I slept late as I was glued to U-Tube films of interviews with Witi Ihimaera, the excellent Maori author of The Whale Rider, amongst others. He is nearly the same age as I am, and our backgrounds couldn't be more different, but from his many writings I feel already a strong affinity with him. Perhaps one day I'll meet him, he lives in Auckland now, a confirmed bachelor, probably with grand-kids. As person born under the sign of Aquarius, I would say he's a life traveller, and very hard to pin down. Would be a nice person to meet however.
Maori Art and Literature are relatively new things, as is the emancipation of the Maori, with so few ever having been in positions of Govt power, even the Maori Chieftains. Result, a slow recognition of their valuable culture, with, according to Ihimaera's best selling book, The Matriarch, the women being at the forefront in this matriarchal, and homophobic, he points out, society. One of Witi's most famous books, written a bit later in his career, was a thinly veiled autobiography, with the main character coming-out as a gay man. The difference being that David, in Nights in the Gardens of Spain, (Gardens pertaining to the sex palaces apparently abounding in Auckland in the eighties), is a Pakeha, whereas when the film was made, he was portrayed more accurately by a Maori actor, which resulted in the ultimate outing for Witi. 'David', as does Witi, has two daughters with his young wife, but eventually finds the pressure of living a double life too great, has a messy divorce and moves in with his male lover, a ballet dancer.
The book is an excellent read and I am surprised it hasn't been more publicised in Sydney and Melbourne. There is an interesting supposition in his writing about Maori homosexuality, which is clearly admitted in the culture, that gay Maori men can have children, thus keeping their mothers happy with grandkids, and still remain their homosexual selves, in a way, having your cake and eating it too. He insists that the inherent separation in the overriding Western gay culture, is restricting, obviously as he had so much enjoyment from his children. This does not take into account of course, the pain suffered by the mother and wife, which is very evident in his book, and for which he feels not the slightest responsibility it seems. I must discuss this with him one day, I'm sure he'll refute it! Anyway with today's 'with-it' gay generation, they are all artificially inseminating to their hearts' content, no questions asked!
Before I leave this HOME cafe, with waitresses and waiters happily bedecked with black T-shirts with Home Boy inscribed thereon, I must comment on the absolute dominance of youth in the hospitality industry in Wellington. Whereas in cities like Paris and New York, the attending team is often of a certain age, i.e. career waiters, here it is the thing to do for young people, in management as well. It is a healthy sign, as long as they have been instilled with a culture of 'service', as many of whom in Australia, especially Tasmania, have no idea of the meaning. I do think they are better 'brung up' in New Zealand, on the whole, so good manners are inculcated at an early age.
If you want to read about Maori culture btw, read Ihimaera's award winning short book, Tangi, it encapsulates it to a T.
A Home Boy walking...
No comments:
Post a Comment