#African Grey depth perception

[tiktokparrot]

Do African grey parrots have good eyesight?

Jump into the vibrant world of African grey parrot vision! Discover their stunning eyesight abilities and colorful perception. Explore their secret world of color, ultraviolet light and more!

[orbemnews]

Seeing Colour: A Matter of Nature, or Tradition? The times have turned grey, the long run feels black. We’re all seeing crimson, we’re all feeling blue. Maybe it’s the remoted colours which might be bringing us down; maybe what we want is a complete spectrum. All of the shades of the planet are introduced collectively in “The Nature of Colour,” a polychrome manufacturing on the American Museum of Pure Historical past that delves into the chemistry, the physics, and the tradition of the seen spectrum. This present opened again in March and closed swiftly thereafter, together with each different museum exhibition on the town. New sanitary restrictions required the reopened set up to take away a number of interactive reveals, cast off touchscreens, and eradicate video games and puzzles. The present affords guests, previous however particularly younger, a broad view of colour as each a scientific and a cultural phenomenon — even when, to my eyes, it now feels a bit skinny for an exhibition with an extra admission cost. However I’m not the audience: the masked-up children in “The Nature of Colour” had been having a blast, preening in entrance of projected lights and staring wide-eyed at their prismatic reflections. Your eyes don’t understand colour, not precisely. They understand mild — particularly, mild with wavelengths of 380 (violet) to 740 (crimson) nanometers. Gentle stimulates the cone cells in your retinas, after which the mind takes over. As Isaac Newton first confirmed in his “Opticks” of 1704, colour shouldn’t be an inherent property of objects (excepting luminescent ones). Colour is, fairly, the impact of an object’s reflection of sure wavelengths of seen mild, and absorption of the remaining. The children’ crack Newtonian classes start within the first groovy gallery of “The Nature of Colour,” which is supplied with two units of oscillating mild bulbs, one white and one yellow. When the yellow ones go on it makes all the things within the room look grey, until you might be sporting a yellow rain slicker or carrying a rubber duck. When the white lights are on all the things appears to be like regular, proving that white is the sum of all colours. Later within the present youngsters can boogie in entrance of beams of coloured mild, and might uncover the secrets and techniques of additive colour mixing in the event that they aren’t too in love with their very own multicolored shadows. We people have a trichromatic view of the world, with cones aligned to crimson, inexperienced and blue. Different species produce other perceptions — each bees and reindeer can see ultraviolet wavelengths — and, evolutionarily talking, colour has allowed us to seek out love or discover meals, or else to keep away from changing into another person’s lunch. The rainbow lorikeet, resident of the Philippines and New Guinea, has riotously parti-colored plumage on its breast (the higher to draw a mate), however tail feathers of strong inexperienced (the higher to mix into the timber). Different species making use of colour for courtship embrace the fan-throated lizard, with a wattle of iridescent blue and orange, and the Siamese combating fish, its tail bristling with blood-orange finnage. As for our personal species’ pigmentation, a photograph show by the Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass photos people of all “races” — the phrase, appropriately for a science museum, seems in quotes within the wall textual content — labeled in keeping with the one true common colour language: the Pantone palette. (I threw a selfie of my very own into Photoshop and grabbed a pixel from my pores and skin. Below even lighting, my “white” pores and skin seems to be Pantone 481c.) Humanity’s favourite colour, polls verify 12 months after 12 months, is blue. It was additionally, for