February 4, 2005: Headlines: COS - Mali: Writing - Mali: Oral Traditions: Western Courier: Mali RPCV Kenneth Hawkinson studies the effects of Western society on the cultures and oral traditions of West Africa

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Mali: Peace Corps Mali : The Peace Corps in Mali: February 4, 2005: Headlines: COS - Mali: Writing - Mali: Oral Traditions: Western Courier: Mali RPCV Kenneth Hawkinson studies the effects of Western society on the cultures and oral traditions of West Africa

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Mali RPCV Kenneth Hawkinson studies the effects of Western society on the cultures and oral traditions of West Africa

Mali RPCV Kenneth Hawkinson studies the effects of Western society on the cultures and oral traditions of West Africa

Mali RPCV Kenneth Hawkinson studies the effects of Western society on the cultures and oral traditions of West Africa

Western professor gets novel idea
By Thom Koschwanez
Published: Friday, February 4, 2005
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If life experiences can be translated into novels, then Kenneth Hawkinson, professor and chair of Western Illinois University's communication department, has many waiting to be written.

Hawkinson has recently published "The Oil in the Lamp," released by Publish America in November 2004. The novel follows a young man through his discovery of self-awareness and understanding, using countless proverbs and metaphors.

Through his travels in the Peace Corps and while teaching on a Fulbright Scholarship, Hawkinson studied the effects of Western society on the cultures and oral traditions of West Africa.

"In Africa, storytelling is still very much a part of the makeup of their worldview," Hawkinson said. "These stories represent values of what's right and wrong, how people are supposed to exist in their society, and how they are supposed to relate to each other. And it is through the stories that people understand who they are, and how they are to exist in that society."

Hawkinson finds that Americans have lost the ideas behind storytelling.

"In our culture, stories are not really seen that way, people find out who they are, or how they are supposed to exist in their society by people telling them. They are not using metaphor. They're not using symbols to explain these things, so there is a disconnect between the world of the story, the world of the myth and people's everyday lives and how they view themselves."

In African nations, storytelling differs greatly, he said.

"In Africa there is not a disconnection, stories and myths and the way people live their lives are totally aligned and connected, and there's great beauty in seeing the world through myth and through story," Hawkinson said.

After earning his bachelor's degree in history and his master's in speech communication from Western, he found himself repaying his education by serving as an officer in the Army, stationed in Germany.

While in the Army he debated whether to pursue his doctorate or follow a dream and join the Peace Corps.

"I thought I would counter the Army with the Peace Corps. It seemed like a good balance," Hawkinson said.

Receiving his acceptance into Southern Illinois University's doctoral program would delay his dream for three years. In 1986, after graduating with his Ph.D. in speech communication, he traveled to Mali, West Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer. There, he would spend two years teaching at a teachers' college.

Hawkinson joined Western's communication arts and sciences department in 1988 and has been part of the faculty since, only taking time out in 1990 to serve as a Fulbright Professor/Researcher, teaching American studies at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Currently he is not focusing on another book but said, "I heard an author interviewed who had just published a book, and he said that 'writing and not writing are hell, and having written is heaven.' So I am in the heaven stage. But I am always playing around with things such as short stories, children's books and poetry."

Hawkinson said he wants to share his ability, tell a simple story that has great meaning.

"It's amazing how a book writes itself. It's a very simple book, a very short book. I think there's a lot of beauty in the book and there's some wonderful lessons. And to be able to share that with others is very fulfilling for me." Hawkinson said.





When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

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RPCV Groups mobilize to support their Countries of Service. Over 200 RPCVS have already applied to the Crisis Corps to provide Tsunami Recovery aid, RPCVs have written a letter urging President Bush and Congress to aid Democracy in Ukraine, and RPCVs are writing NBC about a recent episode of the "West Wing" and asking them to get their facts right about Turkey.
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Bolivia RPCV Taylor Hackford's film "Ray" is up for awards in six categories including best picture, best actor and best director. "Autism Is a World" co-produced by Sierra Leone RPCV Douglas Biklen and nominated for best Documentary Short Subject, seeks to increase awareness of developmental disabilities. Colombian film "El Rey," previously in the running for the foreign-language award, includes the urban legend that PCVs teamed up with El Rey to bring cocaine to U.S. soil.

January 29, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Date: January 29 2005 No: 395 January 29, 2005: This Week's Top Stories
UPI says Suicides lower in Iraq after Lariam discontinued 28 Jan
Chris Starace makes DVD about life in Benin 28 Jan
Gaddi Vasquez tours Sri Lanka 27 Jan
Tom Hazuka receives writer's award 27 Jan
Raymond Wacks to oversee Baltimore's budget 27 Jan
L. A. Adams provides online assistance to village of Cochiraya 27 Jan
New blog helps prospective PCVs apply to PC 27 Jan
RPCV writes open letter to "West Wing" on Turkey episode 26 Jan
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Taylor Hackford's 'Ray' scores six Oscar nominations 26 Jan
State building in Georgia may be named for Coverdell 25 Jan
Nick Craw to head Automobile Competition Committee 25 Jan
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Senator Bill Nelson says expand PC in South America 23 Jan
George Wallace is county's first poet laureate 20 Jan

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As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
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Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."
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In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.
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Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?
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Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

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Story Source: Western Courier

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Mali; Writing - Mali; Oral Traditions

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