Smouldering Charcoal

by Paul Tiyambe Zeleza

Chronicles the lives of two families in post-colonial Africa, the first—poor, working-class and ill-educated—is compared to the young, politically aware college student and her journalist fiance. The middle-class pair become victims of the same brutal violence that the poor and powerless suffer.

Genres: Africa, Malawi, Fiction, African Literature, Novels, Poverty, Politics

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 1992

Reviews

[Pedro · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

La novela trascurre en un país africano no mencionado (suponemos que es Malaui, por la nacionalidad del autor) y sigue la vida de dos parejas: una de ellos, Mchere, obrero de una panificadora y Namba, ama de casa, viven al borde de la miseria, con todo el deterioro en la relación que conlleva; la otra, Chola, graduado universitario, periodista, y Catherine, estudiante universitaria, ambos de una clase media con sensibilidad social. Tal vez por esta última condición, Chola suele elegir un camino alternativo para ir al trabajo.

“Chola siempre se sentía incómodo y a veces culpable cuando pasaba por esa parte de la ciudad. A ambos lados de la calle había chabolas construidas con barro, hierba, láminas de metal, cartón y cualquier otra cosa que pudiera proporcionar una permanencia temporal. Estas estructuras desvencijadas albergaban formas humanas desarticuladas, no personas, rodeadas de perros furiosos, ratas y un hedor inhumano. Allí, hombres y mujeres viejos morían mientras dormían, o eran apuñalados a muerte, debido a unas monedas que habían escondido en el suelo; las niñas tenían hijos prematuramente en rápida sucesión, niños que no conocerían a sus padres ni la forma de una pizarra; y los jóvenes perfeccionaban sus artes marciales y se graduaban en un mundo de terror y violencia. De vez en cuando, estos barrios bajos eran derribados por excavadoras. Ocasionalmente, fuertes vientos los arrasaban, ahorrando así dinero y mano de obra al municipio. Pero estos santuarios siempre se reconstruían, a veces en el mismo sitio, o se encontraban nuevos sitios. Y también eran destruidos. Era la misma historia, una historia con los brutales ciclos repetitivos de la naturaleza salvaje."

A partir de esta base se desarrolla una historia, minuciosa y cuidadosamente narrada, sobre los efectos de vivir en un país pobre, autoritario, en el que la mayor parte de la población está condenada a una miseria sin horizontes.

Se presentan situaciones en las que, primero los hombres, después las parejas, se ven igualados, como pares, y es interesante ver como el autor intenta resolver que pasa con esta situación de paridad una vez superada la emergencia.

Un buen libro, en el que no queda afuera ninguno de los aspectos, posiciones, alternativas y obstáculos sobre como hacer frente a un sistema de estas características, que el autor maneja con solvencia.

Pese a todo ello, y tal vez por la condición de historiador del autor, me pareció un libro que no lograba despertar interés ni emoción. Si fuera malo podría decir que podría haber sido escrito a través de algún sistema de Inteligencia Artificial (como muchas de mis recientes reseñas). Pero el libro, el autor y el tema no lo merecerían.

Una buena novela, correcta.

[Patrik Plvan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are white european like me, this book will probably draw you to the struggles and aches of ordinary people in corrupt and neocolonialism-stricken countries in Africa far more than many articles or reports. So sit back and relax in your comfy warm sofa, chair whatever and be ready to find out how the ordinary lives look when you're not so lucky, blessed and privileged to be born in safe northern democracy or some similar regime.

[Zuzana Kubáň · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I must admit. I am biased because I just simply love novels set in the period prior to and shortly after formal decolonisation. Hence, I was able to forgive this book even it's somewhat cliché ending.
Anyone, who likes learning about the regimes which replaced the colonial one and the adaptation of African countries to western models of governance, daily survival of impoverished communties, or on political corruption in Africa --> this is your book to read.

[Jeleni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll leave the same rating as before. even though now I'm not as star struck with this as I was the first time I read it.
the story telling in this is a bit off putting, especially the first chapters as nothing seems to flow chronologically.

[Lado Lokosang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly good book! surprising because i held a subconscious bias towards southern african literature. however, it exceeded my expectations with a genuine story of grief and jubilation. many bittersweet moments and times that could radicalize you in the right setting. now, of course, i’m not glamorizing a struggle; the rich story telling drives your viewpoint. well done, a true jubilee

[Gman Gasore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is highly recommendable to readers with an interest in understanding the intrinsic forces and struggles of African countries transitioning to western political structures.

Tiyambe Zeleza did an amazing Job, illustrating how the class does not determine freedom in a socio-political system where people have a direct connection to the political changes. One key part of the book is the way the author echos activism. Using an example of a snake, the author expresses the need for workers and lower class communities to actively fight for their freedom by striking against the Politicians "Head of a snake" instead of fighting within themselves "the tail of the snake".

