cultural-heritage

This chapter, consisting solely of an epigraph, sets a reflective tone by emphasizing the power of memory to preserve and revive the past. It juxtaposes the philosophical idea that memory creates a more perfect world than reality with a historical excerpt celebrating the pleasures and richness of Constantinople, highlighting themes of nostalgia and the enduring impact of cultural memory.

In this chapter, Imris Kwami pilots the civil spacecraft Gulliver on a controlled descent to Earth, specifically over Africa near the Akinya household, where Chiku Green reflects on her complex relationship with the land and her heritage. Despite the initial peaceful approach, the ship is suddenly attacked and shot down by an unknown weapon, forcing the survivors to flee on foot toward the household while grappling with the shock of hostility on Earth. The chapter explores the tension between technological advancement and the enduring presence of ancient human and ecological landscapes, culminating in a violent disruption that challenges assumptions about safety and peace on Earth.

The chapter introduces two central characters, Jacques d’Exiteuil, a French academic and chairman of an international conference, and Thomas C. Squire, an Englishman and guest of honour, as they walk through the Mediterranean city of Ermalpa discussing the state of the world and their differing perspectives. The setting is the First International Congress of Intergraphic Criticism, held in a grand but somewhat faded hotel, where the characters navigate social and intellectual contexts, reflecting on cultural and environmental concerns such as the forecasted cooling period threatening Europe. Their relationship is complex, blending professional rivalry and mutual respect, set against a backdrop of political, scientific, and artistic discourse.

In this chapter, Tendai becomes the chosen spirit medium for the mhondoro, an ancient tribal spirit, during a tense ceremony involving the powerful Big-Head Mask and the Gondwannan Masks. As the ceremony unfolds, the She Elephant disrupts the proceedings, leading to chaos and a battle between the Gondwannans and the local people. Tendai's connection with the mhondoro deepens, highlighting themes of heritage, belonging, and resistance against oppression.