Kintu: From the winner of the Jhalak Prize, 2021

by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

Kagulu turned like the Nnalubaale Lake – now serene; now agitated; now deadly; now laughing.

In his isolation, little things like the Ganda’s legendary ugliness gave Ntwire some satisfaction.

Unfortunately, Faisi and Kanani’s concern was so focused on God’s judgment of their lust that they neglected the well-being of the twins in the next room. Their house had no ceiling because in the ’50s, when Kanani had it built, Jesus was coming soon. At the time, the Awakened believed that the world would end in less than a decade. It was therefore wanton to spend so much money on a house they would not live in for a long time while there were people in the world that needed saving from destruction.

‘Some of us are simple and insecure where others are intelligent and sure. Luckily, the world needs all of us equally.’

‘That man is like balding,’ Kaleebu said. ‘Once it arrives it demands more and more space.’

‘We cannot blame the West for the way they present Africans in their media: what do you expect? Our savagery is their civilisation. It justifies everything. My problem is the Africans who, knowing this, give them the opportunity. If only African buffoons realised how they drag every black person in the world down in the mud with their follies, they would reconsider.’

‘You see,’ Misirayimu started, ‘this is exactly what happens when a society is gripped with the notion of an almighty God. What would stop their leaders from emulating Him? Can you criticise your God? Can God be held to account? God-fearing people tend to ape their deity in their

We cannot go back to the operating table and ask for the African limbs. Africa must learn to walk on European legs and work with European arms. As time goes by, children will be born with evolved bodies and in time, Africa will evolve according to ekisode’s nature and come to its best form. But it will be neither African nor European. Then the pain will settle down.

‘What’s the use of a doctor who can’t heal people?’ ‘It means he’s read a lot of books.’ ‘Listen to that, a doctor of books! What use is that to this village?’