Tayeb Salih; translated by Denys Johnson-Davies
The Wedding of Zein by Tayeb Salih, translated from the Arabic by Denys Johnson-Davies, is a delightful novella depicting life in a small village in Sudan. The central character is the gawky, lanky, toothless, and comedic village buffoon, Zein. The villagers are shocked with the announcement that not only is Zein getting married, but he is marrying one of the most beautiful and eligible girls in the village. Zein is actually getting married? The villagers are baffled.
In this delightful story, Tayeb Salih introduces us to a motley crew of villagers—a Sufi mystic; a wayward, now reformed son; an orthodox Imam; the beautiful and pious Ni’ma; the village elders who mete out justice; and, of course, Zein. Treated like a harmless village idiot, Zein’s antics are a source of raucous laughter. His vociferous declarations of love for some of the village girls attract potential bridegrooms—a service that makes Zein popular with mothers of marriageable age daughters who welcome him as an emissary of love.
In spite of his antics and tomfoolery, Zein has a heart of gold, a quality recognized and appreciated by Haneen, the Sufi mystic, and by Zein’s future bride, Ni’ma. Zein lives his faith. He looks after the destitute, the lame, and the outcasts. He entertains children and is quick to offer a helping hand to any who need it. The villagers gradually realize Zein is not such an idiot, after all. They dance, sing, clap, and stomp in celebration during his nuptials while he stands at the heart of the circle, the linchpin that holds the story and the village together.
Tayeb Salih’s enchanting story unfolds with gentle humor and kindness toward the inhabitants of his village. His story illustrates community, neighborliness, compassion, shared responsibility for the well-being of others, repentance, forgiveness, transformations, and acceptance of diversity. It celebrates the differently abled and the beauty that lies beneath physical attributes. This heart-warming tale, beautifully translated by Denys Johnson-Davies, exudes warmth and wholeness and a nostalgia for a time when life was simpler, when people cared about each other, and when all was well with the world.
Highly recommended.