hundreds of years of Western artwork historical past, the costliest colour, produced from uncommon lapis lazuli. (Up to now you’d paint the Virgin Mary sporting expensive blue as an emblem of your devotion, although if you happen to did so right now you would possibly get introduced up on costs of abetting a terrorist group: Lapis lazuli comes mainly from mines in Afghanistan, many managed by the Taliban.) Its rarity endured till the early 18th century, when a German colour grinder by chance contaminated a batch of crimson with some oil and ended up with a wealthy aqua he known as Prussian blue. It was the primary ever low-cost artificial pigment, and it set off a “blue fever” so far as Japan, the place Hokusai and different printmakers used the uncommon imported colour. If blue is essentially the most prized colour, crimson is the oldest. Ocher clay, just like the pattern right here, seems in South African cave work 73,000 years previous. And it appears honest to proclaim that crimson has essentially the most various cultural meanings of any colour: love and in addition anger, fortune and in addition harm. Crimson was thought to keep at bay smallpox in medieval Europe; Charles V, king of France, wore scarlet shirts, hose and veils when he acquired the virus. Crimson signifies the political left, besides in the US — and even right here the Republican Celebration has been recognized with “crimson states” solely because the 2000 presidential election. Too unhealthy for you in case your inventory portfolio is within the crimson — until you reside in China or Japan, the place crimson means the value went up. Is colour a common factor or a selected one? Is it an affair of nature or tradition? In Europe solely the best the Aristocracy might put on purple clothes; in China, they wore yellow. You put on white for a Buddhist funeral and a Christian marriage. Children can discover the cultural meanings of colour in an interactive sport present right here, with the cute title “All About Hue,” hosted by an anthropomorphic blob of paint, which they’ll play reside on a smartphone. And but past these cultural meanings, and past the scope of this present, lies a bigger debate, one nonetheless raging amongst linguists and cognitive scientists. Each human eye, until you might be colorblind, catches the identical 0.0035 % of the electromagnetic spectrum. However does that imply that each human understands these colours in roughly the identical manner? In any case, Homer, in each the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey,” repeatedly calls the Aegean Sea “wine-dark” — although it doesn’t look very purple to sunbathers in Rhodes or Bodrum. Within the language of the Karajá folks of central Brazil, the only phrase “ãrè” can signify what English audio system determine as blue, yellow or inexperienced (and ladies and men use totally different colour names). The Warlpiri folks of northern Australia, it’s argued, haven’t any phrases for colours in any respect, however as a substitute describe chromatic phenomena inside a multidimensional house of texture, iridescence or measurement. My job is to jot down about photos, in English. The cones of my eyes aren’t particularly delicate, in the best way {that a} perfumer’s nostril is likely to be, however through the years I’ve needed to construct up an in depth colour vocabulary: amaranth, gamboge, falu crimson, Tiffany blue. I exploit these phrases as a result of I’m attempting to seize some goal qualities of hue, lightness, saturation — however the colours I see could also be a subjective impression, from which you would possibly fairly diverge. And what in regards to the canine, who can distinguish blue from yellow however not crimson from inexperienced, or the shark with no colour notion in any respect? May the shark artwork critic see issues I’ll by no means understand, unshackled by my rainbow handcuffs? The Nature of Colour By Aug. 8 on the American Museum of Pure Historical past, Central Park West, Manhattan. 212-769-5100; amnh.org. (Timed tickets required.) Supply hyperlink #Color #Culture #Matter #Nature

