In this column, our editor, Nassur Tab’an El-Tablaz brings you a weekly review of Ugandan literary works through the lenses of Zziwa Zinabala, an ardent advocate of Ugandan Literature. Zziwa is a well read Ugandan poet and playwright well known for his poetic play, The Muchwezi, the Flower and the Suitor. This week we peer through some of the reasons why Asians don’t intermarry with African as an analogy on why Ugandan ‘local’ content seems not to find both local and international readership and market.
In this narration by Barasa, the author of “African Village Boy”, there is strength in motherhood – that determination to sail into a farrago of circumstances but remain steadfast to nurture and raise children singlehandedly. This is a testimony that, perhaps, God is a woman. This I mean, after listening to Shaggy’s song, “Strength of a Woman”, this short narration of uneven events of humor, upbringing, morals, survival and the role of education into the life of a child is understandable. This book is some kind of a sitcom movie – the author navigates episodes of his life without chronology but with a reflection of life, failures, triumphs, strength and, above all, reward to life. What is life without a mother? We all want to understand mother’s love; to have that love, to experience that kindness, and to make it out there with our mother by our sides. Sometimes, it happens. Mothers begin to wear that chemise of a smile we hardly saw on their faces. They begin to open up. We become friends, brothers or sisters – no longer their children. Sometimes, their journeys are short-lived.
This book is a triumph to motherhood. It describes the matriarchy at her finest. A mother becomes the father to protect her cubs from the snares of life; to provide and tend to their lives. This is the right way to appreciate and celebrate feminism, rightfully dedicated to Nalongo (sic), as Barasa calls her! It is a triumph and a feat to all single mothers out there trying to survive with her cubs. It also addresses of tribal sentiments at the beginning as witnessed in Kangulumira, a place full of many tribes and all sorts of mannerisms. The narrator reveals how they were caught roasting a small bird that made them the village topic. In between, he hints on the tribal fraction as the children are unfortunately segregated against because of their lineage and tribe. However, Nnaalongo reassures them that they should be grateful for the welcome and hospitality the Baganda have accorded them. The narrator reflects and understands the circumstances and learns to bond with and enjoy the life of the Baganda. The narration delves into the importance of culture and the need to preserve it, at all cost, for instance, imbalu annual celebration. However, living in Buganda pities the narrator against cultural shock.
The narrator, Barasa, also explores loss. What hits hardest is the loss of a family that shuts one out but regardless, they need to continue with life. His mother gathers herself up, sobs a little and focuses on the present – the children left her. However, during this period of grieving, Barasa enters Kampala for the first time and enjoys the sights and sounds of urban life, inadvertently comparing it with village life. The urban struggles and cost of living hardly spare even the young; the lost manners and compassion, the ugly incidents of theft and cheating in business. How best does he cope up with life in Kampala, if not by the hand of mercy and God as a protection wall? In the many chapters of reflection, Barasa confesses his many trials and tribulations. The pains of a wandering child seeking a breakthrough in life. The sacrifices of those who love dearly – his sister, Margaret, the hope that keeps him going. She maneuvours a way for her little brother to achieve education and graduate.
From this book, we draw a couple of lessons that we all ought to embrace and appreciate: Never give up on your dreams because of the hurdles before us. at the end of the story, Barasa triumphs, where he comes from not withstanding. All that matters is how one perceives themselves and how best they work to achieve success. So, suffering is not the end of life. Through the shackles of life, we ought to stick to the mantra of there’s light at the end of every tunnel. No matter the kind of darkness, there will always be a moment of light and a smile. The narrator survives a lone life in Kampala, and above all, his star shines brightly. This clearly shows that fate and destiny are parallel. During growth journey, the narrator is fated to meet various challenges. For instance, he loses his first business of Matooke to the police, but he is destined to win as he becomes a teacher and writes this marvelous book of reflection.
The narrator explores the nature of God: Who is God? People search God in scriptures, and in the sky, but still forget to understand WHO GOD IS! Some will pretend that they have understood God. Barasa partially answers the question of who God is. Barasa’s God, unknowingly, are the light individuals he meets that indirectly pave his way to his destiny. If you are chosen and destined for glory, God will come into your life unknowingly and you might not know that God might be there with you until you find yourself and listen to His voice. Do you know who GOD is in your life? Grab a copy of this book and find out.
Does Barasa finally see his father? How does he react when he sees his son, now a graduate from Makerere? Does his mother say more about his father? Many times, when we grow up, even with absentee parents, we wish to know them and bond or have a closure in life. May be the narrator should have given a little more about his father after their success in life without him. That aside, this book is enjoyable. Savour its wit, pain, laughter and loss. It is a blossom book that covers hearts and sets an individual into thinking deeply about their lives and how far they have come. Pick interest in it and enjoy the definition of a mother – a true definition of feminism. It goes at only Ugx.15,000 and copies are available at Uganda Bookshop. You will certainly agree that this is indeed the Strength of a woman, and God is a woman!
