Like every other text, (an essay, a textbook, a documentary, a cartoon, a text message, a novel and so on), the cover picture for this story is capable of a multiplicity of meanings. The children from the marriage will not interpret the picture the same way the two individuals involved – Dr and Mrs Yusuf Bangura – (hoping they don’t find this unacceptable) would look at it. Devout worshippers (Christians, Muslims, pagans, etc) will not see it the same manner friends of the family in academia, for instance, would see it.
What is, however, a sustainable point is that everyone would agree that a 40 – year old marriage is a statement in a world in which many marriages crash every now and then even as the institution itself must be the most fascinating space of sociality.
Hence the news-ness of this picture for both those who received it directly from the source and those who might only be seeing it here in Intervention. It is beyond the facts around it as important as they are.
Of course, the facts are that the celebrants took time off to Lisbon. Asked why Lisbon, the answer is that the family has always wanted to visit Lisbon. It is not only a lovely and vibrant city, a great place to eat grilled sea food and enjoy traditional fado music, it is also a great place to explore its deep maritime history. It goes, without saying it, a great place for any African to reflect on subjectivity (of the African) in a world getting more and more turbulent, with grave implications for the survival of those at the lower rung of the global ladder.
Intervention joins others in wishing the celebrants many, many, many more years of a happily married life!
