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The Rise of Rodedom
The Rise of Rodedom is a scenic, speculative novel addressing crucial political issues affecting Africa and the world. Drawing on Griffin’s theory that fantastical and otherworldly figures enable satirists to critique human folly indirectly, the novel critiques racism, negative ethnicity, and the flawed psyches of both Western and African societies. Its narrative predates pre-slavery Africa through colonial and post-colonial eras, exposing racial prejudices embodied through the evils of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism. The imagery of cats and rodents symbolizes the predator-prey dynamic between the West and Africa. The author criticizes African leaders, like Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Mobutu Sseseko, for imitating Western ideas instead of forging original and indigenous-rooted governance systems. Conversely, it acknowledges Western leaders such as Bismarck, Roosevelt, and Churchill for their roles in advancing civilization, while also illuminating Hitler and Stalin’s destructive impacts during the world wars. The core, albeit speculative, question it explores is, ‘What if Africa unites?’ emphasizing that history and current affairs deepen understanding of the book’s allegorical structure. The narrative advocates for African unity under a federal government, underscoring the need for an original developmental path. Hyperbolic references to astronomical inventions symbolize the immense potential Africa could unlock through unification.
What Others Say
“The Rise of Rodedom is a historical novel that uses animal imagery to explore global dynamics, focusing on Africa. Andrew Nyongesa nostalgically examines Africa’s early history while predicting its future. He employs neologisms and allegory to transform factual historical data into an engaging narrative. The work is a poignant quest for the unity of Africa, portraying the continent as a nurturing mother, guiding father, and wise grandfather to others. Nyongesa’s style allows him to critique and challenge Africa’s issues boldly, offering insights for its future without reservation.” - Felix Okuku.
The Winding Road
The Winding Road is a heart rending tale about identity. The main protagonist, Yuna hits the road on a journey of self discovery on realising the woman she has known as her mother is not actually her biological mother. . . a journey to discover her roots. Its a journey that's fraught with dazzling highs and distressing lows. From desolation she's swung to the pinnacle of the modeling industry and is crowned Miss Africa. The undreamed of success gets into her head and she dramatically temples from grace to scavenge in the streets with her old question of identity haunting her. Will Yuna discover her roots?
MALAIKA
When a university professor decides to open a private school where young children can be taught in their mother tongue, she finds herself at the centre of controversy and intrigue. This is a story about the love and dedication of three women: a young, independent businesswoman. an older teacher and her American friend. As political events swirl around these women, and as Kenya moves towards democracy and national cohesion, the reader is caught up in the struggle of the human spirit to realize the goal of justice for all people.
Arthur Dobrin is Professor Emeritus of University Studies at Hofstra University. He is also Leader Emeritus of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, New York, United States of America.
He and his wife, Lyn, were Peace Corps Volunteers in Kisii, Kenya from 1965-67, lived there again in 1975 and returned many times since. Dr. Dobrin is the author of more than 25 books, including three others set in Kenya: Salted with Fire, Kwamboka’s Inquiry, and This Red Land.
The Blissabyss
The Blissabyss depicts the contradictions inherent in human life and its vulnerability to negative trajectories. Save for Nancy, Eugene, Fresha, and Brenda are idealistic in their youth. As they mature, they come to terms with a world with little room for ideals. Driven by ambition to succeed, Eugene reveals his plans to everyone only to encounter many obstacles on his journey to success. When his brother, Soita attempts to murder him, Eugene comes to terms with his delusions about being strong. Deprived of love and family, his tethers to idealism snap, and he drinks and spends in Nancy’s room contradicting his moral principles. After a fantastic love affair with Frank, Fresha loses her chastity. Eugene would have continued in his chosen destructive path without Professor Mukabi’s intervention. The author’s message: a supportive social environment is the sole prescription to mitigate the weaknesses ingrained in human nature.
What Others Say
“The characters in The Blissabyss represent a society at a crossroads with individuals seeking to find their feet and place in the face of shifting identities and generational transformations. Their interactions and experiences at the university cast aspersions on their long-held beliefs and open them to new vistas of a future that are substantially different from what they have been made to believe. These young characters act as a link betweewn the age-old beliefs and the future possibilities which need a sincere and rational engagement devoid of misconceptions and half-truths. This they do with varying degrees of success.” - Dr Maurice S Mwichuli, Lecturer, Literary Studies, Kenyatta University
“In The Blissabyss, Andrew Nyongesa uses elegant, contemplative language with a mix of poetic imagery and emotional depth. The text is rich and expressive creating vivid images of the settings. The description helps the readers to visualize the characters’ inner worlds and their interactions.” - Juliet Achieng’, Editor, Nsemia Inc.
