Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

This book centers on contemporary issues like masculinity and the dangerous consequences of rage and improper decisions. It also touched on issues like barrenness and the perceived notion of women being second-class citizens.

This book dates back to the pre-colonial and colonial eras of Uganda. It describes the history of Uganda in a fictional yet epic and surreal manner that leaves you thrilled, annoyed, and captivated all at once.

This book left me wanting, questioning, and at some point, hoping for a sequel. Kintu is a well-researched book and can serve as reference material for anyone interested in Ugandan history, the ugliness of colonialism, Christian conflicts/ conflict of belief (what I term the ills of interdenominational Christianity), and the complexity of love (incest) in this case.

In the beginning, there was a curse. A generational curse. A curse meant to succeed from one family lineage to another. This is almost similar to when God, in Exodus 34:7, decides to visit the fathers’ iniquities onto the fourth generation.

It all started with the death of Kalema, a boy who was supposed to be a page boy, to Kintu, the Ppookino (chief) of the Buddy province of 18th century Buganda kingdom (now Uganda). Karma was the son of Kidda Kintu, who, according to history, was from Rwanda. The Ppookino was obliged by tradition to visit small clans to ensure the laws of the land were adhered to as custom dictates.

He married two sisters, Nnakato and her twin, Babirye.

On one of such trips, Kalema committed an act Kintu found insulting. Out of rage, he struck Kalema, an action which later led to the boy’s death. (This reminds me of Okonkwo and Ikemefuna in Things Fall Apart).

I don’t intend to make this review a spoiler, but I need to write certain details to show why this book is worthwhile.

Kalema’s death and his subsequent “improper” burial led to his father cursing the whole Kintu lineage. The most interesting thing about this book is the fact that the main events actually started happening after the curse. We begin to see different characters, all from the Kintu bloodline, who exhibited strange and aberrant behaviors like unfaithfulness, improper sexual relationship (incest in this case), pride, depression for the reason of the curse, and other mental health conditions.

In addition, they are afflicted with sudden death, accidents, religious conflict/conflict of faith, poverty, and infectious diseases (HIV/Aids).

The book’s climax was when the whole Kintu lineage began locating one another to rid themselves of the curse. One peculiar lesson I picked from this book is that despite the sadness detailed in their bloodline, the family remained strong-willed, bold, united, and came together as a strong force to undo that which tends to purge them apart.

This book centers on contemporary issues like masculinity and the dangerous consequences of rage and improper decisions. It also touched on issues like barrenness and the perceived notion of women being second-class citizens.

 Whether the curse was undone or not is left for the reader to decide. 

Favorite quotes from Kintu 

“The mind was a curse. It’s ability to go back in time to regret and hop into the future to hope and worry was not a blessing”

” Nature is as ugly as it is beautiful. People drop dead, people kill each other, people go hungry. You don’t dwell, you just exist.

” Men, by nature, don’t have lips. We don’t discuss each other with our wives”

” What must be kept from the tongue stays off the tongue.

I’ll finish off by recommending this book. I gave it a 4 star ( just not to seem biased with a 5 star ⭐ rating). This is a masterpiece that sticks forever, and I promise you’ll pick it up again after you are through reading it.