The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo by Peter Orner
Freshman Book, Class of 2011
About the Book
The Class of 2011's Freshman book is Peter Orner's novel The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo, which takes place in a rural boarding school in Namibia. The country is roughly twice the size of California with one of the lowest population densities in the world, and is one of Africa's most recently independent nations. Having survived restrictive Apartheid laws and a multi-decade civil war for independence from South Africa, Namibia today faces a 20% HIV/AIDS infection rate, one of the highest in the world. While 19th Century missionaries from Germany, England and Finland founded schools to Christianize the indigenous people and teach them to read the Bible; and Apartheid's Bantu education limited curriculum to menial job skills; current education initiatives emphasize HIV prevention programs and varied curriculum of arts and sciences. In addition to investing in education, Namibia has fostered its growing economy, free press and functioning democracy for nearly 20 years. Mira Foster
Borrow The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo
- Check InvestiGator Catalog
Activities
Library Exhibit
Mavala Shikongo's World
August 27 - December 21, 20007. First floor Lobby Case (across from Circulation Services)
This exhibit highlights some basic facts and important historical events in Namibia's political and educational development.
Poetry Center Event, September 26
Panel discussion including the author Peter Orner from 7-9pm at the Poetry Center, HUM 510.
Learn More
The Library can help you get more out of your Freshman Book experience. Discover other novels about Africa or by African authors; research African history and current events; explore African arts and cultures. To learn how, contact Mira Foster or one of the other University Librarians.
