Chapter 1-3.

Summarize each chapter in less than 5 sentences. 

Chapter 1

In this chapter, William talked about his father Grandpa’s story. Also, he talked about his thinking of magic, which is the thing that he afraid a lot. Not only that, he introduce two of his great friends:  Geoffrey and Gilbert, and how/where they often played. William also talked about some tradition, daily life in Malawi.

Chapter2:

In this chapter, William talked about Malawi’s life situation and the authority that controls the city. He also spoke about many stories of his father and his mother: his father is a powerful man who can fight 12men with his strength, and he does his trading business. But he likes to drink and fight with people. After he was married, he became a better husband when he heard the voice of a god and worked with his brother on a tobacco farm. For me, the funniest part is that William is trying to get strength from Mangolomera and being cheated by Shabani.

Is there a part of the chapter you feel relate to? Which part is it and why?

I feel very related that William says he is afraid of magic, witchcraft, and so on because when I was about ten years old, I do afraid of the witch and bad wizard too! Sometimes I was petrified that some wizard has taken my mom away and became like her, and when the night comes, it will come into my room and take me away. Not only that, there was a period that I was scared that a bad wizard killer is hiding under my bed, so I will check under my bed to make sure there is no wizard killer. hahaha haha

What can you infer about Malawi from its name, “The Warm Heart of Africa”? 

I think this means that Malawi is geographical in the middle of Africa and also a hot place. Also, this may mean that the people there are kind and have a warm heart. But through the content of everyone is fighting against each other, I think that is not so true. But maybe if I continue reading, I’ll see.

What events does William use to explain his view of the relationship between facts and reason, and mystery or magic?

How does William’s identity been shaped by the folk stories, mysteries, and b reliefes in Africa.

William uses many events to share his thoughts about magic and those things, such as beg his father to put bills in his bed and why he is afraid of witches. I think me and William had some similarity when we were both very young; being afraid of magic and mysterious things, but we were attracted by it as children. For example, William did try to win the power of Mangolomera and being so afraid to be taken to the graveyard by the Gule Wamkulu dancers.

How does William’s identity been shaped by the folk stories, mysteries, and believes in Africa?

Almost everyone has believed in magic once, and most were at a young time. William is a boy in Africa who was surrounded by several kinds of beliefs such as witches, magic, and gods, but he hasn’t chosen to believe in any of them as a young boy.

First of all, the environment William lived in has a strong belief in witch. For example, after watching the Terminator, his friend thought that it is the strongest witch that ever lived. On the other hand, William’s father has a strong faith in God, shaped by his experience in a terrible accident. Fort William, I think he is blowing hot and cold between those two beliefs. According to that, I think William’s world will be more capacious than the others because he has been changing the perspective of seeing things from one to another.

In conclusion, William has experienced many kinds of beliefs but still thinking about which one to believe in. At last, I think the transition between the believes will make his mind wider.