"SALT AND HONEY" BY MOHAMED YUNUS RAFIQ

THE AFRICAN FOLK TALE: “LESSONS OF SALT & HONEY”

The African folk tales are often narrated by elders with lessons to learn and live-by. The “Lessons Of Salt & Honey” is one such folk tale which narrates about life tribulations however bitter or sweet it may be.

The one narrating this African tale is Author Mohammed Yunus Rafiq, thirty-nine years old PhD candidate, residing with his family at Bagamoyo. The story book is both in English and Kiswahili languages and is published by the literary journal publishers based in Kenya “Jalada”. The edition is free-on line publication and can be located under www.jalada.com

The book can easily attract wide readership for Tanzania children or for that matter children in East Africa can enjoy reading the African folk tales. The Author has written three previous books including “Hope’s Hunter” and “Landscapes Of The Heart”. His son Jahangir (13) has also written a book for children of his age published by Amazon Publisher on line. The book is titled “Why Humming Birds Hum”.

Mohamed Yunus Rafiq is a Tanzania Writer and independent documentary maker. Prior to his career in film and creative writing, he worked in development and youth issues for over ten years in Tanzania. He is also author of poetry collections and is currently working on other book as well.

His short story “Hopes’ Hunter” drew the attention of panel of judges of Hay Festival Project and was selected for publication in the African 39 book. The book comprises thirty nine various subject stories by 39 Writers representing 16 countries South of Sahara.

The Preface is written by internationally known African who is Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. The Editor of Africa 39 is also a famous journalist and independent editor, critic and broadcaster. Other Hay Festival Project include Beirut 39 which is also a collection of writers from the Arab World.

Academically Yunus  started his school education in Arusha where he was born thirty nine years ago. His first degree was from the University of Yale  and now is a PhD candidate at the Brown University in USA. He is married and is blessed with two sons.

CRITICAL APPRECIATION: BY ABDUL HAI

Author of "Lessons of Salt & Honey", an African folk tale available on line, Mohamed Yunus Rafiq busy with his another book. He is one of the 39 African writers whose fiction story is included in the AFRICA 39 which is a Hay Festival Project. He and his family are residents of Bagamoyo.