Chwezi History Re-Written?
Jan 22, 2004
Richard Mugisa Kahwa’s first novel, The Curse of the Bachwezi does not portray the people in his world as a cursed lot but is an attempt at retelling the stories of their past and holistic development while raising pertinent questions on their future.
Book: The Curse of the Bachwezi
Author: Richard Mugisa Kahwa
Review by: Emmanuel Ssejjengo
Available at: Book stores in town
Richard Mugisa Kahwa’s first novel, The Curse of the Bachwezi does not portray the people in his world as a cursed lot but is an attempt at retelling the stories of their past and holistic development while raising pertinent questions on their future.
It is a neo-historic novel built along the line of the early African novel in which Chinua Achebe’s seminal Things Fall Apart remains a masterpiece.
Set in the heart of Bunyoro Kingdom before the aggressive European invasion, the novel centres on the beautiful, confident Nyamutahingurwa, who, against all odds, fought her way from obscurity into marrying the most important man in the land, the Omukama (king) of Bunyoro Kitara.
Like other tragic heroes, she falls prey to the vengeful plot of her enemies amidst determined attempts to out-do them.
The picturesque novel is imbedded with an idyllic setting where everything is interwoven. The land is a lush green, decorated by beautiful trees of all sizes and punctuated by a soft and gentle breeze that makes the shoots dance with their lovely heads.
This is the atmosphere that withstands intertribal wars. The description of the scenery will carry the reader off his feet, to realise how beautiful virgin nature is.
The novel is a unique attempt at merging ‘survivals’ with new developments. The central character is too determined in a ‘man’s world’. This may be incongruent with the time setting of the novel but is indicative of the woman’s plight and determination to get a fair hearing.
Bunyoro Kitara is used as a microsm of all oppressed peoples. The language of the novel is punctuated with songs in Luganda. Reference is also made to the traditional warm greeting of the Banyoro.
However, with only minute borrowings from the oral literature of the Banyoro, the book can hardly be regarded as traditional by any standard, for one would expect more of a recreation of the dialogue of the traditional African.
Proverbs, the survivals of the wise, are not dwelt on much while there is little of other folk literature genres like myths, folktales, riddles and fairytales.
Even with the glaring grammatical and structural errors, plus a disjointed plot, the novel is remarkable for its character and incident and is a work of love, courage, hope and endurance told in compelling events. A good book for anyone with an interest in cultural history, literature, mystery and a good story.
Ends
Author: Richard Mugisa Kahwa
Review by: Emmanuel Ssejjengo
Available at: Book stores in town
Richard Mugisa Kahwa’s first novel, The Curse of the Bachwezi does not portray the people in his world as a cursed lot but is an attempt at retelling the stories of their past and holistic development while raising pertinent questions on their future.
It is a neo-historic novel built along the line of the early African novel in which Chinua Achebe’s seminal Things Fall Apart remains a masterpiece.
Set in the heart of Bunyoro Kingdom before the aggressive European invasion, the novel centres on the beautiful, confident Nyamutahingurwa, who, against all odds, fought her way from obscurity into marrying the most important man in the land, the Omukama (king) of Bunyoro Kitara.
Like other tragic heroes, she falls prey to the vengeful plot of her enemies amidst determined attempts to out-do them.
The picturesque novel is imbedded with an idyllic setting where everything is interwoven. The land is a lush green, decorated by beautiful trees of all sizes and punctuated by a soft and gentle breeze that makes the shoots dance with their lovely heads.
This is the atmosphere that withstands intertribal wars. The description of the scenery will carry the reader off his feet, to realise how beautiful virgin nature is.
The novel is a unique attempt at merging ‘survivals’ with new developments. The central character is too determined in a ‘man’s world’. This may be incongruent with the time setting of the novel but is indicative of the woman’s plight and determination to get a fair hearing.
Bunyoro Kitara is used as a microsm of all oppressed peoples. The language of the novel is punctuated with songs in Luganda. Reference is also made to the traditional warm greeting of the Banyoro.
However, with only minute borrowings from the oral literature of the Banyoro, the book can hardly be regarded as traditional by any standard, for one would expect more of a recreation of the dialogue of the traditional African.
Proverbs, the survivals of the wise, are not dwelt on much while there is little of other folk literature genres like myths, folktales, riddles and fairytales.
Even with the glaring grammatical and structural errors, plus a disjointed plot, the novel is remarkable for its character and incident and is a work of love, courage, hope and endurance told in compelling events. A good book for anyone with an interest in cultural history, literature, mystery and a good story.
Ends