IN MY NAME LIES THE ANSWERS BY PEARL MOKGATLANE

In the name that lies the answers short story review

GENRE: SHORT STORY TITLE: IN MY NAME LIES THE ANSWERS WRITER: PEARL MOKGATLANE, BOTSWANA REVIEWER: YOLANDA KUEI P. MACUEI, SOUTH SUDAN

"They say a good name is better than riches." In most African societies, a naming ceremony is a cultural ritual held in honor of and for generational values of true identity; according to distinct origins and ethnicity. That's to say, living up to the standards of our names could lead us to extraordinary directions in life but without proper guidance to embrace a name, can either make you or destroy you.

"They say we belong. They say we have freedom, yet we are continually chastised by the limitations of boundaries."
In my Name Lies the Answers speaks of a girl who from childhood had to deal with identity crisis and low self-esteem in the part of the country where her complexion made her inferior amongst her peers. She then resulted to solitude to avoid the stigma she was subjected to whenever she sought for closure. Little did she know it was a path to her breakthrough to victory.

Uatara, in her quest to sublime into the societal recognised traits of beauty, stood unperturbed by the conundrums she faced. Rising up to the tower of glory, she channeled her energy into pursuance of academic excellence. In most obvious scenarios, people succumb to these influences and cause an alteration in their identity. They end going through stress of surgeries and suppressing their skin to harsh conditions just to be accepted into society's standards.

Life couldn't last being unfair as she gifted her with a man, who valued her for who she was and made her comfortable in her discomfort. Such soothing to her soul outweighed the stigma she was brought up with. She couldn't be more thankful with her job of saving lives and a beloved partner. Indeed she was victorious. She conquered her flaws, societal stigma. Not with armors and spears but with undisturbed academic excellence and unpriced virtues.

With imagery and symbolism as stylistic devices, the persona has vividly portrayed the African setting thus revealing the main themes of Culture, Love and Victory throughout her life journey of Rural-Urban migration, in line of growth."They say if you know where you're coming from, you will know where you're going and you will not get lost in return; who you are, what you are and where you're from is all answered by a name. Thus, "In My Name Lies The Answers."