Kuandika ni Kitendo cha Upendo
James Baldwin: Writing is an act of love
KISWAHILI
“Kuna kitu hatari sana kuhusu kupokea sifa kubwa kutoka ulimwengu. Ikiwa unaamini kila kitu ambacho watu wanasema juu yako, unaweza kubebwa hali ya dawa za kulevya na ukae kwenye hali hiyo kwa siku nyingi.
“Nadhani ninajifunza jinsi ya kuandika. Tunajifunza sikuzote. Nadhani najua nilikotoka, nisichotaka… nisichofanya. Nadhani, ingawa inaonekana kuwa ya kiburi sana, sababu pekee ya kujaribu kuwa mwandishi siyo kuuambia dunia nilivyoteseka, kwa sababu nani anajali, lakini [badala yake] ni kitendo cha "Nakupenda." Hiyo ndiyo [kuandika] inahusu kwangu.”
- James A. Baldwin (1924-1987)
(Herufi nzito na nafasi zimeongezwa na Mmerikani.)
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
“There is something very dangerous about the world’s acclaim. If you believe everything that people say about you, you can be carried on a trip—out—and you can stay out to lunch for days.
“I think I’m learning how to write. We’re always learning. I think I know from whence I came, what I don’t want…what I won’t do. I think, though it sounds very pretentious, the only reason to try to become a writer is not to tell the world how I’ve suffered, because who cares, but [rather] it’s an act of “I love you.” That’s what [writing] is about to me.”
- James A. Baldwin (1924-1987)
(Bolded letters and spacing were added by Mmerikani.)
Kuhusu (About):
KISWAHILI
James Baldwin (1924-1987) alikuwa mwandishi, mwandishi wa tamthilia na mwanaharakati wa haki za kiraia wa Marekani.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
James Baldwin (1924-1987) was an author, playwright, and vocal U.S. civil rights activist.
KISWAHILI: Asante na tutaonana tena,
Mmerikani
ENGLISH TRANSLATION: Thank you and may we see each other again,
Mmerikani
Chanzo (source): Baldwin, James A. Conversations with James Baldwin. Edited by Fred L. Standley and Louis H. Pratt. University Press of Mississippi, 1989, 162. Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/conversationswit0000bald/page/162/mode/1up?view=theater.
//END
“. . . an act of ‘I love you.’” ‘Tis so very true. Thank you for sharing Baldwin with us. When I read his words in two languages, one that I do not know or understand but is perhaps more beautiful because this is so, and one that is my native tongue, I am wholly enchanted anew.
I think that’s right isn’t it. “Here’s how I’ve suffered. Look at your suffering too. Isn’t it so beautiful”. I’ll have to look up your man James Baldwin now...I thought he was an actor 😅
There must be a lovely alchemy in the process of translating this stuff.