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JENNIFER NANSUBUGA MAKUMBI

Kintu, my first novel, is set in the historical events of 1750 Buganda Kingdom and later in 2004, in modern Uganda. Kintu is the story of Kintu and his descendants. In 1750 Kintu is a chief in Buganda Kingdom whose major problems are successive, unpredictable kings and, at home, his twin wives. Until he inadvertently kills Kalema, his adoptive son, while on a journey to the capital. When he fails to inform Ntwire, the lad’s biological father, his servant and a foreigner, Ntwire curses him and his descendants to live lives of suffering. In 2004, his descendants, who seem to suffer from mental illnesses, come together to try and break the curse. Through a family story, in Kintu I attempt to explore the historical political and economic turmoil of Uganda.

I divided the novel into 6 sections. This allowed me to look a variety of Kintu’s descendants, not just to explore how the curse affects them, but to use their different perspectives to portray modern Uganda. The first book takes us back to 1750 Buganda Kingdom and follows the misfortunes of Kintu, the patriarch. This part allows me to showcase not only what Buganda looked like socially, culturally, politically but also the physical landscape two and half centuries ago, especially before colonisation. Then against this background, using four of Kintu’s descendants, I explore not only how Ntwire’s curse manifests itself in modern Uganda but also the social, cultural and political changes in modern Uganda. Inevitably, the book invites you to compare now to then. In the final book, I collect all Kintu’s descendants together – some of who are now Tanzanians because of colonial borders – to return to their roots, to try and undo the curse.

Kintu, inspired by my father’s mental illness, came from the anxiety that his mental illness was hereditary.

KINTU Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi Published by Oneworld

‘A multi-character epic that emphatically lives up to its ambition.’ Sunday Times

Questions and Prompts for Discussion

1. How does the novel hint at the possibility that within male privilege could be repression?

2. In view of the fact that Uganda is considered one of the most homophobic countries in the world, comment on attitudes of pre-colonial uganda towards what is now perceived as deviant sexual behaviour?

3. How have Ugandans indigenised Christianity? Can you point out some Ugandan aspects added to Christianity?

4. Can you compare Ganda pre-colonial attitudes towards sex to the contemporary Ugandan ones?

5. The family is cursed. Is it a curse or is it just hereditary mental health?

6. Miisi thinks that we’re leaving in exciting times, there is no such thing as fact anymore; is this true for you? Or, are these actually frightening times for the same reason?

7. Can you talk about your favourite character?

8. Did you see Kampala the city? What did you see?

Recommended Further Reading

One Day I Will Write About this Place, Binyavanga Wainaina (Granta)Looking for Transwonderland, Noo Saro-Wiwa (Granta)We Need New Names, NoViolet Bulawayo (Vintage)Season of the Shadow, Leonora Miano (Seagull Books)Stay with Me, Ayobami Adebayo (Canongate)Butterfly Fish, Irenosen Okojie (Jacaranda)The Woman Next Door, Yewande Omotoso (Vintage)Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi (Penguin)

READ REGIONAL 2019

DISCOVER BRILLIANT

NORTHERN WRITERS

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