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Professor Joseph Mbele to read selected works at River City Books

By Colin McLain
April 6, 2005

Joseph Mbele, professor of English and folklore, will read from and sign copies of his new book titled "Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences" at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 11 at River City Books. Mbele also will read selections from his earlier work "Mantengo Folktales" at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16. Both events are free and open to the public.

Mbele's research primarily focuses on the relationship between literature and folklore, particularly the epic folkloric traditions of various ethnic groups in Tanzania and Kenya. Mbele spent countless hours over a 23-year period listening to and learning from the traditional story-tellers of the region. The result of this massive effort is "Matengo Folktales," a meticulous labor of love which bridges the gap between the academic and popular spheres to present these tales not just as material for literary scholars but as stories to be heard and retold by a new audience.

A native of Tanzania, Mbele has spent most of his academic career at universities and college around the United States. Never allowing his own identity to become submerged by American society, Mbele wrote "Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences," a collection of the often humorous results of this clash of cultures.

Mbele founded and continues to head Africonexion, a consulting firm that assists Americans in understanding the complexity of African culture and supports Africans experiencing American culture for the first time.

Both events are part of the celebration of River City Book's third anniversary as Northfield's neighborhood bookstore. For more information and disability accommodations, call John Lee at River City Books (507) 646-7754.

Contact Carole Engblom at 507-646-3271 or leigh@stolaf.edu.