[samderman]

001

It was another grey afternoon. The sky stood to gain nothing, yet it unleashed torrent upon torrent of rainwater down his nape. Charlie cut his fingers down his collar. Enough was enough. He would not be tormented by another wave of nostalgia. The water soaked through his jeans, the pair he wore on every outing. His only black pair. His only immaculate pair.

In this weather, not even the finest polyester ponchos could protect the once bone dry contents of his jeans pocket from becoming a flat soggy clump. The depth of his pocket gave the memories it held a little silence. It had been barely a year since that day. Two from the date on the first pair of tickets to Madame Tussaud’s, three since their first Marvel movie, and half since the cavernous Ethiopian food hall, in which they had dined with a Congolese general and his very perceptive South African wife.

“Boys, try some of these freshwater oysters,” she had offered, with multiple glints in her eye.

There were a couple of tacky plastic bills he never really fancied, crinkled and impervious to water. Little notes they had fought over, for the right to buy tidbits, drinks, or a cheap lunch, gestures that would not automatically encash as postponed favours.

There were pins he had chosen over a belt. Pins he used to keep his pants taut around his slim waist. A largely irrational choice, but one that did away with the ruffles, the tiny curves and swirls in the hem that bothered him so much, each time he was forced to go out.

Some tissues, god knows what they had soaked up.

His mind wandered back to Africa, where all that mattered had been Shaun, the stars and the gazelle herd that foraged every morning outside base camp. His eyes had been so beautiful then. His lips, soft. Undulating across channels and rivulets, careening the broadways and the narrow tunnels. His teeth clinging on to vines, picking grass, the whole time singing You Are So Beautiful. The world heard their melody and sang along.

And though it had been dry, they had it all, and it was plentiful.

Half a year on, here he was dining in a crappy restaurant, paying for overpriced rice noodles that barely resembled the ones he had at home. Charlie had done this to get away. Yet it seemed that the further he flung himself, the grander the tragedy that played out, mocking him for his epic failure - the only failure he ever gave a damn about.

[thewoodtemple0-blog]

Remember The Last Good Memory You Had At The Beach During Last Summer?

Packing backpacks, driving to the local beach, swimming under the heat and leaving with sun-kissed skin? How about making it more chic and colorful with perfect wood-framed sunglasses?We’re just a wiggle away from summer, so let’s get started by discussing the Essential Formula, on buying the perfect wood framed polarized sunglasses:

 What we’ll cover:

1.    Wood Materials: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

2.    UV Protection: UVA & UVB Light Finally Explained

3.    Frame Shape & Style Guidelines

4.    Lens Colors: Can you taste the Rainbow?

5.    Polarization: Achieve Crystal Clear Vision

6.    Where to buy & price: What’s your budget?

  EBONY Wood, typically used for dark-styled shades, is a type of hardwood with dark accents. Don’t lose your shades though, since Ebony-made sunglasses sink in water!

  BAMBOO Wood, one of the most popular types, typically found in Southeast Asia can be used either natural or dyed. Due to its extreme strength, it was used by most East Asian countries for construction. Talk about sunglasses harder than your home!

 ROSE Wood is a very durable, fragrant type of wood. Usually dark with a tone of red on it, it’s one of the most used types of wood with any kind of accessory. Romantic types may want to have this due to its color!

 ZEBRA Wood ,true to its name, is striped! Usually found in the African region, its distinct style is it's regular or irregular dark stripes and streaks. If the Zebra is your spirit animal, this is definitely a great choice!

  UV Protection: UVA & UVB Light Finally Explained

It’s highly likely that your mom might have shouted “Don’t forget your sunglasses!” whilst packing up for the beach. It’s not just due to mother’s love, and luckily, we have science to explain what

Ultraviolet radiation is to us!

 ●     UVA Rays – These rays have been linked to certain eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. We definitely enjoy the bright light of the sun, but we definitely don’t want to be blind!

●     UVB Rays – Love getting your skin tanned after a long day at the beach? These rays are the culprit.

 Frame Shape & Style Guidelines: Is bigger actually better?

Bigger is actually better, especially in sunglasses. Having talked about the protection provided by our lovely shades, the larger the coverage, the greater the effect. Though we don’t want to look like over-sized bees swarming the beach, and we definitely want to have the frame style that suits our faces. Here’s a little guide to know about the ideal frame style for your unique face.

 What set apart SQUARE FACES are their wide foreheads and cheekbones. Most Celebrities, especially male hunks, are SQUARE-FACED.

It’s best to don Aviator Style or Round sunglasses, or even Cat Eye styled ones if you’re up for it! Talk about looking like Brad Pitt or Rihanna!

When it comes to versatility, OVAL-SHAPED faces are the kings and queens. They can basically wear ANY type of sunglasses.

If your face is shaped like an egg, thank your lucky stars, since you follow the get-up of James Franco or Taylor Swift!

HEART-SHAPED or TRIANGLE-SHAPED faces are accented with a sharp jaw line and wide forehead. If you have this kind of face, you’re in luck.

Not everyone can don Cat-eye or Retro Square Frames with style as much as you do! Just take a look at our friendly neighborhood Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds and Fashion Queen Tyra Banks!

