Of empresses and magic hats

I got a request today to post something joyful on this blog, after the string of mourning posts.

So here is a photo taken at the ALA Conference in Vermont just two weeks ago. With Phanuel Egejuru, empress of Igbo studies, African literary scholarship, and women's studies. Believe it or not, this woman has grandchildren. Is a retired professor. Was rescued from her rooftop by helicopter during Hurricane Katrina.

I teased her about the magic fountain of youth under her hat. Spot the other Empress, Nefertiti, in Phanuel's jewellery? Between us, we have three regions of the continent (North, South and East Africa) represented in this photo.

The smile on my face is one part Phanuel, one part:

I aced my big ALA performance,

and one part:

Kwame Anthony Appiah just called me "a great artist " in his keynote address.

Joyful enough for you, L?