Ann Linda Namuddu: On her poetic metaphors of love

Ann Linda Namuddu’s Liteside

Any three things that we don’t know about you?

I am artistic; which is a strong trait within me. Empathy and being independent minded also define me.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Happiness is momentary; good relationships with people is where I draw a lot of happiness, contentment and satisfaction.

What is your greatest fear?

Violence of any form.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I am more of a thinker than a doer. I am full of ideas but executing them is a challenge.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Existing around people who lack empathy is hard. Such people are not aware of the effects of their actions on other people and how far reaching they may be.

Which living person do you most admire?

Mellissa Kiguwa is a woman I met at the Lantern Meet of Poets. She is the most intelligent woman I have met, very brave and confident. As I was getting into my young childhood, I lacked women idols but I found her to be one. I admire her tenacity and how well balanced she is.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I just love good designer perfume and it’s pricey. I can defend it as a necessary evil.

What is the greatest thing you have ever done?

I have been able to liberate my mind and acquire the knowledge I have at this point in time and to use it to liberate others in minute and subtle ways. There was a time I was very timid and afraid of everything but that has since stopped with the knowledge that I accumulated through the process of internal reflection. It has formed my character that is taking me along.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Being humble; I don’t understand what the word humble means. There’s humility of not being abusive or taking advantage of people but sometimes what is described as being humble is being introverted. Humble is an overrated virtue.

What does being powerful mean to you?

Having scarce resources; which can be knowledge or material. It makes one powerful by being at the top of the hierarchy because they have the resources centered on them.

On what occasion do you lie?

I find myself telling lies to save my life as the best way to get out of it.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I have made peace with physical aspects of myself.

Which living person do you most despise?

Violent, self-centered and misogynistic people in both men and women.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Intelligence and kindness.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Intelligence and kindness.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Well.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

I love my mother and a couple of other people.

When and where were you happiest?

Towards the end of last year, I got something that I kept praying for seven years. I am still riding on that wave of happiness. I have also been happy a couple of other times.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I wish I was sporty because it sustains life. I wish I also had the knack for numbers. I wish my piano playing improved from where it is.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Our quirks and differences are what make a beautiful world. The world would not be beautiful if we were all made the same.

Where would you most like to live?

I have travelled through my reading and realised that there is no place like Uganda. Elsewhere the world is so mechanised and this has brought a discrepancy in human relations but we still have it here. I would only fix a few problems like transport and crime.

What is your most treasured possession?

My book collection from my first book of letters and vowels; every time I go to bed my worst fear is theft of my books. It has sentimental value to me and would be broken if I lost them.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Loss of valuable life is really a sad moment. You don’t even know how to comfort people in such times.

What do you most value in your friends?

Empathy is the biggest thing for me because it sustains relationships.

Who are your favorite writers?

I enjoy the works of Haruki Murakami a Japanese writer. Lately I discovered Khalid Hussein. I would also read anything by Audrey Lord who writes about race, gender and class; her essays are timeliness having been written in the 1960s. Their writings speak to me

Who is your hero of fiction?

I am torn between Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. Both are good observers of human character and know how to hold a mirror up for us to see our comical ordinariness.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Harriet Tubman in the U.S. who used to help slaves escape. I admire the fearlessness in a woman risking herself for others for freedom. It’s not an easy place to break the law and risk their neck not only for themselves but for others in pursuit for something that they are not even sure that they will get is admirable.

What is your greatest regret?

I regret all the times I have not done something because I was afraid to fail.

How would you like to die?

My idea about death keeps changing. Initially dying at 50 was okay for me but life is so good to me lately so 70 wouldn’t be bad for me. I don’t want to die through violent or cruel means.

What is your motto?

Act as if it’s possible to change the world.

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