CHIMURENGA: DEFIANCE AGAINST DYNASTIC AUTOCRACY.

CHIMURENGA- Muhindo Maka ” Pen Rebel”

Right now across Africa, there is an undercurrent of change taking place politically.  Where the continent’s youth, who are the majority,  are questioning the way their countries are led. Why should Africans be in poverty as their leaders amass wealth that they store in offshore accounts? Why should Africa’s minerals be taken forcefully by the West or through corrupt deals, while the villagers whose land it is are chased or massacred? Why should dictators who have had a grip for decades..be allowed to continue ruling?

This book is set squarely into that issue. And even though it’s set in a fiction county called Ganda, one could assume that it speaks of Uganda. Even though tens of African countries could claim it as their own because of how relatable it is.

In “Chimurenga” we see a country that is ruled by a dictator for over 40 years. His rule started off with a lot of hope. But as the decades go by, and  development trickles little by little, as corruption increases- people get tired. They want a country that works for them. That works for everyone,  not just the elite few.

But who will slay the dragon? Or rather, how? This is a question that several characters in the book seek to answer. We have Colonel Gwanga and his exiled friends who see the way forward being to start small, and end it with toppling down the regime.

And what follows is an action paced turn of events that leave everybody in the saga caught unawares. Foreign nations join the fray, while university students risk their lives for their country.

And as usual with African dictators,  blood is spilt.  Over and over again. The presidents always assume that when people see bodies piled up, that they will cower in fear. That when they hear of their comrades who have been abducted and tortured, that they will be afraid of protesting.

But the youth in this  book don’t cower. Even when the media does. Even when they are all they have. They fight for themselves to the end. They fight for their future with everything they’ve got.

What I liked most about this book, was just how realistic it is, while also being interesting. It’s like reading nonfiction written like fiction. I’ve had to read it in one sitting because once I started I couldn’t put it down,  I wanted to know what happens next. But above all, I wanted the opposition to win. I wanted those people meeting in the dark to strategize,  to one day behold freedom.

And I’m glad the author gave us the ending this book has. The ending allows us as African youth to dream. To hope. To imagine. That maybe, our asks are not that outrageous. That with the right person, concepts like Justice, education and health for all, will not be things only a few access. That a country can work for everyone.

As you can tell, I enjoyed this read. It’s full of struggle that we African youth are familiar with. But it’s also full of hope. All while being interesting.