Customer Reviews

Devil on the Cross (African Writers Series)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One evening in Nairobi in the mid 80's I spent an uncomfortable dinner party defending this book to a bunch of outraged white folks. Well, Ngugi had it a bit worse. For the crime of producing a play in Kikuyu and for having ordinary folk be in it, and, of course, for the play expressing some irritation at the idea that a few should have all the money, he was jailed and his play confiscated.

As a result of his imprisonment, perhaps, this is not a happy book. Using allegory and parable he constructs a fabulous tale critiquing the existing order. He lays into the wealthy, the white colonialists and anyone else getting well off or acquiescing in the current regime of theft and greed.

Some of the outrage people have at this book came from Nugui's imaginative retelling of Jesus' parables. "For the Kingdom of Earthly Wiles can be likened unto a ruler who foresaw that the day would come when we would be thrown out of a certain country by the masses and their guerrilla freedom fighters" begins a parable loosely based on The Parable of the Talents.

It looks like he's attacking Jesus -- if you think Jesus was just telling pious little "be good" stories. On the other hand, if you really listen to Jesus, you'll think Ngugi is right on target.

This is an African version of Liberation Theology.

Ngugi has written a detailed and entertaining exploration of life in postcolonial Kenya, looking particularly at the effects global capitalism has upon the ideals of a socialist revolution. But the novel is also much more than that: it is the story of a woman who is unable to see her own beauty for the Western ideals forced upon her, a woman who straightens her hair and bleaches her skin to look more "attractive." It is the story of the devil's appearance to this woman on a golf course and her fervent desire to defeat him and the forces of global capitilism that are looting her country.

The novel is also Ngugi's attempt to translate the Gikuyu oral narrative into a written form. It is a surreal, funny, and ultimately disturbing read. If you enjoyed Achebe's THINGS FALL APART, then this is a sequel of sorts, an exploration of how the corruption continues after independence.

One commentor noted that Ngugi's book is good but fails in establishing a reason to care to his audience.

The reason for this is because though Ngugi does establish empathy from his audience he does so briefly because he assumes it is understood. Ngugi, in other words, was not writing this book for the European descent population who would need an elaborate explanation as to why to care about the characters. For the commentor, who is likely of European descent, they did not feel the automatic empathy for the characters any person of African descent feels as they read through the first chapter.

It's hard for me to think of any book that so elaborately investigates the contemporary Pan-African dilemma due to European exploitation. Other great novels, such as "Home to Harlem", do not directly attack or identify the issues. This book, though fictional literature is more of a nod to the philosophical inquiries of "The Wretched of the Earth." Utterly brilliant.

For those of whom detest translations, this book is a miracle. Written in Kenya's national language Gikuyu (?), the author also wrote the English version . . . and what a translation it is, too! Ngugi's prose easily surpasses the vast majority of authors alive today, and along with a gorgeously structured, captivating story . . . it actually took my breathe away.

Also, most American authors who consider themselves 'political,' strike me as simply preaching to the choir. Not so with Ngugi. You can actually feel some of the grief he bears for the direction his nation has taken, a nation he has an undeniable, unfailing, patriotic love for -and its the country that imprisoned him!

If you want the same old romance or adventure the same old way, read a tawdry or action-packed American bestseller. If you want an experience that will last after you're done reading, order this book.

I really loved this book. I've read a few of Ngugi's books and this is my favorite: lyrical, sad, and yet optimistic and celebratory at the same time. It has a number of strengths. Its poetic verses and style were reminiscent of Kikuyu oral literature; despite this version being in English there was a great translator. I can't read Kikuyu but Ngugi writes in it and says it can convey some of the richness of the stories better than English can. I can't imagine it being better than it was though! It was a great story of true Kenyan heroes, a love story, a scathing condemnation of corruption, materialism, poverty, neo-colonialism and self-hatred in Kenya and all over the world, and a truly feminist story as well.

I loved how Ngugi praised women who sought untraditional careers like engineering,and the women who had been the national heros in expelling the British. African women's roles in ousting the colonial powers and the need for them to help develop young nations is often neglected but Ngugi gives special attention to African women and embraces their contributions, equality, and their natural beauty, while expressing deep sadness over how they mutilate themselves by bleaching their skin, among other things. I met Ngugi and he was such a warm and wonderful man. This is a beautiful story.

