The Art of Grief: A conversation with Oyunga Pala in Vienna.What does it mean to truly live? This profound question filled the air at the Embassy of Kenya. We were honored to welcome acclaimed Kenyan author Oyunga Pala, whose latest work, Strength and Sorrow, opened a deeply moving conversation about a universal truth we all share: our mortality, and how we choose to live in light of it.
Strength and Sorrow is a deeply contemplative collection that navigates the landscapes of grief, memory, and resilience with rare honesty. The highlights of the one hour conversation were:
● Why men have permission to grieve too – Breaking down harmful stereotypes that leave so many suffering in silence.
● How African traditions on grief were crafted to support and protect individuals and societies – Rediscovering the wisdom embedded in our cultural practices.
● The importance of doing the inner work – The journey toward authentic self-knowledge.
● The bravery to ask life's essential questions – "Who are you without your titles, without your roles ?"
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To live is to die. And while we must all die, not all of us learn how to live.
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