The lockdown collection

It was American lifestyle superstar Martha Stewart, who many years ago had said that if you had to stay home on your own, it’s much more pleasant than if you were made to stay home not of your own volition, you would not cope. Martha Stewart was on house arrest for tax evasion and had a metal shackle detector to monitor her. From being a multi-billionaire socialite to someone imprisoned in her own house was very hard for her to take. Now Abuja, Lagos and Abeokuta are on lockdown and many persons not used to staying home and even those who often stay home are laying eggs. The human being is an interactive animal and it is even more so among Africans. We are hugging, touching and communal people. This virus does not understand that. It’s better safe than sorry. In my home, there have been games, a fashion competition, a look like a star competition, a cooking challenge and lots of prayer sessions. I have started following up on a book I started a year ago and I dedicate thirty minutes of my time daily to it. That is when the fridge is not calling my name or I am simply going to Afghanistan, running away from things I should do, like right now or when my bed is not winking at me. It’s a tough time for the whole world and we all should ask for mercy from the one supreme being. These are dire times and your bit is to comply with whatever your government has asked you to do.

To help you manage through this, I have pulled out some very special books. You can be reading two books at a time depending on your mood. When I am a little low, I pick up an upbeat book and when my mind is clearer, I read a book that has a lot of lessons and multiple strategies. When I am not in a reading mood, I pick up a cartoon, or I read about a comedian.

Time to dust up your books and find a quiet corner somewhere on your roof(lol) and read a book at least for 30 minutes a day.

1. South African comedian, Trevor Noah is a man after my heart. Funny, brilliant, cerebral and self-deprecating, I love his stand-ups and The daily show, which he kills every time he comes on. The pride of a South African black mother and a white father, brought up by his maternal grandmother and now earning fat figures in America. Add that to the fact that he is drop dead gorgeous. Trevor did not just happen. He has worked hard over the years, studied hard, honed his craft and became the man. Against all odds and with many other American comedians auditioning for The daily show, Trevor landing that role says a lot about hard work and knowing your onions. Not so recently, he wrote a book, “Born a Crime”, about his journey and it is a book to read at a time like this. Trevor Noah’s rise from the backstreets of South Africa in the face of extreme racism to fame and limelight is a story we should all identify with. An incredibly inspiring story.

2. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran is the most go-to book I have. In happy and challenging times. I can quote from this Lebanese American forever. Written in 1923, this book speaks to you in ways that no other book can. It speaks to Joy and happiness. It speaks to love and relationships. It speaks to travel and faith. This is the book to be beside you in this lockdown. It will open your mind. It has been by my bedside for a long time. This is the bible of all philosophical books. Deep, trenchant and amazing.

3. Maya Angelou, Essayist, non-fiction czar and poet laureate is an author to read at this time. I loved her works so much, I picked up every single book she ever wrote. From her autobiographical quartet about racism in the deep south when she was a child, starting with the award winning “I know why the caged bird sings” to her book on her relationship with her mum and grandmother, I have read them all. Highly recommended for such a time as this is “Hallelujah the welcome table” which is a narrative cookbook. This is the time to learn to cook if you do not already know how. This is the time to cook for everyone if you are already the leading chef in your house and if you are an aspiring chef, cook a meal for everyone. Grab a cookbook that has been lying around and put it to good use now. Nothing like a good meal in the middle of a lockdown. It brings community, bonding and family ties. Time to try that Prawn escalope. Yeah!

4. For such a time as this is a book about the biblical Ruth who although in the king’s harem became a Queen. Then uses her position to speak for her people and rescue them from the enemy… Esther 4.14. “And who knows if you are come to your royal position for such a time as this?” She was focused and not frivolous and had a mission which she executed to the latter. What sacrifice are you making to rescue your people at this time?

5. Any biography or autobiography is a good read at this time. How did men and women conquer their fears? What about those whose lives were a mess and they picked up the pieces and made something of themselves. What about those who had fallen down and stood up again to become somebody. My two favourite stories are one Simon Cowell, entertainer in chief who was living with his mum and fully broke after his record label failed and from there he has America’s got talent and many other successful reality shows all over the world. And secondly, the owner and franchise chief of Kentucky fried chicken, who went on to start a business at over sixty. There is no age limit for when it is your time. With hard work and focus, your time will come. A great lesson for such a time as this. Time to introspect and read how others did it.

BONUS BOOKS:

a) Read about Pandemics. Coronavirus and all the other ones in history including the Spanish flu. My earnest advice, binge-read it. Don’t dwell on it. We are already saturated by the news across different media platforms and we can only take small doses in a book just for additional information for knowledge. It is always good to know what you are up against beyond the repeated news stories and statistics that can drive you insane.

b) It is time to hold faith now. No one should tell you before you look to all your faith books. Prayer avails much at this time and all those inspirational and religious books you bought and could not find time to read. Read the Bible. Read the Qur’an and other faith books and spend more time on understanding them. Don’t speed read as you are used to doing. Get deeper meanings.
Stay safe!