A Digital Postcard from Maiduguri
Dear Fellow,
I am curious. Did you look up the word postcard as soon as you read it in the title? Perhaps you knew what it meant before this despatch. Well, I had to do a quick research before writing this to you. As I write this sentence, ten tabs are open on my browser. Eight of them are articles on postcards. There are, I daresay, uncountable articles on this item littered on the internet. I will share my findings in later paragraphs.
Today’s despatch was inspired by a WhatsApp message from my creator-friend, Jola. She serves the country under the one-year National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme in Borno State. Attached to the image below in the message was this note:
This is not your tree. Trust me, yours is far more fruitful but I just wanted to share with you cuz I love it.
Well, there’s a background to that text. Among other things and interests, Jola is a multi-genre artist. She practices various art forms, including writing, painting, mobile phone photography, etc. I have seen little of her collection on Facebook, where I first met her last year. My attraction was the review post she made of a collaborative project for coursework in school—a newspaper production. I have also seen a few magazine projects for which she has served as editor-in-chief.
Jola’s photographs always stand out. They carry a unique identity in my eyes every time. Some of them have inspired ideas, which I shared with her. She’d always say she never thought about the ideas, and that is a wonder. I mean, it fosters the idea that it takes more than an individual to produce beautiful works.
I feel like I am rambling here already. But pardon me. I think the point is, that Jola’s WhatsApp message to me last week Saturday at 08.09 p.m. is the main subject of this despatch. The column for today’s despatch on my calendar is blank. By midweek, I was inspired to write something about this picture from Jola on my Facebook page. But there was a delay—I needed to get the name of the tree, which she didn’t know herself. And I wanted to be sure of the suggestions I got from my friends who are botanists before writing. (The best suggestion I got for its name is Pyrus pyraster, the scientific name for the European wild pear. I look forward to a confirmation or rejection of the name in the comments section.)
Before yesterday’s dawn, the title for this despatch came to mind—originally, “A Postcard from Maiduguri.” The modifier digital had to come into the title because the item from Jola is not a print material. But a quick search will show you that there’s so much more to a postcard—it bears the sender and receiver’s address, a brief note, an individuality to it, etc. But I find it hard to not call this piece from Jola a postcard, though a digital one. Maybe you help me determine that after your research.
Maybe this post is a response to one of my subscribers who asked me how I get inspired to write. Perhaps this answers the question. I hope it does.
If anything, this is an appreciation post for Jola. For being an inspiration and an excellent craftsman. For appreciating her uniqueness and daring to explore her talents and gifts. For making unique contributions in unique ways.
Finally, I confess. I have never received or sent a postcard. I assume this picture from Maiduguri is my first—until you find out you cannot disagree it is one, that is. I may not send a postcard anytime soon, although I still think of the post office as a place of wonder.
Above all, I hope this despatch inspires you somehow. Thank you for your time, good Fellow.
Your LetterMan,
Tongjal, W. N.
I have neither received a postcard before. This is inspiring. Let's say, somehow, you have achieved one of your aims. I may send what I can to someone too, not postcard per se - just the way LetterMan sends letters too.
Cheerio!