ROUND-FACED celebrities such as Elijah Wood and Mila Kunis are fans of Retro Square sunglasses for a reason, they don’t have harsh angles. To add differing shapes for balance, Rectangle or Brow-line shapes are also ideal. Avoid curves; we don’t want to look eggier than you already are!

 Lens Colors: Can you taste the Rainbow?

 Most of the time, we mainly buy our sunglasses to inject fun colors into our otherwise, boring real world. Ever wondered how they really work? Believe it or not, there’s a science behind it. Let’s talk about how the colors of our lenses affect our visual perception.

  GREEN LENSES are generally believed to reduce eye-stress since Green is so easy on the eyes. This means you can use this basically anywhere.  This is true since it doesn’t distort colors, all while dimming glare and improving low-light conditions. Green is good, as they mostly say.

BROWN or AMBER LENSES are great for outdoor activities like driving, tennis and even golf! It’s due to it enhancing contrast and depth perception.  It’s best for indoors as well, especially with introverts who like spending their time in front of a computer or TV, since these block Blue Light, which causes eye strain. Binge on every activity without the hassle, in style!

 YELLOW LENSES make your perception like that of a super-hero. Why? It increases visual clarity in foggy and/or dark places. It even filters blue light like a boss, leaving no room for fatigue in long gaming or TV watching sessions.  It even makes you look like a happy person. Make sure you hold that necessary sunflower while you’re at it.

 BLUE or PURPLE LENSES are very popular for looking so good, inside and out. It enhances color perception, making it possible to see the world more vividly as it should be.  It’s also helpful in reducing glare, so it’s best when you’re out fishing. The sharks will definitely love your taste, no pun intended.

 GREY or BLACK LENSES, cool as they may seem to be, also have different great effects on perception. Out of all sunglasses tints, they’re the best in providing true color perception.   This is the most ideal one if you just want to appreciate real-world colors. Spies and Secret Agents, as serious as they may look, actually see the world more beautiful than others. Wow.

 Finally, PINK or RED LENSES offer the greatest amount of contrast out of all lens colors. This makes it a great companion for driving, due to increased road visibility and visual depth, all while reducing eye strain.  Planning a long driving trip to the beach? Keep yourself safe and hassle-free with these!

 There are more than just these tints for your choice of wood sunglasses, though they are all in the same hue as these ones we’ve included. Check out your local color wheel to find out what’s nearest from it!

  Polarization: Do you really need Crystal Clarity?

 Everyone knows the annoying feeling of light glaring at us during an activity, like fishing or even just jogging in the morning after a light, night rain. This is where Polarized Sunglasses work best. Basically, these sunglasses’ lenses are chemically coated to reduce glare significantly. Basically, you will see more of what’s out there without the ever-excited sun spoiling the fun.

Polarized Sunglasses usually cost more than non-polarized ones, though the benefits are crystal-clear. Though, it’s up to you if you’re willing to spend the extra buck for extra protection against glare. If you hate glare as much as we do but just wants to reduce light coming to your eyes, it’s still a great choice to choose non-polarized ones.

 Where to buy & price: What’s your budget?

 Almost ready to buy your very own, perfect pair of wood sunglasses, but don’t know where to start? We’ve listed some of the best stores while keeping your budget in mind. LOCAL DEPARTMENT STORES which sell Wood Sunglasses can be found in your area or city. It’s pretty easy to find your perfect pair on these since you can try them on before buying.  Your local favorite shops like TARGET, WALMART, and AMAZON all have their own sources, especially Low to Mid priced Wood Sunglasses.

 LOCAL or ONLINE NICHE STORES are pretty much the best spots to look for your ideal wood sunglasses. These stores specialize in selling Wood Sunglasses since it’s their flagship product. You can basically buy your whole family their own shades. Check out WOODIES, WOODZEE and SHADETREE SUNGLASSES.

