The winning poem declares itself immediately through its title. It is about language, is written in three languages and yet begins with the poet's declaration that she has none. It moves between languages -- sometimes translating, sometimes not -- so that we (readers) experience the destabilising of the world similar to that which is all the time experienced by those who live outside their first (or second) language(s). Only two of these languages are accessible to me but such is the poet's skill that my exclusion from the third enhanced, rather than diminished, my understanding of the poet's intention. Similarly, English misspellings worked as (intentional or unintentional) visual evidence of the impossibility of seamlessness or direct translation, that languages (like humans) can't be easily understood or transplanted, that living, speaking, thinking, belonging is never straightforward nor complete. This is an intensely moving poem, deeply philosophical, political, personal and universal. I have rarely read a poem like it.

Excerpt from Marcella Polain's Judges report

2011 Karen W Treanor Poetry Awards

Tineke Van Der Eecken is an amazing woman.  At the tender age of 24, she leaves the comforts of her home in Belgium to join the international effort to eradicate poverty in Africa. With little idea of what to expect and armed only with her deep-seated dreams of justice for all, she quickly comes to realise the problems facing the region are many, and underlying it all is the corruption and power mongering of those who could be doing some good.

Tineke’s spirit is strong and despite the enormous challenges, she remains undaunted. Her journey brings her to Lusaka in Zambia where she works for the United Nations. The café seems to spring from her need to gather everything that is good about Zambia into one place where it can be cherished, savoured and celebrated. It becomes the symbol of the richness and diversity of the African culture, where local and traditional food is the focus and the colourful and flamboyant nature of its music and dance can be showcased; the very essence of Africa all rolled into one.

In her own unique way, Tineke reveals the struggles, heartaches and disappointments she faces in keeping the café afloat; how her business partner leaves much of the decision-making and effort to her, and how even her employees can turn against her.

Set against the backdrop of a continent in turmoil, this one small café becomes a perfect metaphor of its plight.

If you have ever wondered what life in Africa is like, or even if you already know, this book will take you to new levels of awareness. Life and death walk hand in hand. Desperation wins out over honesty, reducing good people to acts of theft just to survive. Yet above it all, the human spirit is a shining example of strength and endurance, and Café d’Afrique embodies this wholeheartedly.

A thoroughly recommendable read.

Louise Gillian Evans

The Poet Floreate

One can’t help but connect with the author as she shares her experience of living in Africa. The beauty about this book is that as you are led through her time in Africa, you are not left feeling as though Tineke was a mere observer to all that was happening around her, instead she became part of what was and is.

Not a single story, but a well balanced book about the beauties of Africa, its challenges and the different possibilities that still present themselves even today.

"A black wall came at me…The bike moved towards the frozen truck in the middle of the road. I heard it crash. This is it, I thought. I am next." At this point in the book for me, Tineke had become part of Africa – she had given until it hurt. I could relate even more, and any doubts about her sincerity, love and compassion for Africa were wiped away. I now hoped for a happy ending.

Fremantle Library invited Tineke Van der Eecken to talk about her book. Afterwards, library staff asked the audience what they had liked about the talk. Here's what people said:

'The interesting speaker and her natural way of talking.’

‘Readings from the book.’

‘Enjoyed the talk and Q & A Session.’

‘All of it.’

‘All good.’

‘A very enjoyable talk, most interesting.’

‘Wonderful, articulate speaker.’

‘Speaker - interesting, organised, full of life!’

‘Her life and culture aspects in Africa.’

‘Very interesting to meet author and learn about the process of writing a book. Eg the reason that makes somebody WANT to writing a book.’