I read this book 5 years ago and think about it on a regular basis. Obviously, this book has left quite an impression! I have searched bookstores high and low--worldwide--and have not been able to find it. Let's hope the publisher reprints this masterpiece, for it is one of the most important novels of the 20th century. It reflects the spiritual, political, and social confusion in our post-colonial world. My one regret is that so many students of world literature are lead to believe that it is comparable to Achebe's When Things Fall Apart. I tend to disagree. Achebe's work isn't as memorable. Reader's of this book should also read V.S. Niapul's A Bend in the River, which is a modern Heart of Darkness. All three of the above mentioned books are haunting. I think we, Americans in particular, need to realize that there is more to world "affairs" than Bill and Monica. This book will show readers how trivial our daily concerns really are.

Ngugi wa Thiongo is very blatant about how Kenyan's are prone to hold esteem on foreign effects; language, behaviorisms and social interactions. A person is held in high regard if she or he can talk English or imperial languages as opposed to native languages such as Gikuyu. There is a constant effort to talk, dress and behave like the `Muzungu' much similar to the struggles that Wariinga's finds herself in when she straightens her hair out and wears conventional dresses that do not flutter her inorder to adhere to the misguided notion or idea of what is perceived as beautiful. Ngugi's book emphasizes on the need to decolonize the mind from the stand view point of imperial customs and culture being inherently superior to one that embraces African culture. On page 112 of his book there in a narrative by one of his characters, Kihaahu wa Gatheeca, that describes the disdain received by schools that uphold cultural values which is still true today as it was in 1980 when he wrote the book.
The writings of Ngugi are on the same lines as those of Haunani-Kay Trask who extensively wrote on the effects of colonialism in Hawai`i, Chenua Achebe and Edward Said in his essay `Decolonization of the mind.' As I read the book, Frantz Fanon statement from his book, Wretched of the Earth came to mind "Europe is a creation of the third World" this I believe should be the guiding light to those Kenyans that pursue ostensible imperial-like lifestyles while people like Ngugi wa Thiogo's character Wangari who fought for the independence of the country live in dire poverty.

Translated from the Gikuyu by the author. Clandestine prison writing, "I resorted to toilet paper. ... Toilet paper at Kamiti was meant to punish prisoners. So it was very coarse. But what was bad for the body was good for the pen." With imagery and colloquialisms rhythmically synchronized to place you into the heart of Kenya's post colonial turmoil, your arm efficiently wipes your tears as it circularly moves to grab the nearest weapon to combat this invariant, heinous, and timeless pox. Ignorance. Ngugi ,a major figure in the Post-Colonial movement, was described by Edward W. Said as, one of the "... major thinkers and artists whose sufferings have not blunted the intransigence of their thought, or inhibited the severity of their punishment." Devil on the Cross represents Ngugi's first manifestation of the transition to battle the colonial devil by creating literary art using his indigenous language, Gikuyu. I can certainly disagree in part with his philosophy of language that reduces its purpose only to communication and as a carrier of culture. I admire Ngugi's taking life threateningly risks and with great tenacity to create this political novel, to decolonize the mind. At the end; "Wariinga walked on, without looking back. But she knew with all her heart that the hardest struggles of her life's journey lay ahead...."

I found it amazing. I wonder what I am missing in the translation though. I know the devices of prose are not preserved when honest translations are made. I wonder what the names of all the characters mean, I know they HAVE to mean something as he has taken great pains in making most everything else count. I wish I knew what the songs in Congolese meant because I know they are devices of the plot, just like every other ditty that got translated.

As for it being a great piece of literature... I believe it is so. I loved the parallels with the life of Jesus and the allegory throughout. I love pieces that are layered. I can respect any author that puts that much work into his fiction. I was excited to see a female main character who rediscovered her true worth. It redefined what I subconsciously assumed about African culture and the treatment of women.

For its cultural value, integration of African storytelling, and all the other elements combined... I have to give this book 5 stars. I wish I had read it long, long ago.

Amazing book by an amazing author! The seller sent my item quickly after i purchased it at a reasonable price. Great deal!