This is very important because, with the rise of Capitalism, middle and lower class communities have become lenient and very used to the system that we do not want to do anything about it. Nevertheless, when we choose to fight the system, we fight against our own through racism, prejudice and end up blaming the wrong people.

The book is a combination of culture, politics, post-colonial structures, the rise of modern politics and multiparty systems in Malawi. It feels very real that reading just feels like watching a movie. As an African, I could relate to the communities, busy urban areas, and the daily lives of the character. Am glad I read it.

[Nana Fredua-Agyeman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Smouldering Charcoal (Heinemann, 1992; 183) by Tiyambe Zeleza belongs to the immediate post-colonial African literature, which includes such texts as Ayi Kwei Armah's The Beautyful Ones are not Yet Born, and Ngugi wa Thiong'o's A Grain of Wheat. More specifically, it belongs to those collection of works which exposes the disillusionment of independence and questions the integrity and vision of the post-independence leaders, usually the first presidents, who became harsh, corrupt, and more cruel.

However, published in the early 1990s, when the equalisation of the genders had become the song and aim of government policies and therefore major themes of every work, the novel could equally be pushed into the social commentary sub-category of African literature aimed at instigating a social change. Consequently, Smouldering Charcoal is a socio-political novel. But its deficiency is the subliminal and sometimes conspicuous social commentaries it makes.

Continue here http://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2013...

[Mwayi Louise Gowelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of grammatical errors but the story is actually interesting

[Natasha Lifowe Chilima · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE best book that I will never read again. It’s sickeningly beautiful and heart wrenching and educational in such a heart wrenching, life changing way. This is the kind of novel you stay up until 3am writing soliloquies and essays about.

It’s SO GOOD. The writing was accessible and folklorey which was so so immersive. The characters are so raw and yet honest and real which makes the whole story so haunting. I really did love the way there was no objectively “good” character

I thought the pacing and the foreshadowing and the flashbacks were FANTASTIC and I really found myself binging

The symbolism and depth reminded me so much of George Orwell, and the accessible approach specifically reminded me of Animal Farm which is also one of my favorite books EVER EVER

I loved it I loved it I love it🖤

[Vii · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thinking of this book certainly embodies the thoughts of a lot of Malawian intellectuals who grew up in the immediate aftermath of the post-colonial era. It's description of the disillusionment and helplessness of what freedom couldn't bring is scaringly accurate and I commend the author for bring that through.

What is sad is that a lot of the descriptions of poverty and the economic class divide still exist in the country. Hospitals still have people sleeping on floors, minimum wage is still depressed and barely enough for a lot of people to survive, let alone thrive in daily life and the political elite still control and plunder the country. 60 years of independence and the novel still rings true.

While the ending feels a little rushed and somewhat generic and cliched, I enjoyed reading the book and it's thought provoking nature.

[Tutankhamun18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Depicts multiple perspectives of a strike at a bakery in the the newly independent Malawi revealing suffering, hope, corruption, the power of education, the role of women, power, fear, social class and loss. Ultimately depressing in resolution.

[Innocent Banda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives an epic picture of how affairs of african politics have been running and still running to help the future generation refrain from repeating the similar mistakes that have been disturbing the development of an African continent

[Noble Kibera]

This book is nice and good it tell more about readership you did a great job on it mr

[Morefiiyaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read- great story!

[Gift Scofield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so amazing

[Mada Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites.
I learned English literature with it, Malawi Govt MoE incorporated it as part of the English syllabus. What a good read!

[Montfort]

Wonderful

[ED WARD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I FIND IT AMAZING READING THIS BOOK, PROBABLY IT WAS PART OF BOOKS THAT COVERED OUR SYLABUS********

[Bernadette Thunga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it 4 years ago and I love it

[Jacob Chancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read the book

[Zulanga · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice book with a lot of lessons. Love it

[Ryan Devaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible true story that shows the suffering endured through the early stages of independence in Malawi.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wavered between three and four stars for this book. The theme and characters were intriguing, but the narrative style was uneven. Especially at the end of the book, Zeleza seemed to be trying to sum everything up as quickly as possible and totally destroyed the structure and pace of the narrative. Some characters seemed to change to radically within the story without enough narrative illustration of how the change happened. But the story of survival and disillusionment under a corrupt regime kept my interest, and I would recommend the book for those interested in exploring political corruption in Africa.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeleza was a professor of mine when I was in university, teaching African History. This novel shows brilliant insight for the events taking place within the African subcontinent and attaches you to vibrant characters.

[Master RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a master piece, my favourite book.

[Lucky Dickens]

Iwant to easily answer question during class lesson

[Odilia Phiri]

Nice book worthy reading

[Jimmy Dyson]

reading smouldering chacol

[Krzysztof Tewesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give it all the recommendations!