Author Orane gets a blessed foreword from Desmond Tutu
Published:Tuesday | September 18, 2018 | 12:00 AMKimberley Small/Gleaner Writer
Motivated by her mother's whiplash words, Marguerite Orane has titled her second book Forget It - What's The Point? The book chronicles her experience living in Canada for over 10 years and demonstrates how her mother's utterances have ultimately sustained her.
Though her mother passed away 10 years ago, Orane says she left a lasting impression on everyone who had the opportunity to know her.
"The story of the title is from my mother. She would lay in bed and perhaps remember someone or something - then just mutter, 'Forget it, what's the point?' And everyone would laugh! It stuck with me, and when I moved to Canada, I found it to be a liberating question to ask. Like ... really? Does [this] matter in the greater scheme of things? For the past 10 years, it's a statement that has continued to give my life freedom and joy," Orane told The Gleaner.
She continued, "I want people to open up to that - because a lot of trauma to yourself and others could be avoided. If I say something rude to you, what's the point? It's been a powerful message in my life. A lot of arguments can be avoided if we chill. That's the idea. That's the message."
A grander gift than having her mother's quote centre her storytelling is the foreword, which was penned by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "I'm pinching myself," she shared excitedly. Tutu was awarded the Nobel Prize in recognition of "the courage and heroism shown by black South Africans in their peaceful struggle against apartheid".
She became acquainted with the archbishop through a mutual friend in Toronto. "The subject of how much I admire him dominated many of our conversations," Orane confessed.
The author shared that a few years ago, the retired archbishop visited Toronto, and her friend arranged a meeting. "She's always been kind enough to get me his autographs," she noted, in awe of what her friend had done. His latest publications, The Book of Forgiveness and The Book of Joy, are signed and rest on Orane's bedside table.
"I just adore the man. When publishing, I wanted him to do it (the foreword), and no one else. If I couldn't get him to do it, then I wouldn't have a foreword," she gushed.
As part of her evolution in Canada, the self-stylised "joy enabler", earned herself a certificate in creative writing at the University of Toronto. Her latest publication follows Free and Laughing: Spiritual Insights In Everyday Moments, published in 2008.
Forget It - What's The Point? will have its official launch at Temple of Light on Monday, September 24.