There is an old adage from the Yoruba tribe of West Africa that says “A reversing ram will gather momentum and charge with more power.” Ngugi is the reversing ram, gathering momentum and charging powerfully with his latest release; Wizard of the Crow after a 20 year break.

Wizard of the Crow is a political satire set in a fictional African country of Aburira to capture all the different elements of despotism that exist in the continent of Africa. Ngugi has captured all the political and social corruption that exists in Africa and exposed them under the lenses of his words in this latest book.

The leader of Aburira is known as “the Ruler” throughout the book. He and his governing party are on a mission to construct the giant building for his political fame and gain. He is depending on the Global Bank to fund this corrupt project which will eventually benefit the corrupt regime than the people of Aburira.

A protest is launched by a group called “The Voice of the People”, led by a female leader; Nyawira. The mission of the group is to campaign against mission of “the Ruler” so that the delegates from the Global Bank can deny him funding to embark on his ridiculous project which has been officially termed “Marching to Heaven.” This is where Kamiti; a poor and jobless man seeking employment gets involved and began proclaiming to have magical powers that can protect him and anyone who follows him from the bandits of “the Ruler” and any retaliation that might follow as punishment for their defiance.

In a world were only the power of “the Ruler” was final, people begun to follow Kamiti and believe in his powers, so more so that even Kamiti began to believe it himself. It is so amazing to see the different countries that have been portrayed in this story. It is a lengthy read and though fictional, it has several elements of reality when you look at Africa as a continent, and the problem which many of the nations in it are facing today.

Ngugi is one of Africa’s greatest writers, a controversial literary figure who has always maintained that African literature should always reflect authenticity regardless of what language it is written in. Ngugi wa Thiong’o is an authentic traditional storyteller who uses an authentic African voice and this can be seen in many of his books

Wizard of the Crow is a captivating story of the struggle for mankind in Africa. Available in both paperback and hardcover, it is available in popular bookstores.

Busola Grillo 2007©