{"id":3798,"date":"2018-04-05T14:44:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T12:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/?p=3798"},"modified":"2018-05-07T09:46:04","modified_gmt":"2018-05-07T07:46:04","slug":"fallen-in-love-with-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/fallen-in-love-with-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Fallen in love with Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beata Lewandowska-Kaftan \u2013 traveller, lover of Africa, passionate about people and life, author of two books about the Black Continent. When and why did she decide to quit a full-time job and go to the unknown? <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In search of new places and cultures<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2013 Once I was asked what I was afraid of the most \u2013 I answered that of the routine. And what do I enjoy the most? Beginning everything from the beginning \u2013<\/i><\/span><\/span> Beata Lewandowska-Kaftan admits. <\/span><\/span>\u2013 The scenario was usually the same: I had been working in one place for several years and when I felt that the routine was near, I changed something in my life… I searched for something new, unknown.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Beata Lewandowska-Kaftan has an impressive output. She worked for prestigious publishing houses. She went through all possible career steps \u2013 from assistant to the editor, through head of the editorial board, marketing director, publishing director, to vice president. She published encyclopaedias, lexicons, tourist guides, scholarly books, travel books and books for children. In a certain moment she decided to abandon everything and leave. The reason? \u2013 <\/span><\/span>Not to put off the dreams, try something new again, learn about new cultures, meet people, see new lands<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 she says \u2013 <\/span><\/span>To travel is to live many times<\/i><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> Africa \u2013 my greatest love \u2013 gives a sense of freedom, teaches, slows down the pace. When I am there, I try to spend as much time as possible with people, I eat local foods, fruit, it is wonderful to submit to the local rhythm of life and customs.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The hero of our article is a geographer by education, she has graduated from The University of Warsaw. However, she had also considered journalism. Eventually, she managed to combine both fields in her work as a publisher of travel and scholarly publications. <\/span><\/span>\u2013 First it was The Encyclopaedia of World Geography at the publishing house \u201cWiedza Powszechna\u201d. Then I joined the large international company<\/i><\/span><\/span> Bertersmann Media <\/span><\/span>and I got caught up in a whirl of activities: a new book, new project, I enjoyed it, this variability of topics, this pace<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 she recollects her adventure with the publishing world.<\/span><\/span> <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

The next stop was legendary <\/span><\/span>National Geographic<\/i><\/span><\/span>. \u2013 <\/span><\/span>We were building the Polish branch from the scratch, a lot of projects were coming up: publishing, business ones. When we were beginning, our staff consisted of five persons. Two years later \u2013 fifty. A wonderful adventure! A fulfilled dream for a geographer! <\/i><\/span><\/span>\u2013 the traveller says. However, Beata Lewandowska-Kaftan has a nomad\u2019s soul \u2013 she set out on a journey for next challenges. The new job brought new ones \u2013 she became Program Director at PWN. Then at <\/span><\/span>Egmont<\/i><\/span><\/span> Beata co-created the series of books for children <\/span><\/span>Czytam sobie<\/i><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> <\/i>\u2013 <\/span><\/span>Over time my work in high managerial positions was more and more distant from projects, I was mainly a manager. I felt that it begins to tire me rather than enjoy me. However, I was not able to slow down, give less than 100%.<\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Experiencing the Black Continent<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For the first time she travelled to the Black Continent 17 years ago. Beata Lewandowska-Kaftan began to look at life in a different way. She set out on a journey, about which she is saying from the perspective of time: \u2013 <\/span><\/span>I fell in love with Africa from the first sight, I felt as if I returned home. Everything suited me there<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 and she adds \u2013 <\/span><\/span>Later I came back to Africa many times. When I hadn\u2019t been there for several months, I was beginning to miss. And finally I made a decision. I am quitting a full-time job to have more time for Africa and… for life. I gave myself a gift for my 55th birthday and stopped working from 9 to 5.<\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Beata\u2019s husband is also a geographer by education, he deals with environmental impact reports, they met at the university. They often travel together. <\/span><\/span>\u2013 My husband brings peace into our life, gives a direction, I am impatient and he is my rock. Thanks to stabilisation in my private life I allow myself to look for changes in other areas. I\u2019ve been in the happy relationship for more than 30 years<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 she comments.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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When travelling, she was writing long accounts on the everyday life in Africa to her friends. Her friends were encouraging her to write a book. \u2013 I<\/span><\/span> began to feel tempted to try <\/i><\/span><\/span>\u2013 Beata explains \u2013 <\/span><\/span>Finally I did it and in 2016 my first book titled Afryka jest kobiet\u0105 <\/i><\/span><\/span>[<\/span><\/span>Africa is a Woman<\/i><\/span><\/span>]<\/span><\/span> was published.<\/i><\/span><\/span> Her second publication is titled <\/span><\/span>Zanzibar \u2013 wyspa skarb\u00f3w. Opowie\u015bci ze \u015bwiata suahili <\/i><\/span><\/span>[<\/span><\/span>Zanzibar \u2013 Treasure Island. Stories from Suahili World<\/i><\/span><\/span> ] (2017). For her books Beata was awarded among others with Magellan Award, the title Book of the Year 2016 in the category Literary Travels and the title The Best Book for Autumn.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The author of <\/span><\/span>Zanzibar – wyspa skarb\u00f3w<\/i><\/span><\/span> has already visited Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Namibia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and a few other countries. What advice would she give to beginner globetrotters? \u2013 <\/span><\/span>I advise against being everywhere in two weeks because the essence of travelling is meeting people, feeling the atmosphere of a place, and someone who wants to be everywhere spends time mainly on moving <\/i><\/span><\/span>\u2013 she tells with enthusiasm \u2013 <\/span><\/span>I prefer to have accommodation in small pensions rather than in large hotels, eat in local small restaurants, spend time with inhabitants, learn about their life as much as possible. To try to understand what makes them laugh, what they are afraid of. To learn the local language.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n

