from a passage to africa George Alagiah

text type

text type

non fiction text

themes and emotions

• suffering

• humanity

• ethics and guilt of journalism

• empathy

• morality

• realities of war

• the observer vs the observed

beginning

This personal and reflective piece of writing begins by establishing the impact of the war in Somalia on ordinary people. It then focuses on a hamlet just outside of Gufgaduud, a remote village which had not yet been reached by any aid agencies. Aligiah describes moving from hut to hut, looking for stories more shocking than what he had already witnessed in order to “move people in the comfort of their sitting rooms”. He describes the quiet and lonely death of a ten-year-old girl while her mother was out searching forfood, and an old woman who had been leftto die slowly of decay as her relations could not support her to continue. Aligiah’s writing then focuses on a specific encounter with a man who smiled at him before entering another hut.

middle

Aligiah reflects that normally, in these situations, journalists observe and their subjects are merely observed, butthat by smiling an embarrassed, apologetic smile,the man had affected Aligiah in a way that all ofthe horrific sights he had seen could not. shocks the reader by showing his desensitization to what he sees.

he also talks about the goulish manner of journalists

end

creates a determined tone surrounding the story of somalia

after he understands the peopls struggles and observes the,m he beleives he owes him one

key quotes language

• The extract is powerful with its strong use of emotive language. The journalist uses vivid language to demonstrate the suffering and hardships experienced by the Somalian people. The journalist uses a variety of literary techniques which highlight the inequalities in society.

• He highlights the fact that the village he visits is “like a ghost-like village”, isolated from the rest of the world. The metaphor interprets the emptiness of not only the village but the people’s hearts. The simile evokes sympathy. The fact that it is described as a ‘ghost-like village’ suggests that it is soulless and depressing.

• He associates journalism with savagery. He says “the ghoulish manner of journalists on the hunt for the most striking pictures.” The word “ghoulish” suggests that they feed off the dead- in this case, journalists feed off of new and interesting stories. The word “hunt” suggests the predatory nature of journalists. Although Alagiah is a journalist himself, he criticises journalism for dehumanising in the search for the perfect picture or article. The simile used “like a craving for a drug” exposes journalists as drug addict that won’t stop until he gets their drug, even if it means doing anything for it. It emphasises the unhealthy issue of a journalist and how they get more addicted. It also shows how they are reckless and don’t care about anything until they get something that’ll stun their editors.

• The use of triads in the article pulls the heartstrings when he says “that simple, frictionless, motionless deliverance.”(assonance) This helps us to sympathise with Habiba Abdirahman’s death as being slow and quiet, suffering on her own due to malnutrition. The triad makes it seem like she was on the verge of dying anyway before she passed and how after many weeks of holding on, her body had shut down.

• “The degeneration of the human body, sucked of its natural vitality by the twin evils of hunger and disease, is a disgusting thing.” The word “degeneration” shows the almost irreversible effect that a wartorn country can have on its people. The use of oxymoron is powerful. He describes the woman as someone who has not only lost something physically but mentally too.

• The old and dying man who keeps his hoe next to the mat with which, one day soon, they will shroud his corpse, as if he means to go out and till the soil once all this is over.”- There is no more hope for the victims of the conflict(pathetic, hopeless situation). The writing style here is sarcastic and candid and has a shocking and dramatic effect on the reader.

• “So, my nameless friend, if you are still alive, I owe you one.”- this brings this man to life. The direct address suggests that the man had broken through his facade as a reporter and touched his heart.

 

key quote sof structure

• It is written from a first-person perspective.

• The first couple of paragraphs is written in a note-form style while the next few are written in a descriptive fashion with lots of details and imagery and are very emotional.

• The turning point of the extract occurs in the second-to-last paragraph of the extract by resolving to write this story.

• Alagiah uses simple sentences to state facts. This makes the tone oddly calm, lacking drama and sometimes even feelings. It makes the account feel frank. “No rage. No whimpering.”

• Thoughts on the role of a journalist are powerfully portrayed in two sentences that echo one another and are themselves constructed as polarised halves: “The journalist observes, the subject is observed. The journalist is active, the subject is passive.” It is also the underpinning event of the article. The smile had a very clear influence on Alagiah. He highlights the way in which the smile has surpassed the ‘guidelines’ and his own views by using declarative statements to introduce the general concepts of journalism.

• “And then there was the face I will never forget” - The sentence is isolated to give a more powerful effect and emphasise the importance of the person in the author’s life. It intrigues the reader.

• The use of long sentences, consisting of lists, further emphasizes the isolation of these people - leading to pathos.

• It feels like an informal piece as it uses hyphens heavily.