The Wedding of Zein and Other Sudanese Stories (African Writers Series) Review

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The Wedding of Zein and Other Sudanese Stories (African Writers Series) Review"The Wedding of Zein" actually includes three separate stories, all set in pleasant, rural, Muslim villages of the Sudan, in Africa. The book is named after one of the stories. The other two are called "The Doum Tree of Wad Hamid," and "A Handful of Dates." Each tale has the universal feel of a fable -- the wisdom they encode in their simple language can speak to anyone, anywhere, anytime. The Muslim characters have a few traits which could seem odd to Western readers, but basically they are just like small town folks all over the world. They walk with dignity, they live in peace amidst old friends and loved ones, and they cherish their own dreams of love and happiness.
The title story is my favorite. Zein is sort of a "holy fool" in his little village. He is not exactly retarded, or crazy, but is clearly eccentric. He seems to promote laughter and good feelings wherever he goes, although sometimes this is at his own expense. Many of the villagers laugh at him. All of the villagers laugh with him. Zein seems unaware that there could be a distinction between these groups of people, and, perhaps, therein lies his potential for healing... He is betrothed to the beautiful, solemn, almond-eyed Ni'ma, before whom he has NEVER made a fool of himself. She, and she alone, holds this honor... Their courtship, and the impact it has upon the village, comprises a highly provocative, and ultimately warm, view into human nature. You won't forget this comedic, yet highly serious, love story.
Taken together, these stories really got me thinking about what it's like to live in an average Muslim village. It makes me want to know these people better, they're just like us.
Considering that these stories take place specifically in the Sudan, where Osama bin Laden and his confederates camped for a few years, I couldn't help but think of any Sudanese soldiers he may have picked up there. These stories show the homey, happy, sunny, rural village scenes that those soldiers are homesick for right now, as they batten down the hatches in store for a long, brutal Afghani winter. Can't you just picture them, hiding in their freezing caves, listening to the Arabic equivalent of "Sweet Home Alabama" on their black market Sony Walkmen, dreaming of happier times back home? These stories make me understand that they were just PEOPLE before becoming terrorists... I can just imagine some scared former Sudanese villager, in a camp in Afghanistan, praying like people who have monumentally goofed up their lives have always prayed, and will always pray... "Oh God, please just get me out of this mess, and I promise I'll go to the mosque more often... I promise I'll stop making fun of the funny way my dumb brother-in-law Ahmed fastens his turban... I promise I'll stop procrastinating on making that pilgramage to Mecca... just get me out of this war, that's all I ask."
At any rate, I felt obliged to say all that because it's October, 2001. But these timeless stories are simply superb, and worth owning for their own sake. Two thumbs up.The Wedding of Zein and Other Sudanese Stories (African Writers Series) OverviewThis book contains three Sudanese stories by Denys Johnson-Davies.

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