She is a rich history of controversy, but there is more to Orie than meets the eye. We spent a day with this extraordinary woman trying to unravel what makes her tick. She comes across such a complex character, that one is hard-pressed to describe her in just one paragraph. Watching her on television, she cuts a combative, aggressive and fierce image.
There’s no doubt that she is a spit fire. She speaks her mind and is not afraid to fight her battles on her own, be they private or public. Another thing that many will agree on is that she is no shrinking violet-she loves attention, dresses to capture it and will gladly pose for a camera for hours, proudly flaunting what she calls her “Latin figure”. She is Orie Rogo Manduli and she is extraordinary.
Fascinated by this woman who has knack for courting controversy as much as public attention, we decided to spend a day with her, hoping to find just what makes her tick. We ended up getting more than we bargained for – a different side of Orie that the public hardly ever gets to see. It came as no surprise that the outer walls of her colonial-style are painted a brilliant orange. That’s vintage Orie. She does things differently.
Her bedroom where we do some of the chatting as she spruces herself up for a photo shoot, is filled with rows and rows of shoes, a large wardrobe full of brilliantly colored African outfits (she makes her own clothes) and a couple of weaved containers holding an assortment of makeup and tons of jewellery. Going through her photo albums, it is evident that Orie’s sense of style has matured with age, but it is no less flashy, what with her legendary head pieces which have become her trade mark. Njung’e (2008) reports on the side of Orie Rogo Manduli.
Conclusion
In as much as we may acknowledge that the world is changing and that women ought to be taking up the positions naturally meant to be for men, the Afro-American women are still struggling to overcome this primitive belief. We are proud of the likes of Orie Rogo, because we look at their struggle to excel in a male dominated society, and we find a picture of hope. Njung’e (2008) reports on the side of Orie Rogo Manduli.
Bibliography
- Morreale, S.P, (2004) Introduction to human communication, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, Belmont, CA94002-3098 USA. (Pg A1-A10).
- Njung’e, C 2008, ‘The other side of Orie Rogo Manduli’, Saturday Nation, 26 July, p. 6.