The Eye of Mayenga by Jaspher Rori
The Eye of Mayenga is a heart-throbbing novel centred in a remote, rural African village of Mayenga. The village is a lethargic place that appears to have been left behind with respect to world trends and realities. Its residents seem trapped in times gone, dwelling on beliefs like witchcraft and other archaic practices. There seems to be neither vision nor mission, and stuck in antiquated beliefs. Its residents' pastime is drinking cheap illicit liquor, and engaging in pessimistic village gossip, which presents its own challenges. Their own son, Vincent Senta, a practising lawyer in Nairobi, 'sees with his heart' the predicament of the village, and resolves to apply his knowledge, skills and connections to bring change to the village. He successfully organises a women's group and initiates an eye-catching water project, which some people appreciate and see him as the "Eye of Mayenga." However, petty gossip and a troubled family life take their toll on him. To escape the harsh reality, he finds solace in his sentimental secretary. The relationship is ill-fated with him testing HIV-positive of which he eventually dies. Despite the medical exposition on the cause of death, blame is squarely placed on his hard-to-understand neighbours who, due to their religious beliefs, lead lives of solitude. Most residents of Mayenga believe he has been bewitched by the neighbours. In a "revenge mission", the neighbours are burnt alive in broad daylight right in the presence of the local chief. Though rumours were rife that these neighbours carried the cross of Senta's death, nobody had answers to the chief's torrential questions: Who? When? Why? What? How? And what and in the future? And future? The Eye of Mayenga captures a community at a cross-road and illustrates the clash of cultures and the struggle between the past and modernity.
"The Eye of Mayenga is a wonderful piece of art that touches on many aspects of our lives. It tackles contemporary issues of the developing world undergoing social change.These are issues that offer challenges to development." - Elijah Ogoti, English Teacher, Kenya.
"Apart from being an excellent story to read, it is a commendable book for students in community development." - Joseph A. Awino, Lecturer, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
"Jaspher Rori's work is a pretty juicy, practical, and interesting story that is set in a traditional African society, and is interwoven with unique practical challenges, exciting themes and characters that leave the reader yearning for more." - Sakaja Yona, Lecturer, University of Nairobi.
The Naked Shadow
The Naked Shadow is a story of political competition and machinations that underline the thirst and search for power. It is an exposé of the many dark forces of political intrigues and their devastating impact on the protagonists, the society and many innocent bystanders. In the fictitious country of its setting, The Naked Shadow exposes the play between political power, drug dealing and love affairs where see-saw-like swings in alignments seal the fate of many. Here mayors hold office at the pleasure of drug cartels as opponents hatch schemes (many of them evil) to win political authority. There is blackmail and murder. Amidst all this, there is suffering and no one is spared: family, children, and innocent lovers. Sadly the electorate remains a pawn in the ever-evolving chase board of ‘planned wickedness’.
What Others Say
“The uniqueness of this novel lies in postmodernist thought that the world is pervaded by confusion and humankind’s attempt to bring order in chaos remains an exercise in futility. The law, the state, and the police are just ‘organized immorality’ as Nietzsche claims and even the modernist insistence on reward for the ‘good’ and punishment for the ‘evil’ sometimes does not happen. In the novel, punishment and suffering also pursue the upright and noble given the muddled attributes of life.” – Andrew Nyongesa, PhD, author and scholar of literature
“The Naked Shadow exposes a gangster state (not unlike many in the world) that thrives on drug dealing, prostitution and murder through orchestrated eliminations in planned ‘see-saw’ revenge episodes among protagonists with collusions and making love in the mix. ” – Matunda Nyanchama, PhD, Publisher and IT Consultant.
Tell me Where You’ve Been
Arthur Dobrin’s Tell Me Where You Have Been adds to diverse voices in postcolonial migration and identity politics. It offers the reader a chance to reflect on the merits, demerits and consequences, thereof, of such immigration relative to the dynamics in host nations. What is the balance one should maintain between one’s identity and the new networks that are essential for one’s success in the host nation or community? What is the place of lived experiences and how do those shape success for the immigrant? How do these lived experiences intermingle and shape the immigrant’s trajectory in the foreign nation?
What others say
“I thought [the writing] was somewhat, “genius” at times. It is a style comparable to jazz music, characterized by improvising, syncopated rhythms with a strong emphasis on individual expressions and virtuosity.” — Eric Byas
“I was in suspense by the way the author toggled from the present to the past. the blending of historical events and characters, which at times caused me to forget this was fiction. This was a riveting page-turner with plot twists that kept me reading until the end.” — Vasco Figueira
“Tell Me Where You’ve Been is a powerful reflection on how people treat music, literature and especially people. I enjoyed it greatly.” — Brian Benavides
“The uniqueness of this book lies in Dobrin’s extension of Bhabha’s theory of onward migration and contemporary challenges among minorities living in host nations such as the United States of America.” — Dr. Andrew Nyongesa, Literature Scholar
Ties of Destiny by Marjory Kimani
Ties of Destiny is the story of two men who are born together, brought up together, and bound together for life by incidence, coincidence and fate. The two are sworn enemies from their childhood and both are achievers, born fighters and dyed in the wool go-getters. However, their methods of achieving success are a lesson in differing world views and an insight into the complexities of the human psyche. At the heart of the story is the love of mothers who will do everything possible, even keeping deadly secrets, to protect their children. Things come to a head when an unexpected development occurs and both men are forced to confront the bitter reality and face a common nemesis until a solution is found from the most unexpected source.