Matigari
Ngugi wa Thiong’o put together a story of Matigari, originally authored in Kikuyu before it’s translation to English and thereafter published in 1987. Film producer Ruby Kangethe shares her thoughts on this Kenyan novel.
Matigari deals with post independence Kenya where he, having been a freedom fighter had been full of hope, only to find that things weren’t much better. One Oppressor exchanged for another.
It is written in a style that combines African oral literature enjoyably so much so that I could see and hear the characters straight off the page, the novel. It was easy to read and lyrically paint imaginative pictures. I could follow vividly transported through reality and imagination.
Exploring human ideals, social, economic and gender relationships in post-colonial Africa, perhaps similar, yet apart, holding a unique compelling perspective on human values.
The name Matigari ma Njirungi means Survivor- The Patriots that survived the bullets.
Before picking up the book Matigari I believe, though not 100% certain that I first heard about or saw a feature film synopsis based on Ngugi’s novel. I hadn’t come across any other Kenyan literature that expressed sentiments I felt I could or had genuinely experienced myself. Realities and disappointments for my own personal hopes and dreams of the Kenyan identity.
Today, the book remains absolutely relevant because for many- little has changed. However, I might say that, that particular point of view, to my current understanding exists globally under most political regimes, we must look beyond.