 REFERENCES:

 To read more about Wooden Sunglasses and how to make sure you’re picking the ideal one for you:

http://www.songofstyle.com/2018/01/the-90s-are-back-micro-sunglasses-shopping-guide.html

 https://bonocle.com/2012/02/24/my-first-woody-sunglass-capital/

 https://www.yesstyle.com/blog/2018-04-12/sunglasses-trends-that-should-be-on-your-radar-trendspotting/

 https://wickedwoodcollection.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/welcome-to-wicked-wood/

[danielviza]

The “Have” and “Have-not’s”

"So who here has been arrested? Please raise your hand."

Not one student raises there hand; feeling vexed, I chortle inside.

"Has anybody served in the military?"

A brawny and bearded, "soon-to-go-grey" individual by the name of Austin proudly raises his hand and interjects.

"I've dated women that have aggressively turned me down and have called me a 'baby killer' in disgust. I thought I was doing my country a service by putting my life on the line, but not everybody see’s it like that“

The well poised, undeniable stylish, African American gentleman, son of a registered nurse, builds upon the discourse.

"I'm sorry but the violence that happens out here in the streets is condoned, but the killings over seas are claimed to be heroic? Not my cup of tea.”

In response, I relate to Austin’s comment:

"I too have encountered difficulties in courting people within social circlres. This is all thanks to the ignorant and persecutory rhetoric of 'Our President'. Upon dating an "undocumented" person, whatever the hell that means, I had the chance of seeing life through another lens - one I was completely oblivious of.”

My blood starts to boil; the invisible hairs on my indigenous arms are consumed in static. My mind is flaring, the chills are running down my spine as I recall the last 3 years of my life getting to know a person I so dearly cared for as my own. These in depth conversations of society have been whispered in my ear before. My memory flares up as I recount arguments and rhetoric previously experienced. The entire class is at attention, they can feel the quiver in my tones. I often remember this former friend of mine passionately expressing her love for teaching and how minds can be shaped in the classroom. 

That’s when I sensed a moonlight piercing through my soul. 

Citlali, the grounded and sensible classmate next to me looks into me with eyes of admiration. I recognize her prudence, her spirit has been with me before - I know.

“To answer our group presentation’s question: Yes, “We” in America, are free as a society, if you are to correlate freedom with safety. But the reality is, Mexico is truley free, and I can proudly say that through my immigrated Peruvian eyes. The freedom in America comes in our safety. The fact that we can come together as several different cultures from different parts of the world and safely work towards our goals supported by capitalism and individualistic ideology is what makes America beautiful, but we’ve designed a system for the underprivileged to fail and stay failing.  To better reframe the question,  'Am I free in America?' No, the odds are against me personally. The mass media has harassed and have put all Mexican’s in danger and indirectly affected me due to cultural and racial ignorance. I am safe here and destined to make the choices that will ultimately create my fate, but no, I am not free, not in this social concious”

These talks of society, deconstructing the social construct, the intimate passion of all these different experiences’ bring a burning look into my peers eyes. I've only experienced such in-depth cultural talks with one other person in my life, now, I am blessed to share my acquired knowledge with a group of 30.

The timid Asian girls quietly addresses the fear in communist China of killing the educated and denotes how in America education is blessing to her.

The emboldened Armenian gentleman proudly orates his views of free speech and how America give him the opportunity to start a business with his family, without the criminality and misconduct of his native land.

Citlali introduces herself to the class as “Lali” and makes an analogy of taking a long hike how cultural perception and biophysical forces differ amongst people

“To a normal person, this hike may seem long, but, to a person from Peru, comfortable and familiar to the Andes Mountains, it might not me much of a struggle.”

We smile at each other. Her cultural reference warms my heart, but I quickly divert eye contact. I have problems looking into peoples eyes now a days, call it the betrayal of my trust. As of late, I can only identify with the broken and lack the courage to delve into the innocence of another’s reality.

All I can do is silently express my angst towards the natural enemy.

