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O'Mandingo!: The Only Black at a Dinner Party
Based on the controversial but popular e-zine, this collection of opinion pieces and essays analyzes current topics facing postapartheid South Africa; including black economic empowerment, affirmative action, race, poverty, and affluence, while also touching on such lighter topics as sports, movies, love, and friendship. Black pride, strength, unity, and prosperity are central themes in these articles, creating a unique picture of the current South African black consciousness movement.
276 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 2, 2007
Eric Miyeni Gets on My Tits
(Lessons From a Literary Sensei)
Dear Eric,
You have no idea how badly you got on my tits in Cape Town. They were still sore when I got on the plane and were to remain an aching souvenir of our early-morning workouts for several days thereafter. Having read your book, I now know that you not only work hard and play hard, but also write hard. Your technique is as intrusive as it is effective: first drive that knee hard into the groin and then help the reader up and explain how this pain can be avoided in future. You are a literary sensei of sorts. Fred Khumalo called you a “necessary irritant”, but that fails to credit the constructive optimism that leaps from every chapter like a happy dog.
Your message – as I read it – couldn’t be clearer: People must take responsibility for their own lives, actions, happiness, fate. They must take control of their own destiny. But you never slap the reader with sweeping statements. Instead, you package your message in accessible stories and practical examples taken from everyday life. I think your experience in advertising shines through in this. Always asking: how can I best sell this idea? How can I package and brand it so that people will buy it? But you never pander to base commercialism, because the ferocity of your argumentation will undoubtedly rub some “consumers” up the wrong way.
Fortunately, I like to be rubbed and in some instances you really rubbed through to my heart and soul. I especially enjoyed the account of your trip to Marseille. Perhaps because that’s in my own backyard, but also because it was heart-warming to see you on unfamiliar turf, struck deaf and dumb, struggling to overcome the many barriers, and eventually bonding with the locals through a pack of cigarettes and the universal language of chess.
Which brings me to your greatest strength: your ability to connect without making concessions or holding back. By speaking out loud and proud, you invite others to do the same, without reservations. And that is why you and your writing are very much my cup of tea, Eric. Your book has added a new dimension to my perspective on the brash, bald man with whom I bonded at the Book Fair. And I shall forever cherish the fact that strangers eventually took us for a gay couple.
(PS: I just read this letter to my mother. She said you would like it. She turned 84 on Thursday and is now reading your book.)
(Lessons From a Literary Sensei)
Dear Eric,
You have no idea how badly you got on my tits in Cape Town. They were still sore when I got on the plane and were to remain an aching souvenir of our early-morning workouts for several days thereafter. Having read your book, I now know that you not only work hard and play hard, but also write hard. Your technique is as intrusive as it is effective: first drive that knee hard into the groin and then help the reader up and explain how this pain can be avoided in future. You are a literary sensei of sorts. Fred Khumalo called you a “necessary irritant”, but that fails to credit the constructive optimism that leaps from every chapter like a happy dog.
Your message – as I read it – couldn’t be clearer: People must take responsibility for their own lives, actions, happiness, fate. They must take control of their own destiny. But you never slap the reader with sweeping statements. Instead, you package your message in accessible stories and practical examples taken from everyday life. I think your experience in advertising shines through in this. Always asking: how can I best sell this idea? How can I package and brand it so that people will buy it? But you never pander to base commercialism, because the ferocity of your argumentation will undoubtedly rub some “consumers” up the wrong way.
Fortunately, I like to be rubbed and in some instances you really rubbed through to my heart and soul. I especially enjoyed the account of your trip to Marseille. Perhaps because that’s in my own backyard, but also because it was heart-warming to see you on unfamiliar turf, struck deaf and dumb, struggling to overcome the many barriers, and eventually bonding with the locals through a pack of cigarettes and the universal language of chess.
Which brings me to your greatest strength: your ability to connect without making concessions or holding back. By speaking out loud and proud, you invite others to do the same, without reservations. And that is why you and your writing are very much my cup of tea, Eric. Your book has added a new dimension to my perspective on the brash, bald man with whom I bonded at the Book Fair. And I shall forever cherish the fact that strangers eventually took us for a gay couple.
(PS: I just read this letter to my mother. She said you would like it. She turned 84 on Thursday and is now reading your book.)
April 15, 2008
Pretty good.though i stil think he must write a book about how great he thinks black women are - i do however think this book is good. if you've been a black person around white people in the early days you'll certainly relate to it.it's absolutely brilliant for people who want to build cross culturally it lets u in the minds of black south africans.
October 14, 2016
Eric Miyeni's The Only Black at a Dinner Party is a collection of essays and opinion pieces around a wide range of topics that affect South Africans; including race relations, gender equality and politics.
In this collection, Miyeni tackles everything from the mundane to the profound. It feels like having front row seats to the workings of his mind and life experiences.
Being a highly controversial figure one would have expected many unagreeable essays from the writer, but the book is quite affirmative of what we try and achieve collectively as a county, with a few challenges and failures highlighted.
In an essay with the sane title as the book, The Only Black at a Dinner Party, he narrates a story of how blacks that are accustomed to being the only ones in white circles try and prevent others from breaking into these circles. Almost serving as door keepers.
In this collection, Miyeni tackles everything from the mundane to the profound. It feels like having front row seats to the workings of his mind and life experiences.
Being a highly controversial figure one would have expected many unagreeable essays from the writer, but the book is quite affirmative of what we try and achieve collectively as a county, with a few challenges and failures highlighted.
In an essay with the sane title as the book, The Only Black at a Dinner Party, he narrates a story of how blacks that are accustomed to being the only ones in white circles try and prevent others from breaking into these circles. Almost serving as door keepers.
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September 11, 2009what happened to this copy Chidi?
May 25, 2016
OMG, where do I start? The man is just brilliant.
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November 17, 2022THIS BOOK IS SO HARD TO PUT DOWN. INTERESTING SHORT STORIES AND HE TAKES YOU ON A WELL ENOUGH JOURNEY AND THEN ITS LIKE YOU CAME TO A STOP SIGN. THEN ITS BEEN LEFT OVER TO THE READER TO MAKE OFF IT AS HE PLEASES.. ONE CAN TELL HE SPEAKS FROM A PLACE OF TRUTH. LOVE IT
July 15, 2024
It is sad that after so many years, Some of the things Eric wrote about still resonate
December 16, 2012
Loved the book. Gives one a new perspective on a range of social, political and economic issues facing black people. Eric is an intelligent writer with well informed opinions and his style of writing is effortless. He doesn't try too hard to create this literary persona. The piece on Marseille was just picturesque. When I go to Paris, I m most definitely visiting Marseille, not the dodgy side though. I highly recommend this book and all his other books!
September 19, 2010
Book is funny, interesting and informative. Very candid about issues facing Black South Africa. Reminds me of Ngugi wa Thiongo somehow. You know, the way he helps the reader to see everyday activities in the minds of extraordinary people.
A definite must read.
A definite must read.
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June 20, 2013A book full of humor while dealing with serious issues facing the black people in general. It is based on short articles that were written separately over a period of time, and as such makes for an easy read.
September 9, 2009
Eric is on a league of his own. Humour, laungter, fact and opinion all bound together by the covers of this book
March 6, 2015
I LOVED IT!!!
Great read, with an effortless writing style that's is easy to comprehend.
Very informative and provocative content.
I recommend it to my brothers and sisters...its a must have!
Great read, with an effortless writing style that's is easy to comprehend.
Very informative and provocative content.
I recommend it to my brothers and sisters...its a must have!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews