This is the first book published in English by a black Zimbabwean woman and was only published in 1988, which really did shock me. I really didn't know what to expect from the book (it was a Kindle download with a vague synopsis), but I really enjoyed it, and can see why it's so highly acclaimed.
Tambu is desperate to go to school, but can't find a way to do so until her brother passes away and she goes to live with her aunt and uncle in his place. This extended family, including a cousin of hers, have been living in England, and Tambu must try to reconcile the life and traditions she's always known with how this family behaves. Tambu grew up in a rural village, and the book retrospectively tells her story of her teenage and adult years as being something more influenced by white people, particularly missionaries.
The book touches upon so many key themes: loss, family life, traditional Shona life, postcolonialism, spirituality and missionaries, race and gender. I loved Tambu's character, and felt that seeing everything that happens in the book through a child's eyes made for an interesting perspective. I felt the section at the end where she finally gets what she's thought she wanted, and realised it's not quite what she expected (trying not to give any spoilers here) was especially poignant.
I really enjoyed this, and felt it taught me a lot about the Shona people.
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