Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi is a complex novel that tells the story of Uganda through several generations of the descendants of Kintu Kidda. It begins in 1750 when Kintu Kidda unintentionally kills his adopted son. In doing so, he unleashes a curse that haunts his family for generations.
Leaping forward to the 21st century, we are introduced to the many descendants in Kintu’s clan. Each character has a personal story whose life has been impacted by the curse in its varied manifestations. Some are plagued with mental illness; some suffer from depression; some are haunted by ghosts; some are victims of violence; some perpetrate violence; some cling to traditional beliefs; some adopt the religion of the colonizers; some are aware of the curse; others have been intentionally kept in ignorance about their ancestral history in the hope that such ignorance will protect them. The political turmoil of Uganda is seen through their eyes, but it acts as a backdrop to the more prominent drama of the events unfolding in their personal lives.
The novel is divided into six sections, only one of which is told from a woman’s point of view. The final section unites the disparate family threads, gathering clan members in a ritual to rid them of the curse that has plagued them for many generations.
Each section of the novel looks back in time, presenting the character’s childhood, immediate family, and connections with extended family. It is challenging to keep track of who is related to whom and how. To add to the confusion is the large number of descendants; the fluid concept of who is considered a parent, a sibling, a twin, and a cousin; the plethora of adopted children; the multiple names by which a single character is identified; the fluidity of marital relations; and characters who have been introduced but whose connection to the family is not revealed until the final section. As it is, characters get jumbled up in a confusing whirlpool of intersections and interpersonal relationships. A family tree outlining how the characters are related to each other and a listing of their offspring would have gone a long way to alleviate the confusion and make it a more pleasurable read.
One of the more salient aspects of the novel lies in seeing the modifications and distortions Kintu Kidda’s original story undergoes as a result of oral transmission through the generations. His story hovers in the background. The basic outline remains the same, but interpretation of events varies and manifests in various superstitions within the family.
This is a challenging read as disentangling the family connections requires patience. The novel is vast in scope, spanning several generations of a family. Its value lies in providing a glimpse of the Ugandan clan system and in illustrating how individuals within the same clan navigate their survival against the backdrop of cultural traditions and a common ancestry.
Recommended with some reservations.