Cafe d'Afrique by Tineke Van der Eecken is a traditional bildungsroman; a structural and stylistic choice that represents both a strength and a weakness. We get to know the author so well we become engrossed in the minutiae of her life, but such a detailed approach definitely risks becoming monotonous. There is no other voice, no outside perspective into her world. While this book may have a tendency to 'tell' rather than 'show', what it does tell is a fascinating story of one woman's sojourn in Africa, and her foray into small business. One of its pleasures is the way it seems to reveal more about the author than she may have intended -- in fact, this is probably one of the best things about it. The way you end up liking Tineke, sympathising with her, and really wishing her -- and her future ventures -- well. I found myself wanting to know so much more than appears on these pages: more about her mother and, indeed, the rest of her family; more about relationships with men, and friends. What is doing now, and what has been the effect of reflecting on her time in Africa and who she was then? How does she feel about what she didd and who she was? (I'd also love to know how she's found Australia so far, indigenous platitudes aside.) The attempt to maintain an objective voice, as thought the truth is inevitably told through the marshalling  of chronological facts, detracts from the passion and possible insight at the heart of this story. It's about the trials and tribulations Tineke undergoes as she sets up a unique 'cultural restaurant' where locals and tourists alike can sample authentic Zambian cuisine, music and dance -- while still working at her official job. I found myself longing for more interiority. Then again, this book doesn't claim to be a comprehensive autobiography, more a slice of life -- or perhaps I should say a slice out of a life. While other readers may side with me in wanting more psychological revelations or philosophical reflections, they would be out of character for this author/narrator, which is as good an example as any, of the kind of unconscious disclosure this book seems to offer about Tineke's true character. But, after all, it doesn't claim to be about Tineke, but about Africa (as seen through the story of Cafe d'Afrique). And as such it is an absolute education. It's an honest, informative account of both a particular country and the more general experience of living overseas. The heat and the smells of the continent seem almost to rise from the pages. It is, in the end, perhaps recognised as a mud map; a rough sketch drawn by one traveller for another, an outline of the terrain by someone sho has been there for someone who may go.

"Tineke Van der Eecken is a lively writer willing to share her lost idealism, longing, frustrations and achievements, balancing the benefits of her education with what she hopes to share with and learn from Africa. It tastes delicious, spiced with a spread of condiments served on a thousand edible green leaves, that take you to the heart of the expatriate encounter with the Other. Reading this work gives you a window into a world shuttered away. There are people like us, only different, and Tineke helps us get to know our common humanity while sharing her own. A book you will enjoy reading, remembering and sharing."

"Van der Eecken writes with generosity, frankness and insight; consequently her own character and the others she depicts, such as the wonderful culinary genius Mrs Banda, are revealed in all their flawed beauty against a shifting backdrop of social, political and cultural perceptions and realities. Part-memoir, part-travelogue, part-coming-of-age story, Cafe d'Afrique is a book about making friends, not just with people but with a country."

"In Cafe d'Afrique, young, naive and somewhat idealistic Tineke, living in Zambia, is creating opportunities to give more exposure to African culture. It proves to be a hard ride. She comes across swindlers, gets cheated, has to cope with corruption and tackle bureaucracy. A dream threatens to become a nightmare. At the end Cafe d'Afrique has to close its doors but Tineke has grown into a mature, grown up young woman. "The fruit bearing tree I had nurtured was not the Cafe, it had always and only ever been myself". A very honest book explaining why people fall in love with Africa against all odds."

I liked the main character - she is a nice mix of boldness and naive innocence. I liked the way the cross-cultural differences were handled - you didn't fall into the trap of mythologizing Africa. You highlighted the cross-cultural difficulties and threw an informative light on the social, economic and political aspects that historians and writers of travelogues fail to record. You are objective in an amazingly subjective way.

I love the way you interweave friendship, food and culture. Beautiful descriptions. I felt like I was there.

'This author writes well; she draws evocative descriptions with delight and enchant. "Thorney bougainvillea brances with fucsia flowers danced their last dance as they were carried off to be burnt". Her words find an easy-to read, mesmerising rhythm which lulls the reader into a gentle frame of mind.

The author has lived a busy, interesting life, which I enjoyed reading about.

"This is a book by a woman who is not from here in a different country, doing things I would never do, and still I could identify with her."

"The food brings everything together. This book is a smorgasbord of different things: politics, charities, what it is like for native Zambians."

"You think you understand a culture but you don't know at all."

"Good sense of tension. The ending is sudden but not surprising - a relief."

"It's a women's book. It's what we women do. We go on and on, invest in family, relationships, community and we never, never give up."