Im familiar with the people I gravitate to. They are not your definition of pleasing or law abiding - because normal people bore me, I need a challenge. Who will help guide and influence my thoughts during my evolving adult hood? What values will I uphold? Who are the people I will protect and refuse to give up on. If my time is limited on this earth, every second must be vigorously and passionately fulfilled. Ideas and values I hold true must be held.

Upon returning to her seat I remark to Citlali. 

“Your name is far too beautiful to be watered down. The phonetics of your identity are very unique“

These are the only words of wisdom I can personally share with her, all my communications and friendships have critically developed under an impersonal level. The thought of "what's in it for me” has left my mind since the moment I walked into General Hospital. Originally, the job felt like a death sentence. Following the footsteps of your entire family, working for the government earning a pseudo sense of stability, status, authority, and honor. I was born into that; I understand but I want more out of my life. My role was handed on a silver platter, but dammit I want more.

As the years inside the the chaotic Emergency Room of the Western Front pass, I find my only pleasure to derive from empowering the powerless - To give legs to the person who has lost them. (Metaphorically and literally)

To give back to my community, I have recruited a young apprentice from El Monte, CA by the name of David. Being 11 years younger in adolescence, I cordially engage in a warm conversation and the retelling of my experience as he exchanges his dreams of succeeding in the entertainment world.

The night ends with a vigorous conversation with Rick, owner of the high end Wine Bistro in beautiful Old Town Pasadena. We talk heart to heart, of the cruel realities of the world and how recently graduated kids from college come to a sick and drastic disillusionment.

“I feel really bad for those 23 year old graduates, they think they know it all and then they grow into a very rude awakening”

“True Rick, but I’m always going to fight for their ideals. There lies the beauty in life.”

I will never give up on dreams, especially, on the dreams of the people I love.

[afrikult-blog]

Meet our Media Partner: bookshy

If you love keeping up to date with the African literary scene like we do, you’d want to hear from the founder, Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed, of bookshy. Check out our interview with bookshy, one of our media partners for Words that Travel: Rhythms of Literature.

1. Tell us the history behind bookshy.

bookshy started as a random thought February 2011 - an online space that housed books written by writers from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. But I found the idea a bit overwhelming, so I put that thought aside.

10 months later - December 2011 - I was in Lagos, a few months into my PhD fieldwork. In my spare time I was reading new (and not-so-new) works by Nigerian writers. Remembering my earlier random thought, I decided to pare it down to one continent and write about the books by Nigerian, and other African, writers I was discovering.

2. What is the inspiration behind the logo design and the name of bookshy?

I find that bookshy represents me in so many ways. On one hand, it's the young me that was so shy I lost myself in books. On the other hand, it's the part of me whose bookshelf is always one book shy of being full. Overall, it really is about my love for books, African books, and reading and book culture.

The current logo - which I’ve had since June 2016 – was designed by a young, London design consultancy – West Port Five. I had the same logo and design for over 4 years and felt that my blog needed a new look (both in terms of design and the logo) to represent not only the blogs growth, but in a way mine.

My initial logo had bookshy looking out from behind books. That really was who I was 5 years ago when I started this blog - extremely confused and extremely nervous about the world of blogging.

The new logo – sees bookshy no longer peeking over the books. This was also meant to show my evolution – as I have over the years become more visible as the editor/curator of bookshy. This increasing visibility is something, if I am honest, I am struggling to come to terms with.

Even with a new design, I still wanted elements of the original logo - the glasses (because my glasses are a part of who I am and represent my geeky and inquisitive nature when it comes to African literature), the playfulness (because while I may come off as a bit too serious, when I'm in a comfortable and safe place, I can get a little silly), and of course the colours - I wanted it simple (black and greys). We, of course, went through different versions, but in the end (and through a unanimous decision with my family and few of my closest friends), we decided on the current logo.

3. What would you say has been the most exciting book to come out of the African literary scene in 2016? Are there any titles you are on the lookout for in 2017?

