The Thing Around Your Neck

A Nigerian woman named Ujunwa arrives in Cape Town, South Africa to participate in an African Writers Workshop sponsored by the British Council. Edward Campbell, a posh older Englishman and the organizer of the workshop, picks her up at the airport along with another participant from Uganda. Meeting the other participants, Ujunwa wonders who she will become friendly with. Edward introduces everyone and explains the workshop, the man from Uganda encouraging Edward and ignoring the other participants in the workshop. The next morning Isabel, Edward’s wife, asks if Ujunwa comes from royal blood because she is so beautiful. Ujunwa thinks this is ridiculous, but makes up a story agreeing with the woman, later calling her mother so they can both laugh about the interaction.

Ujunwa begins working on her story, writing about a woman named Chimona who is looking for a job. She approaches her father for help even though they have not spoken since he abandoned her mother. The participants in the workshop all have dinner together and then joke about the stereotypes from their different countries of origin. They debate the merits of different African writers, making fun of European attitudes toward Africa. The other writers realize Ujunwa has not been talking about herself and they ask her about her father.