'Devil On The Cross' by Ngugi Thiongo. Series. Heinemann Educational Books. £2.50 Cross', written secretely on pieces devastatingly accurate tinued imperialist Dedicated 'to all the neo-colonial stage book's wide readership and popular acclaim will have caused considerable within the ruling circles Moi's KANU regime.
the Kikuyu anguage as part of Ngugi's and other progressive Kenyan and build on their native writers' on their native culture, novels imagery draws heavily on traditional poems, and songs These emphasise the long history, and deep roots, the strug gle for self determination and equality in the lives of the workers and peasants.
The book opens with the central character Wariinga sacked from her job as a secretary for rejecting the sexual demands of her boss, and unable to find any other work in Nairobi, her town.
The story follows her fight OWl and her refusal to passively sion and exploitation. In this Wariinga mirrors the Kenyan own traditions, from the fierce resistance the initial British invasion, through African Writers NGUGI Wa Thiongo's latest novel 'Devil on the of scrap paper while the author was detained without trial in 1978, is a brilliantly composed and attack on the condomination of Kenya. Kenyans struggling against the loss of sleep of President Arap the 'Land and Freedom' rebellion of the Mau-Mau, to the present fight against neo-colonialism.
The centerpiece of the tightly knit plot is a competition called by the International Organisation hieves Robbers (headquarters New York) to select seven outstanding local experts in modern theft and robbery the consisting of bank loans and directorships.
The competitors' speeches boasting of their prowess and experience in the art of exploitation and their suggestions on how to squeeze even more from the Kenyan people are cleveriy written and nignly amusing lampoon of the ruling elite.
The novel's politics uphold one tenets of the theory of Per Hialicill Revolution, that only the workers and peasants are capable of going the whole way in the battle against imperialism. This is illustrated symbolically by Wariinga's recurrent nightmare oi a white devil, vanquished and put on a cross by ine masses, being brought down and revived by black men dressed in suits and ties. The fight of the mass of Kenyan people to get rid of this imperialist ana nis local aiscipies Is the nevil omahe Crosse.
Cross 15 published in Britain at a the Arap Moi Luse wicu La key element imperialist for sulalce East Africa, is looking increasingly shaky. Facing severe economic difficulty VIOl anno bliccu crackdown on 'subverand 'foreign SOkL ideologies' formally abolished the right to form opposition parties, closed colleges after anti-government demonstra tions, and detained eight lecturers without trial.
When Ngugi wa Thiongo himset was detained international protests and publicity including pickets of the Kenyan High Commission in London, played a part in This excellent book should help acquaint socialists Britain better the struggles the Kenyan people and also act as a stimulus for solidarity with those facing repres sion.
Also Detained - À.W.S. writer's prison diary Ngugi wa Thiongo. book The 'well the goods.
of TROUBLESOME Pluto Press, London N.1.