The Mau Mau rebellion, as it is often called, which began in Kenya in the early 1950s, was a nationalist, anticolonial armed resistance against the British colonial state.
The guerrilla movement called itself the Kenya Land Freedom Army; the British dubbed the movement “mau mau,” a meaningless name, to obscure the aims otherwise so clear in the resistance army’s name.
Ngugi Wa Thiongío’s Petals of Blood examines, among other things, the betrayal by the postcolonial regime of the ideals of this anticolonial struggle that helped Kenya achieve its independence.
The novel revolves around three men and a woman. The four friends reveal different aspects of their history to each other piecemeal, just as their families had guardedly explained the past to them. The lingering effects of the Mau Mau revolt have affected all their lives and by the end of the novel, each character is wrapped up in his or her own exclusive epiphany about life in Kenya.
Abdullah, the trader, thinks he failed the movement because he did not avenge the death of a friend who was a revolutionary and who was betrayed. Munira, the schoolteacher and eventual wide-eyed prophet, is paralyzed by the shadow of his successful father, who condemned the Mau Mau but aided the crony corruption of independent Kenya. Wanja, the beauty from a broken home, learns that it was two generations of revolutionary fervor that distorted the home she grew up in. And Karega, Thiongío’s union-pushing hero, scrutinizes the history of Mau Mau as if it were a sacred text. Somewhere in that history, they all believe, is the key to wisdom and justice.
mushomoro –
I love this book. Horror at its best
Nasike –
‘When you are a mother, you are allowed to think your children are ugly’, Chanchori begins. This story is all kinds of ugly and unhinged, in a lovely way.
Do you know how to pronounce Honoreaux? The reaux is pronounced as ‘row your boat’ and not as the ‘ox’. Clap for me. In Nduta’s The Hotel Honoreaux, we are all characters in our own books.
Sigh* I have no words for this. Heartbreaking. That’s all. What’s justice really? Narrated in a childlike voice and hopelessness of a victim, Heri takes you through Phantom Justice.
‘A pig with lipstick is still a pig’. The contempt, the sardonicism, the cynicism! Eish! Action packed! Damn! Nthenya packs a mean punch, a loaded gun, a precise knife…Okay, let me stop here.
Azriel’s wife took Noel and Wairimu and… It’s just a normal day at work, I guess. Koina’s writing is part sentimental and part cracked. Cracked for crazy.
Rogoi’s The Milk Wars is impeccably descriptive. However, the use of the first person was quite confusing.
Mid-story, Aliet throws in big words like tumescence. There’s cynical characters with erotic asphyxiation fantasies. Throw in an inclination towards rape and somnophilia.
ResH reminds me of high school. We were accused of lesbianism and devil worshipping during a parents meeting. Our parents looked shocked and crestfallen. My mum looked at me solemnly and said,
“Mama, you cannot engage in lesbianism. It’s wrong, it’s bad and evil’.
I wanted to ask her if being a devil worshiper would make things better. I didn’t. To her relief, I love boys. To her dismay, I can’t seem to keep one for a lifetime.
When we talk gender, everyone assumes it’s a woman issue. I guess, it’s easier for society to face aggression towards women. Aggression of any kind towards men is met with more aggression and victim shaming. Then the man dies or is in his deathbed. At that moment, everyone seeks justice. Ironical, right? Even then, there’s what-aboutism and every kind of alternate narrative.
Muriuki doesn’t pull punches. However, I guess, she figures that society won’t be as angry if her character Mugera dies. So, Cici is that buffer, the character that bears the brunt of making society face the enormity of gender-based violence.
I love the book, the stories and the emotions they drag you through. Now, I don’t know about you, but my friends were scared that I was reading a book with such a cover. I told them to relax because I have read worse.
Bridgette Kwamboka –
I really loved everything about this book. I love anthologies and this one surpassed my expectations. The writers promise diversity and deliver it. I loved how varied the stories were yet so relatable. Read the book and get ten different beautiful stories by our great writers.
Wairimu Theuri –
Absolutely amazing. I have gone through a whirlwind of emotions.
Job well done.
Angela Theuri –
A Slice of Darkness for Breakfast is an amazing book, The stories are very engaging, and a page turner. You will not be disappointed.