Sweeping historical novel set in Uganda

27th February 2019

Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, a sweeping historical novel set in Uganda.

Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2019 (Fiction, With A Sense of Place)

This is the rich story of Kintu Kidda and his descendants. It is also in part a story of Uganda.

Kintu Kiddu accidentally kills an adoptive son and the far reaching curse, meted out by his birth father, reverberates over the following centuries as descendants die and new generations proliferate.

The lands of Buganda, a part of Uganda that has seen a fair amount of upheaval, form the setting against which this rich history unfolds. There are several “books” devoted to different members of the family with a final “clan” meeting where the family hopes to shake off the burden of the longstanding perceived curse.

The writing is full of colour and flavour of the times – spanning a couple of centuries and explores a rich variety of themes, which are threaded through the story, going back and forth between generations. There are mentions of Amin and colonialism which is perhaps familiar to the present day reader but the focus is more on the everyday lives of this dynasty… the grass roots experiences from poverty, through strife, religion, death and HIV and more; these are the components that make this a sweeping history. Human relationships in all their diversity are portrayed with aplomb and a dash of humour. How, for example, does a polygamist manage a household of wives? How do the wives respond?

Paperback

The novel delves into the deeper being of the nation through personal stories. For me it would have been helpful to have a glossary of terms. The family trees set out at the beginning of the novel for each ensuing ‘book’ forms a good reference point, although one is forewarned that relationships might be complex and on occasion impenetrable. It can at times, though, be quite a little heavy-going at times.

Certainly a novel to consider if you are travelling to Uganda as it will inform and perhaps offer a little more understanding of an unfamiliar culture.

Is this the “great Ugandan novel”?, asks The Guardian. Read more here.

Tina for the TripFiction Team

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