2006.08.28: August 28, 2006: Headlines: COS - Mali: Writing - Mali: Midwifery: Women's Issues: Ann Arbor News: Kris Holloway's first book, "Monique and the Mango Rains'' - an account of her friendship with a Mali midwife - was prompted by a sad event, her friend's early death
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2006.08.28: August 28, 2006: Headlines: COS - Mali: Writing - Mali: Midwifery: Women's Issues: Ann Arbor News: Kris Holloway's first book, "Monique and the Mango Rains'' - an account of her friendship with a Mali midwife - was prompted by a sad event, her friend's early death
Kris Holloway's first book, "Monique and the Mango Rains'' - an account of her friendship with a Mali midwife - was prompted by a sad event, her friend's early death
"As I started writing more, I realized that it needed to be grounded in my Peace Corps experience, that it was the impact of her life on me and what I learned through that that was the story. It wasn't about how and why she died, that was more the impetus for writing the book. At first it was hard to immerse myself back there because it was painful. But I just knew that the story of her life was potentially transformational for other people as well as myself,'' Holloway says.
Kris Holloway's first book, "Monique and the Mango Rains'' - an account of her friendship with a Mali midwife - was prompted by a sad event, her friend's early death
Mali midwife inspires ex-Peace Corps worker's book
Monday, August 28, 2006
BY SONJA BRODIE
News Special Writer
Kris Holloway's first book, "Monique and the Mango Rains'' - an account of her friendship with a Mali midwife - was prompted by a sad event, her friend's early death. "I always thought I'd write a book about Monique because she was so fabulous, but there was not a precipitating event to force me to do it. So it was something I'd always had in the back of my head,'' Holloway says. "Then when she died in child birth, that was what pushed me into writing it. I just knew I had to write something about her.''
Supported by her husband, John Bidwell, who edited and designed the book, the former Ann Arbor resident started working on the project in 1999 after going to Mali to give death greetings to Monique's family.
Angry that Monique had had to die in childbirth, Holloway initially wrote about Monique's death and the events leading up to it, but then she changed focus.
"As I started writing more, I realized that it needed to be grounded in my Peace Corps experience, that it was the impact of her life on me and what I learned through that that was the story. It wasn't about how and why she died, that was more the impetus for writing the book. At first it was hard to immerse myself back there because it was painful. But I just knew that the story of her life was potentially transformational for other people as well as myself,'' Holloway says.
An environmental science major, Holloway went to Mali in 1989 as a forestry and natural resources specialist, with the aim of training teams of young men to plant tree nurseries. But soon it became apparent that she'd be more useful assisting her host, 24-your-old midwife Monique Dembele, in her duties. This included attending village births, weighing babies and giving health talks.
"I certainly went into the Peace Corps with all those great ideals... I want to experience more of the world and make a difference. So I had this idea and it was pretty quickly apparent that I had to listen for a about a year before I could make difference,'' Holloway says.
Fitting into the new culture wasn't always easy and Holloway chronicles some amusing faux pas during her stay as well as giving insights into the daily life in a rural African community.
"I think I became less judgmental of people that seemed different than me at first and more willing to find the common ground that holds us together,'' she says. "I certainly appreciate cold popsicles and not having diarrhea, the luxuries of living a healthy life with medical care and access to nutrition and education for my children that I know not to take for granted,'' she adds.
After her return from Africa Holloway spent six years in Ann Arbor, earning a master's in Public Health from the University of Michigan and giving birth to both of her sons. She now works for a social justice organization in New England.
Monique's personality and her passion for life are at the center of the book.
"She took what was handed to her and tried to make the best of it,'' says Holloway. "She taught me not to hook, line and sinker take everything that any culture was telling me, whether it's the dominant paradigm in the U.S. or some sort of reaction to it. Really, to make my own way and pick and choose.''
However, as much as the book celebrates Monique's life and her friendship with Holloway, it also highlights the serious issues that Mali's women face such as domestic violence, unhappy arranged marriages, forced circumcision and a backbreaking amount of work. In their patriarchal society, women have few rights. Monique, for example, did not have access to her hard-earned salary despite her position in the community.
"In terms of human rights, I think women have a long way to go. But I think that the change starts within,'' Holloway says. "One of the things that people ask me is: What can we do to help? And I want to say: Well, there's so many Moniques in West Africa - just amazingly charismatic, smart women and poverty keeps them disempowered. So if we can help align them with the resources they need, they know what that community's problems are. I'm not hopeless at all when it comes to Africa.''
Holloway still stays in touch with Monique's family and also supports her children's education. Part of the proceeds of her book will go toward funding the "Clinique Monique,'' a rural health clinic started by Monique's cousin Maxim. Readers interested in the progress of this project can follow updates at www.moniquemangorains.com.
"Monique and the Mango Rains'' will be out in September. Kris Holloway will talk about the book at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library on Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Information about author appearances and book-related events appears daily on The News' "Happenings'' page, E7 today. The dates also appear in "Spotlight,'' the weekly entertainment tabloid published on Thursdays. Please send book news to the Connection Desk, The Ann Arbor News, 340 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48106, or e-mail booknews@annarbornews.com.
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Story Source: Ann Arbor News
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Mali; Writing - Mali; Midwifery; Women's Issues
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