who attended was Prof. Joy Kwesiga, the Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, Monitor’s literary analyst and novelist Dennis D. Muhumuza, award winning painter Roldan Rolands Tibirisya, and Hilda Twogyeirwe the FEMRITE Coordinator. I cannot begin to describe the ‘Famous Friends’ who danced like they either have no bones or their bones are made out of the same materials with rubber band. From the poets Gilbert Senyonga and Slim Emcee, the guitarist Joseph Byamukama, to Walden and Chozen who performed their hit song “Pressure ya Love”, the whole evening was simply fantamsticaglofabulous.

The theme for this episode of the Authors’ Forum was “POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS”. The main speaker was Lawrence Namale, the Kenyan man who introduced Mobile Money in Uganda, a concept that has done wonders for MTN. Those who were present know what an inspirational and electrifying speaker he is. What he said is too good for a third party to narrate; you need to hear it from the horse’s mouth. I suggest you order for a DVD of that day from World of Inspiration (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33; 0414691595).

I won’t forget the great Celeb Interview with Dr. John B. Niwagaba, a young medical doctor that is taking the nation by storm with his creative ideas. A columnist with ‘The Observer’ newspaper and Chairman of the Annual Vintage Car show, Dr. Niwagaba never runs short of new ideas. At the Authors’ Forum, he told us about his new product, a medical information service. Wherever you are you can use an MTN phone to access a doctor and consult him over any issues. All you need is dial 0902900800. He has called this 24-hour service ‘Hello Doctor’.

My experience at the Authors’ Forum was really fascinating. The next episode is on 7th September, same venue, same time; you can go and have your own experience. The forum reenergized my passion for excellence. I set new goals for myself. And of course I will not forget how I shook hands with the Queen. Doreen Baingana, the Queen of literature.

Stay inspired!