She thinks that the regions which she visits are peaceful and stresses that during her stays there she was never afraid of people. When asked about the most dangerous situation which she experienced, she tells: \u2013 <\/span><\/span>Once an elephant chased us, it became scared when we passed by too close to it. We were afraid that it would ram our jeep but it only frightened us.<\/i><\/span><\/span> And what about a beautiful scene which she remembers? She tells about the birth of an antelope. \u2013 <\/span><\/span>I am always moved by the beauty and power of the African nature<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 she reveals. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What in her opinion distinguishes a charismatic woman at every latitude? <\/span><\/span>\u2013 You must have courage and determination because without them you won\u2019t take a risk. When doing new things the man shapes, strengthens this charisma in themselv<\/i><\/span><\/span>es \u2013 she explains.<\/span><\/span> \u2013 Then people are more willing to pay attention to such a person, take their opinion into account.<\/i><\/span><\/span> The source of charisma is the sum of experiences. However, we also need to have \u201cthis something\u201d inside ourselves which causes that we bring taste and character to our life. And we don\u2019t resign our dreams.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

African impressions<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Women on the Black Continent have delighted Beata. \u2013 <\/span><\/span>I have always been moved by them the most. They are radiant, light, some vital strength emanate from them<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 she says excitedly. \u2013 <\/span><\/span>They are persons with the incredible will for existence. Women from African savannahs are full of dignity \u2013 they have a sense of harmony, love the place where they live.<\/i><\/span><\/span> Life has taught them solidarity, eventually they are tribal and clannish cultures.<\/i><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

For example the Turkana women… They are nomads inhabiting dry savannahs and deserts. Men are shepherds, they leave villages, set out with their herds in search of water and pastures for eight-nine months a year. Women remain alone, they look after children and elderly people. Polygamy is a common practice among the Turkana. As the author of <\/span><\/span>Afryka jest kobiet\u0105<\/i><\/span><\/span> explains, it is due to tough conditions in which the tribe lives rather than their religion. The wives of one husband work, look for combustible materials, build houses, cook, take care of children together. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Turkana people deal in a special way with a situation when a woman turns out to be infertile. What happens to such a woman? She receives the most wonderful gift that a woman can dream of from other wives of her husband: she obtains children from them and becomes a mother for these children. \u2013 <\/span><\/span>I don\u2019t mean taking care of them, such a woman raises the offspring she was given as her own. She has the right to her daughter\u2019s dowry or her son\u2019s trophies. She is a true mother<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 the traveller explains.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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How does dignity of women of savannahs manifest itself in practice? Beata is telling the following story: \u2013 <\/span><\/span>Not a drop of rain had fallen for two years and people began to suffer from hunger, there wasn\u2019t enough food for animals. During one of our expeditions we reached the region of Lake Turkana, the stone desert<\/i><\/span><\/span> \u2013 she tells. <\/span><\/span>Under a half-withered acacia we saw women roasting on a fire a little nanny goat \u2013 the last one from the heard. I wanted to share water and food with them. However, our guide \u2013 also from the Turkana \u2013 told us that we could not do it just like this. Women would feel offended. He told that we could offer the exchange: food for their jewellery. We did so \u2013 flour, sugar, tea, powdered milk for two bracelets and a necklace. The exchange took place in a silent and serious manner. Before our departure the oldest woman beckoned to me and when I approached her, she gave me one more bracelet \u2013 as a gift. She did it with dignity, showed her generosity. And in this way it was me who was given a gift. I\u2019ve been wearing the bracelet until today \u2013 as the greatest treasure.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The Black Continent is also the nature, picturesque landscapes and sometimes surprising situations. <\/span><\/span>Once I observed zebras and antelopes pasturing together among grasses. Suddenly this large herd calmly moved apart in two directions and two lionesses walked in the middle. We were stunned, no stampede, no escape. The local guide explained \u2013 they remained calm because they felt that lionesses were not hungry. <\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a> Beata Lewandowska-Kaftan has been travelling to the Black Continent for many years and has a lot of friends there. However, people still surprise and move her. When Feruzi, the old fisherman, one of characters in the book <\/span><\/span>Zanzibar \u2013 wyspa skarb\u00f3w<\/i><\/span><\/span>, read a story about himself, which was translated into suahili for him, he uttered the words which will remain in her memory: – <\/span><\/span>You know what? I will never die because even when I am not here, my grandchildren will be able to read about me.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beata Lewandowska-Kaftan \u2013 traveller, lover of Africa, passionate about people and life, author of two books about the Black Continent. When and why did she decide to quit a full-time job and go to the unknown? In search of new places and cultures \u2013 Once I was asked what I was afraid of the most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[655,664,653],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3798"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3798"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3814,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3798\/revisions\/3814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}