Irenosen Okojie's debut short story collection, 'Speak Gigantular', which is without a doubt a hidden gem in 2016. It's a ridiculously good collection – like really, really, really good. It's also disturbing, but I say that in the best possible way. In it you find tales about a young boy born with a tail and his mothers undying love, ghosts haunting the London underground, a woman with a deadly foot fetish, and an alien abduction in Brixton … to name some of the stories. It’s strange. It’s bizarre. It’s fantastic. And I loved it.

For 2017, I would say Ayobami Adebayo's 'Stay With Me' – I was hooked from the first line: ‘I must leave this city today and come to you’. A tale centred on a couple, Yejide and Akin, who want/are expected to have a child and the depths taken to ensure that happens.

Also ‘Kintu’ by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi and Nikhil Singh's 'Taty Went West'. Both will be published for the first time outside of the East Africa in 2017. ‘Kintu’ will be published by Transit Books in the US and ‘Taty Went West’ (if I’m not mistaken) by Jacaranda in the UK. ‘Kintu’ is a historical novel set in Uganda following a family and a curse that plagues them over many generations, while ‘Taty Went West’ follows a teenage girl who runs away from her home in the suburbs to a terrifying new world occupied by malicious imps, robotic sex slave nuns and other weird and not-so-wonderful creatures.

4. Tell us about African Book Covers, what drove you to curate a visual showcase of African cover designs?

African Book Covers (ABC) is my space to openly judge book covers. For the longest time I hid the fact that I judged books by their covers, because I thought it wasn't something you could admit as a serious book lover. But many books I had discovered and fell in love with were simply because of how they looked on the outside.

I follow a lot of design blogs, including ones about book cover designs. And as much as I loved them, African books never really featured on them. So a few months into blogging, I began paying even more attention to the design of African book covers and thought it would be fun to have the covers of African books I was discovering in one space.

I will be honest and say that my tumblr has not been updated for a while, but watch this space as I have plans for a new ABC look in 2017.

5. As a researcher, have any books you've read and reviewed gone hand-in-hand with your research interests? If so, tell us which ones!

Oh definitely! For my PhD, I ended up drawing on a lot of fiction - I even dedicated a section in my methodology chapter to fiction-based research. My research looked at the experiences of domestic workers in Lagos and I found novels to be extremely helpful in grasping the experiences of workers in Nigerian households, as well as the views and perceptions that Nigerian employers (and Nigerian society) may have of them.

A few of the novels I drew on included Chinua Achebe’s (1966) A Man of the People, which portrayed African men in the kitchens of the missionaries or other colonists as cooks and stewards, as well as Buchi Emecheta’s (1994) The Joys of Motherhood, where the father of the female protagonist, Nnu Ego, sends her to Lagos to marry a man, Nnaife, who earns a living as a washerman for an English family. These novels helped me further support one of my claims that men worked as domestic workers in colonial Nigeria, while also enabling me to gain perspectives on what being a domestic worker in colonial Nigeria might have been like.

Another useful classic text was Flora Nwapa’s (1966) Efuru, a novel about an independent, but ‘cursed’ woman living in a village in colonial Nigeria. There is a point in the story where Efuru asks her mother-in-law to help her get a maid to help her look after her baby. Her mother-in-law found her a ten-year-old girl, who was the daughter of her mother-in law's cousin. Here, child fostering in colonial Nigeria is introduced, as well as the different perspectives employing households may have on domestic workers and how to treat workers.

I also read about domestic workers in contemporary Nigerian fiction, such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche’s (2006) Half of A Yellow Sun and Chika Unigwe’s (2012) The Night Dancer. In The Night Dancer, for instance, Ezi's husband has an affair with their young maid, Rapu. Here, the fears around female worker’s sexual availability are revealed – a theme I explored in great detail in one of my chapters.

I should say that I am such a huge proponent of fiction in research. So much so that I remember a few years ago for an interview for a Teaching Fellow position I presented a course outline and reading list for a module on cities through fiction. I didn’t get the job, but if I ever do go back into academia, I would certainly run a class on gender and cities based on fiction.

Want to discover more about bookshy? Check the blog out here.

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