Book Presentation: Amende – The Stream Water by Obehi Ewanfoh in Arcella, Padova
On Tuesday, October 20, 2015, in the heart of Padova’s Arcella district, Obehi Ewanfoh performed a vital act of cultural preservation. The presentation of his book, “AMENDE: The Stream Water,” at the Casetta del parco Piacentino was far more than a standard literary launch; it was an exercise in Sovereign Storytelling, a reclamation of a heritage that refused to be forgotten.
Learn How to Leverage Your Story through our Story To Asset Framework.
The event, hosted as part of the “Meeting the Author: The Near and the Far” series, featured a stirring dialogue with journalist Cadigia Hassan and evocative readings by Dario Gelmini.
For Ewanfoh and the Diaspora community in attendance, this gathering became a “Mission of Excavation.” It was a deep dive into the architecture of African identity and memory, proving that even for a displaced soul, the written word can serve as an immovable anchor in shifting sands.
What is the Book About?
AMENDE: The Stream Water is a compelling story about a young boy named Amende who is born with a deeper purpose. He isn’t your average kid; his life is connected to the future of his entire community.
See also Samia Oursana Interviews Obehi Ewanfoh About His Works In The Diaspora Community in Verona and Italy
To save them, he has to leave everything he knows and go on a dangerous journey through a mysterious, “evil forest”. It’s a story about facing your fears and taking on a massive responsibility for the sake of the people you love.
What makes Amende special is that he isn’t satisfied with just “getting by” in his small world. He feels a call to go into the unknown, even when it’s scary.
By stepping out of his comfort zone, he discovers deep truths about life and figures out exactly where he belongs in the world. It’s a classic adventure that reminds us that sometimes, you have to travel far away from home to truly find out who you are.
Amende’s quest is driven by a search for a “sincere answer to unheard questions,” a longing for his own roots, and the pursuit of that “missing piece that closes the puzzle of his microcosm”.
In the framework of AClasses Academy, Amende’s journey mirrors the experience of the African Diaspora in Northern Italy. Many migrants find themselves in their own version of the “Forest of Evil”, a metaphor for the institutional barriers, systemic “nullification,” and cultural fragmentation often encountered in foreign lands.
See the book AMEDE
To survive and thrive, the Diaspora must seek the “Stream Water” of their own history, reclaiming the historical memory that risks being diluted by the pressures of migration and assimilation.
The Role Of Building Literary Legacy in The African Diaspora
For the African Diaspora, writing a book is much more than a creative hobby; it is a powerful tool for cultural survival and self-defense. In a world where migration can often make you feel like your history is being erased or “watered down,” putting your story into print acts as an immovable anchor.
As seen in Obehi Ewanfoh’s journey with Amende, writing allows a person to move from being a “subject” who is told what to do, to an “author” who decides who they are.
By documenting your heritage, you create a permanent “Information Asset” that protects your family from the “Forest of Evil”, those systemic barriers and identity crises that try to make the next generation feel like rootless trees.
Also, book writing serves as a sovereign bridge between your past in Africa and your present life abroad. When a Diaspora member writes their story, they are performing a “Mission of Excavation,” digging up the community values, sounds, and wisdom of their homeland to share with the world.
See also How to Forge Your Mission into a Client-Generating Asset
This doesn’t just preserve the past; it increases your value in the present. By owning your “Far” (your African roots), you become a more grounded and respected leader in the “Near” (your current European or Western environment).
Ultimately, a book ensures that the “missing piece” of your family’s puzzle is found, turning your personal legacy into a lasting civic asset that can be passed down forever.
The Orality of the “Story-to-Asset” Framework
Obehi’s book transports the reader into the “flows of orality of the African tradition”. It is a sensory-rich exploration that reveals the sounds, colors, flavors, and values of a small, supportive community led by a storyteller (cantastorie), the historical memory of the village of Okpujie.
This storyteller represents the ultimate Sovereign Architect. At AClasses Academy, we view this oral tradition not just as “tales,” but as a highly sophisticated Information Asset.
- Community Values: The story highlights a “small supportive community” (piccola comunità solidale), which serves as the blueprint for an “Anti-Fragile” Diaspora network.
- Institutional Recognition: By presenting this work through the Gruppo Dada with the contribution of the Municipality of Padova, Obehi converted a village tradition into a recognized civic asset in Italy.
- Cultural Transmission: Through the character of Amende, we learn the “Decoding Formula” for passing the torch of heritage to the next generation, ensuring they do not become “rootless trees”.
Reclaiming the “Missing Piece” of Your Legacy
The presentation in Arcella neighborhood known for its diverse population, demonstrates why the Diaspora must move from being “Subjects” of a new culture to “Authors” of their own.
See also The 34th Verona African Festival: Elevating the Diaspora Narrative
When Obehi writes the “missing piece that closes the puzzle,” he is speaking to every professional and founder who feels their expertise or identity is trapped or undervalued in a Western context.
How can the lessons from Amende’s journey give you the tools to secure your family’s future?
- Identity Sovereignty: By seeking answers to “unheard questions” about your roots, you create a fortress of self-worth. This internal certainty acts as a shield against external biases.
- Narrative Ownership: Like the storyteller of Okpujie, you must become the “historical memory” of your own bloodline. We help you codify your journey into books and media that become permanent family assets.
- Cross-Cultural Bridge: The event in Padova, titled “The Near and the Far,” proves that when you own your “Far” (your African roots), you become more valuable to the “Near” (your current European environment).
Conclusion: Becoming the Storyteller of Your Own Microcosm
The 2015 presentation of “AMENDE: The Stream Water” was a celebration of the “sounds, colors, and values” that define the African soul. It proved that even in the heart of a European city, the “flows of orality” can create a supportive community that transcends borders.
Obehi Peter Ewanfoh did not just write a story; he architected a bridge between the village of Okpujie in Esan, Nigeria and the streets of Arcella, in Padova, Italy.
He showed that the “Stream Water” of our heritage is the only thing that can quench the thirst of a displaced generation and provide the “missing piece” to a fragmented identity. Book Your Free 15-Minute Legacy Strategy Call Now.
