MUKASA

by John Nagenda ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 26, 1972

In a concise, detached style Nagenda relates the (autobiographical?) story of a Ugandan boy's first experiences with school back in the '40's. The excitement of learning how to read, his surprise upon discovering that women as well as men can wear shoes, his mixed emotions upon visiting a classmate's European-style home and his strained relationships with the village boys who have remained at home are all related with an affecting simplicity, and if Mukasa sometimes seems a bit conceited, his shyness and the very quiet tenor of the story should recommend it to children who are similarly undemonstrative. And of course, though Mukasa's life is no longer a precise reflection of contemporary conditions, it adds a humanizing perspective to the study of Africa.

Pub Date: Feb. 26, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1972

Categories: FICTION