A CHAT FROM LONDON : The Zanzibar issue and history of Tanzanian literature

Let us continue with the theme of nations as seen last week.

Historically, big nations have been defined by their literature, i.e. writers and books. Take the song Nkosi Sikelela i Africa (God Bless Africa) written by Enoch Sontonga, a South African teacher in 1897. This composition has since become the national anthem of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa- although only Zambia, Tanzania and South Africa still use the lyrics and melody. Or Guantanamera the famous Cuban song chopped from a poem by Jose Marti, very most prominent voice of Cuban literature in his poetry collection: “Versos Sencillos: Simple Verses.”

Marti a national hero who was killed in the Cuban independence movement in 1895, once said: “Books console us, calm us, prepare us, enrich us and redeem us.”

Sure, sure. Books and writers are voices of nations. We English speakers are aware that William Shakespeare is its chicken chéf and superstar. Same goes for Lev Tolstoy and Alexander Pushkin, Russian giants of literature.

 If we do not want to cite names, we could also look at forms and words that have come out of national literature. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry using three lines of up to 17 syllables- in brief, a short poem. Like Japanese cars, Haiku is slowly becoming as popular, world wide.

Tanzania has Shaaban Robert (pictured) – grandfather of modern Kiswahili literature. He is one of the few writers whose books are easily accessible, thanks to Mkuki na Nyota and its founder, Walter Bgoya, who recently released  some of Shaaban Robert’s best works e.g. Kielelezo cha Fasihi, Adili na Nduguze, Kusadikika, etc.

His selected works collection was translated into Russian in 1981.

 Clarifying Kielelezo cha Fasihi, a month before his death in 1962, the grand master of Kiswahili explained: “Fasili is a description of thoughts of a poem in a simple language.” By publishing such  work, the legendary writer not only expanded the meaning of his art but also extended Kiswahili literature to a new level that has since been unequalled. No wonder in their description of the late essayist, poet and novelist, Mkuki na Nyota hail him as being “to Swahili language what Shakespeare was to English.” 

Fortunately, since the master’s demise, writers have continued to mushroom, albeit none with such variety. From the Mainland: Mathias Mnyampala (poetry), Faraji Katalambula (novels and films), Ebrahim Hussein (plays), Prof Euphrase Kezilahabi (poetry and novels), Prof Seithy Chachage (novels and essays),  Charles Mloka (poetry), Elvis Musiba (novels) to name but a few. The real core of Swahili writing, beautiful and enduring, however, is from Zanzibar and Pemba. I am not one of those belonging to the school of thought that argues that the Mainland or the islands are better than the other, yet we have to try to be honest and hug quality here.

Centre of the core was the crime writer; Mohammed Said Abdullah who started with prize winner in 1958 and died in 1991.His seven novels featured an intelligent detective, Bwana Msa.

The rest are also award winners beginning with Adam Shafi, whose semi-autobiographical epic (Mbali na Nyumbani) has just been released by Longhorn in Nairobi, while Kasr ya Mwinyi Fuad (1978) was translated into French and German years ago. Kuli -the most known- is based on the 1948 port workers strike while, Vuta N’kuvute, won the Tanzanian writers award of 1998.

 Almost forgotten (and rarely mentioned) is the winner of a 1970 writing prize, Mohammed S. Mohammed whose Kiu (thirst), about love between an old man and a younger female (plus three other brilliant publications) is sadly, no  longer available in local bookshops or online.

Then Said Ahmed Mohammed, equally gifted in the magic of Swahili story telling – an author of over thirty poems, plays and novels. Utengano (1980) his second novel- has been translated into Italian, while Asali Chungu (1976) has all ingredients of East African social issues: plight of women, Ufisadi (lecherous leaders), infidelity, poverty and class struggle. In a recent interview with Said a retired professor of Kiswahili at the University of Bayreuth, I wondered why he is not that known despite multitudes of works.

Prof Ahmed: “There are many good writers who have not become known because the media does not publicise them and they are not interested in tapping their chests to claim superficial fame.”

Abdulrazak Gurnah, born in Zanzibar in 1948 writes in English and has published eight novels, one (Paradise, 1994) was shortlisted for Man Booker, a highly valued international prize of English Literature.

 As you can see Zanzibar has coughed up pretty amazing writers.

Lately, Zanzibaris have unfortunately, openly expressed their desire to separate from the Mainland. Video clips circulating across the internet show a passionate yearning with alleged  historical quotes from speeches of late founders of the Union, i.e. Sheikh Amani Karume and Mwalimu Nyerere. It would be good to recognise how our island cousins have contributed to Tanzanian and African literature.  By acknowledging this perhaps a more sensitive dialogue will help heal seething, boiling rifts.

Mr Macha is a writer and musician based in London. Blog:   www.freddymacha.blogspot.com