Background
Per my 2019 reading list, I had planned to read Ugandan author in March come what may. That looked unlikely after I failed to get a hard copy of "Sowing the Mustard Seeds," by Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni.
As if by providence I landed a book that had local words as "ganda, buganda, kabaka, bakabaka, lunyarwanda and kitawuluzi." Kintu, written by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi came along, I tucked along - the rest is history.
History is what the book leverages on to marry the long past (18th century) to as recent as the turn of the century - 2000s.
Things Fall Apart and a book for Ugandans
The 2000s ending is the reason I refused to refer to this book as a remake of "Things Fall Apart" staged in Uganda. Chinua Achebe who is mentioned in Kintu ended his story in ancient Umuofia, Makumbi ends on a contemporary note.
Note this, from the word go, the preface throws a reality in your face, that this is a book written for Ugandans. But does it matter? Important thing is: its about a set of Africans.
And as we all would admit, our African value systems by way of culture and tradition and later religion, whiles not entirely uniform, straddle common barriers - like the colonial borders the African Union is seeking to make "invisible."
Kintu: Crafted story of a cursed kin
Kintu in simple terms is of five distinct cloths being woven together. In their individuality, they exuded pain, betrayal and death. After going through the weaver's skill - i.e. Makumbi's narration, there emerges an intricate, fine woven print.
The story of Kintu Kidda, the source of the curse that ravaged generations is staged (for want of a better word) in the 18th century. It's a firm foundation on which four other offshoots of the Kintu narrative is crafted.
The four are Suubi Nnakintu (sufferer of health crisis), Kanani Kintu (non-traditionalist, pro-Christianity), Isaac Newton Kintu (educated and modern young man), Misirayimu (Miisi) Kintu (Overseas educated modernist).
Each story a solid narration in its own right. Traversing years ago and converging in an elaborate traditional ritual that unites a family and sets them on a path to reclaim sanity of a family wracked and nearly wrecked by a curse.
The homecoming, an entire chapter which finally is the rope that binds and bounds the "Kintu curse," is set in Kiyiika, a border town with Tanzania, There at a point, the ritual needed Rwandan blood to proceed - lucky enough conflict had brought a Rwandan that close.
Indeed, the original source of the Kintu curse was hinged on a Rwandan nomad Ntwire who will not accept the manner Kintu Kidda had handled the death of his biological son and Kintu's apoted son, Kalemanzira.
Here are 10 key points I picked over the read-venture:
1 - A perfect weave of stories spanning generations. 1750 - 2004
2 - Amazing simplicity of language and expressions.
3 - Bears currency as stories straddle past and present. Yet you get to read about Idi Amin right into Museveni.
4 - Story ties three East African neighbours - Uganda predominantly, Rwanda centrally and Tanzania on the periphery.
5 - Marries pre-independent Uganda to post-independence and democratic Uganda.
6 - Sets up a potential clash between culture/tradition on one hand modernity/religion on other - eventually, each prevails to an extent.
7 - There is an animal kingdom embedded within. From Bees to snakes, dogs and ants, goats and sheep.
8 - Reiterates typical African patriarchy and challenges it with a stubborn matriarch, Bweeza
9 - There is a hardcore spirituality - traditional and Christian values wise and their descriptions are dead vivid.
10 - Nice presence in the use of local terminology, gives a strong Ugandan feel but helps soldier on as well.
Wrap up
Six-letter title with a six-star material, worthy of six-man gun salute. The array of themes and the story telling tapestry makes Kintu an absolute must read whiles soaking in the suspense.
This is my story. Let's keep reading, shall we? On to and done with the next, Trevor Noah's " Born A Crime," a review is in the making. Lol.
Shaban 4, 1440 = April 9, 2019
Per my 2019 reading list, I had planned to read Ugandan author in March come what may. That looked unlikely after I failed to get a hard copy of "Sowing the Mustard Seeds," by Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni.
As if by providence I landed a book that had local words as "ganda, buganda, kabaka, bakabaka, lunyarwanda and kitawuluzi." Kintu, written by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi came along, I tucked along - the rest is history.
History is what the book leverages on to marry the long past (18th century) to as recent as the turn of the century - 2000s.
Things Fall Apart and a book for Ugandans
The 2000s ending is the reason I refused to refer to this book as a remake of "Things Fall Apart" staged in Uganda. Chinua Achebe who is mentioned in Kintu ended his story in ancient Umuofia, Makumbi ends on a contemporary note.
Note this, from the word go, the preface throws a reality in your face, that this is a book written for Ugandans. But does it matter? Important thing is: its about a set of Africans.
And as we all would admit, our African value systems by way of culture and tradition and later religion, whiles not entirely uniform, straddle common barriers - like the colonial borders the African Union is seeking to make "invisible."
Kintu: Crafted story of a cursed kin
Kintu in simple terms is of five distinct cloths being woven together. In their individuality, they exuded pain, betrayal and death. After going through the weaver's skill - i.e. Makumbi's narration, there emerges an intricate, fine woven print.
The story of Kintu Kidda, the source of the curse that ravaged generations is staged (for want of a better word) in the 18th century. It's a firm foundation on which four other offshoots of the Kintu narrative is crafted.
The four are Suubi Nnakintu (sufferer of health crisis), Kanani Kintu (non-traditionalist, pro-Christianity), Isaac Newton Kintu (educated and modern young man), Misirayimu (Miisi) Kintu (Overseas educated modernist).
Each story a solid narration in its own right. Traversing years ago and converging in an elaborate traditional ritual that unites a family and sets them on a path to reclaim sanity of a family wracked and nearly wrecked by a curse.
The homecoming, an entire chapter which finally is the rope that binds and bounds the "Kintu curse," is set in Kiyiika, a border town with Tanzania, There at a point, the ritual needed Rwandan blood to proceed - lucky enough conflict had brought a Rwandan that close.
Indeed, the original source of the Kintu curse was hinged on a Rwandan nomad Ntwire who will not accept the manner Kintu Kidda had handled the death of his biological son and Kintu's apoted son, Kalemanzira.
Here are 10 key points I picked over the read-venture:
1 - A perfect weave of stories spanning generations. 1750 - 2004
2 - Amazing simplicity of language and expressions.
3 - Bears currency as stories straddle past and present. Yet you get to read about Idi Amin right into Museveni.
4 - Story ties three East African neighbours - Uganda predominantly, Rwanda centrally and Tanzania on the periphery.
5 - Marries pre-independent Uganda to post-independence and democratic Uganda.
6 - Sets up a potential clash between culture/tradition on one hand modernity/religion on other - eventually, each prevails to an extent.
7 - There is an animal kingdom embedded within. From Bees to snakes, dogs and ants, goats and sheep.
8 - Reiterates typical African patriarchy and challenges it with a stubborn matriarch, Bweeza
9 - There is a hardcore spirituality - traditional and Christian values wise and their descriptions are dead vivid.
10 - Nice presence in the use of local terminology, gives a strong Ugandan feel but helps soldier on as well.
Wrap up
Six-letter title with a six-star material, worthy of six-man gun salute. The array of themes and the story telling tapestry makes Kintu an absolute must read whiles soaking in the suspense.
This is my story. Let's keep reading, shall we? On to and done with the next, Trevor Noah's " Born A Crime," a review is in the making. Lol.
Shaban 4, 1440 = April 9, 2019
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