The still-exiled Somali writer Nurrudin Farah wrote a seemingly mild book SARDINES where he made two profound observations as follows:
• African women can only access the power circles as mothers, wives and mistresses.
• Power in Africa flows through concentric circles of incestuous relationships.
This is precisely the strength of Kobusingye’s controversial book — she is the “Samaritan” whose vision is not impaired or distorted by these incestuous circles. Unlike her brother KB and his wife Winnie Byanyima (or folks like Muntu Mugisha and Olara Otunnu) whose opposition can be easily dismissed as the usual rantings from discarded “relatives” of the government. Kobusingye is the 21st century version of the anonymous “the man” who was the hero of the book “The beautiful ones are not yet born” by Ayi Kwei Armah.
Secondly — Kobusingye quotes extensively from “The Mustard Seed” book — forcing her readers to look more keenly into the practical application of Museveni’s vision. Her book forces the readers to finally verbalise those tell-tale cracks in our national mirrors. That stuff that we gossip about within the privacy of our cultural traditions — is now being shouted from the global rooftops. Her book is the updated African saga of the seven virgins who were swept off by a handsome young man at a local dance. However as they followed him back home across seven rivers — the handsome young man kept on returning the fancy stuff he had borrowed for the dance (hair, waistline, teeth, legs).
Every so often the now fast-aging “young man” reached out and swept a few flies into his second mouth (located at the back of his neck). Oooops ………….did anybody else notice that not so human habit.
By the seventh river (election year) most of the girls had turned back towards their suspicious intuitions. However this one solitary virgin persisted in her illusions and crossed the Rubicon — where she was promptly swallowed by the “irimu ria nyakondo” now fully revealed in his normal regalia. Kobusingye’s book is this proverbial seventh river — the final call for any foolish virgins still chasing mythical illusions regarding African governments and their messed-up continent.
Thirdly – a revolutionary is his own worst critic and opposition. By publishing “The Mustard Seed” while still firmly holding public office — Yoweri Museveni (and the NRM government) transformed themselves into A+plus students whose performance must now be always superior (compared to the mediocre average C results of their fellow African leaders) particularly after their “mustard seed” was successfully copied in Rwanda and the DRC Congo. Students who drop their scores are judged far harshly than students who pull themselves above normal expectations.
And that is precisely the truth that Kobusingye is reiterating in her book — that self-styled A+ politicians like Museveni (and his NRM followers) need to recognise that their fabled “mustard seed” has not grown into the promised mighty oak tree (ground reality) where all kinds of birds (including the opposition) are supposed to be nesting freely and comfortably. As the holy scriptures observe rather tartly: “He who boasts louder – automatically raises the pass mark far higher expectations. Hopefully the next generation of leaders in Africa will be a lot more sober and practical in their goals…….perhaps a cynical leadership would be a better foundation stone for our continent.
Finally — Kobusingye’s book is a practical reminder to all revolutionaries — that successful revolutions happen only when the leader dies first and foremost — Dedan Kimathi, Che Guevara and Freddy Rwigema still confirm the total absence of cheaper alternatives.
Thaaai Thaaai (peace and blessings)
Author: Margaret S. Maringa , posted on
• Power in Africa flows through concentric circles of incestuous relationships.
This is precisely the strength of Kobusingye’s controversial book — she is the “Samaritan” whose vision is not impaired or distorted by these incestuous circles. Unlike her brother KB and his wife Winnie Byanyima (or folks like Muntu Mugisha and Olara Otunnu) whose opposition can be easily dismissed as the usual rantings from discarded “relatives” of the government. Kobusingye is the 21st century version of the anonymous “the man” who was the hero of the book “The beautiful ones are not yet born” by Ayi Kwei Armah.
Secondly — Kobusingye quotes extensively from “The Mustard Seed” book — forcing her readers to look more keenly into the practical application of Museveni’s vision. Her book forces the readers to finally verbalise those tell-tale cracks in our national mirrors. That stuff that we gossip about within the privacy of our cultural traditions — is now being shouted from the global rooftops. Her book is the updated African saga of the seven virgins who were swept off by a handsome young man at a local dance. However as they followed him back home across seven rivers — the handsome young man kept on returning the fancy stuff he had borrowed for the dance (hair, waistline, teeth, legs).
Every so often the now fast-aging “young man” reached out and swept a few flies into his second mouth (located at the back of his neck). Oooops ………….did anybody else notice that not so human habit.
By the seventh river (election year) most of the girls had turned back towards their suspicious intuitions. However this one solitary virgin persisted in her illusions and crossed the Rubicon — where she was promptly swallowed by the “irimu ria nyakondo” now fully revealed in his normal regalia. Kobusingye’s book is this proverbial seventh river — the final call for any foolish virgins still chasing mythical illusions regarding African governments and their messed-up continent.
Thirdly – a revolutionary is his own worst critic and opposition. By publishing “The Mustard Seed” while still firmly holding public office — Yoweri Museveni (and the NRM government) transformed themselves into A+plus students whose performance must now be always superior (compared to the mediocre average C results of their fellow African leaders) particularly after their “mustard seed” was successfully copied in Rwanda and the DRC Congo. Students who drop their scores are judged far harshly than students who pull themselves above normal expectations.
And that is precisely the truth that Kobusingye is reiterating in her book — that self-styled A+ politicians like Museveni (and his NRM followers) need to recognise that their fabled “mustard seed” has not grown into the promised mighty oak tree (ground reality) where all kinds of birds (including the opposition) are supposed to be nesting freely and comfortably. As the holy scriptures observe rather tartly: “He who boasts louder – automatically raises the pass mark far higher expectations. Hopefully the next generation of leaders in Africa will be a lot more sober and practical in their goals…….perhaps a cynical leadership would be a better foundation stone for our continent.
Finally — Kobusingye’s book is a practical reminder to all revolutionaries — that successful revolutions happen only when the leader dies first and foremost — Dedan Kimathi, Che Guevara and Freddy Rwigema still confirm the total absence of cheaper alternatives.
Thaaai Thaaai (peace and blessings)
Author: Margaret S. Maringa , posted on October 26, 2010 at 7:50 pm