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    Read Regional 2019: Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

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    Franklin Einstein
    This document provides information about the novel "Kintu" by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. It includes: 1) A brief summary of the plot of "Kintu", which follows the patriarch Kintu and his descendants across 18th century Buganda Kingdom and modern-day Uganda as they suffer under a curse placed on the family. 2) Details about how the novel is divided into sections to explore how the curse affects different descendants and portray modern Uganda through their perspectives. 3) A note that the novel was inspired by the author's father's mental illness and her anxiety about its hereditary nature. 4) Suggested discussion questions about themes in the

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    Read Regional 2019: Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

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    Franklin Einstein
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    This document provides information about the novel "Kintu" by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. It includes: 1) A brief summary of the plot of "Kintu", which follows the patriarch Kintu and his descendants across 18th century Buganda Kingdom and modern-day Uganda as they suffer under a curse placed on the family. 2) Details about how the novel is divided into sections to explore how the curse affects different descendants and portray modern Uganda through their perspectives. 3) A note that the novel was inspired by the author's father's mental illness and her anxiety about its hereditary nature. 4) Suggested discussion questions about themes in the

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    Jennifer-Nansubuga-Makumbi

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    This document provides information about the novel "Kintu" by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. It includes: 1) A brief summary of the plot of "Kintu", which follows the patriarch Kintu and his descendants across 18th century Buganda Kingdom and modern-day Uganda as they suffer under a curse placed on the family. 2) Details about how the novel is divided into sections to explore how the curse affects different descendants and portray modern Uganda through their perspectives. 3) A note that the novel was inspired by the author's father's mental illness and her anxiety about its hereditary nature. 4) Suggested discussion questions about themes in the

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    93 views4 pages

    Read Regional 2019: Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

    Uploaded by

    Franklin Einstein
    This document provides information about the novel "Kintu" by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. It includes: 1) A brief summary of the plot of "Kintu", which follows the patriarch Kintu and his descendants across 18th century Buganda Kingdom and modern-day Uganda as they suffer under a curse placed on the family. 2) Details about how the novel is divided into sections to explore how the curse affects different descendants and portray modern Uganda through their perspectives. 3) A note that the novel was inspired by the author's father's mental illness and her anxiety about its hereditary nature. 4) Suggested discussion questions about themes in the

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    of 4

    READ DISCOVER

    BRILLIANT
    REGIONAL NORTHERN
    2019 WRITERS

    JENNIFER
    NANSUBUGA
    MAKUMBI
    KINTU
    Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
    Published by Oneworld

    ‘A multi-character epic that emphatically lives up to


    its ambition.’
    Sunday Times
    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.
    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 DISCOVER
    BRILLIANT
    REGIONAL NORTHERN
    2019 WRITERS

    newwritingnorth.com #readregional newwritingnorth @newwritingnorth nwnnewwritingnorth

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