Imraan and Rayda are two prodigals who seem to have slotted in well into the new South Africa, and they paid tribute in their own ways to the openness that the Islam as it’s practiced here offers them.
To typecast, Rayda (Confessions of a Gambler, among others) was the earthy matriarch: non-judgemental non ideological, she laughed freely at the barbs Coovadia loosed (Green-Eyed Thieves) about her gambling. She is also at ease with her own flaws which she claims to work through on the page. The talk centred on Confessions, a book which apparently is somewhat true to life. Those needing more insight into said life will be happy to know she’s at work on her autobiography: The sandwich maker.
Imraan was the angry young man, claiming to have never won anything since he was eighteen (He got runner up last night in the Sunday Times Fiction Prize) and confessing to his dismay at seeing America disfigure itself post-9/11. But this wallowing (in addition to some insightful comments about variety vs diversity) was brought to a bizarre and and entirely unexpected end by a journalist from a Nigerian muslim paper.
He stepped up to the podium to laud South Africa’s muslims in general and then presented Coovadia and Jacobs with Nigerian Merit Muslim Awards (and plaques in the shape of Nigeria!). Sadly, there was no cash involved and understandably, this blogger among others hunted for the spoof camera, but it was real.
You can’t make this stuff up!
Quote of the hour: “I don’t understand why Rayda’s a gambler. She’s no grasp of percentages.”
-Imraan Coovadia
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June 17th, 2007 @20:16 #
What a lovely post! This was great to read. Thank you.
As someone once said: "Gambling is just taxes for those that don't understand maths."