A picture is worth a thousand words

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” That’s a proverb. In fact, that’s a proverb about proverbs. A timeless truth is embedded in a simple, punchy, memorable declaration that calls for immediate assent (and can stimulate endless engaging debate). “A stitch in time saves nine.” “Many hands make light work.” “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” “Bad company corrupts good character.” “A man will reap what he sows.” Each of these comes from a single, familiar (to traditional societies, less so for modern urban settings), everyday context but speaks to many contexts.
A context, in this sense, is a cultural context often represented (or representable) in narrative. Thus, a proverb is the distillation of a lifetime of stories, the observation of many lived narratives captured in a single such story applicable to any one’s story. Stories (including history, tradition, fables, myths and riddles), and discussions about them, and songs, dramas and dance for them, and proverbs summarizing them, are the typical non-school, non-literate way for individuals and communities to remember. Not only to store important truths but to use them.

Tom signing in

- “I’m out of everything and I need to go to the grocery store – but I can only remember about three things on my mental list – and when I get there, I’ll have forgotten those and remembered a different three things (the ones that are sweet or fat or both) – Oh! Wait! I know how to read and write!” – problem solved
- “I just heard the greatest quote! And I really want to remember it – it could really change my life - but I’ve got all those grocery lists and “to do” lists to remember. Oh, what will I do?! – Wait! I’ve been to school and I know how to read and write!” – another problem solved by literacy
- “I owe about six people a dozen things – and come to think of it, those rat finks owe me something too! Now, how to remember all those niggling details so my family doesn’t starve … Oh, yeah! I know how to read and write (and so do those rat finks that owe me money!) and we can all sit down and go over our “written documents” (If I don’t show them to a lawyer first)!” – yes, another problem solved by that form of public memory: literacy! Hoo-rah!
- But what do you do if you don’t have those abilities …

A Time for Rain

Last Thursday the 17th we headed back up to Nabilatuk. During my time south it rained a lot. Meanwhile the big wigs in Kampala were threatening of drought. We drove up to find the road slippery once again. The land here really comes to life here when it rains. So the locals have all gone to dig in their gardens.  Gone are the days of people lounging the day away, now is the time for work.