Wisdom and Lies my Father Told me When I was Young

This book is "Wisdom and Lies my Father Told me When I was Young" is a dialogue between a parent and offspring, the past and the present, tradition and modernity. It is woven with African wise sayings, similies, poetry and proverbs. There are many reflections and challenging ideas from both sides. The two children (son and daughter) of the main character question the teachings of their father during parental guidance and dialogue. The young people discover later that what their father tells them look like lies but inbuilt they have a lot of wisdom.The ideas they hold to as wisdom prove to be either weak temporary truth or utter lies. For example when the father tells them 'do not marry someone due to wealth because the million of today may be a pauper tomorrow and the pauper today could be a millionaire in the future.To this they object. Again when the father says do not marry simism, lemon or thorns, asking, if you do so, whose sweet orange will you pick when you decide to marry a "lemon spouse?" All these are puzzling to the youthful offspring. This is a universal question for all people of all cultures and ages.

The book is divided into six chapters. Chapter one handles general introduction. Here among others, the raeder is told how nearly all Greek philosophers namely Aristotle, Pythagoras, Plato, Socrates, Hippocrates the father of modern medicine and many others were once African students. The parent tells his children that whoever says Africans are dull and cannot achieve anything good or better than other races is misled. Chapter two deals with "Wisdom and Lies My Father told me". This gives the book its title. Chapter three talks about the future of young people and how they should behave. Chapter four presents folklore and the culture of peace; chapter five deals with how oral literature is crafted into real life; and chapter six clarifies how literature is closely interlinked with philosophy in African life. The characters of animals and how they relate to human behavior are eloquently explained. It explain what it means when a story presents the Hare, Elephant of Tortoise as major characters. For example Elephant is big but good for nothing. It is not wise. The small Hare is the most intelligent and cunning. Meanwhile the Monkey is crafty and tricky.

The book has many teaching points for all ages, all peoples and all times in human history. To have a copy in your book shelve at home, office or educational institution is a big blessing.

Solomon Ochwo-Oburu

(Author)

Contact Email: solochwo@gmail.com

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