Nervous Conditions #1

Nervous Conditions

Tsitsi Dangarembga

Colonialism

In this Novel there are many thingst to talk about. From feminism, the women's role in the family, the predominatly male society, colonialism and ethics. The main chacter, Tambu, only fourteen has seen and done many things that some people cannot imagine. She is a strong willed individual who strived for her 'education and success' that her people for generations have not had. Although it is not hard to find a country that has seen influences from the western world or anywhere else, colonization has hit home for many around the globe. The effects of colonization has left Tambu in a state of confusion of her identity and sense of inviduality.

As her Uncle returns from studying he wants to send a family member to school to get an education to further the family from poverty. With this idea in mind they choose to send Nhamo to school and not Tambu. Sending the son to carry on the name and gain an education. Tambu decides to sell fruit/vegetables to gain money to go to school. She has the drive and want to get an education. A white woman named Doris takes pity on her and gives her the money that she needs to go to the missionary school.

Yet Tambu is unaware of the future ahead of her. She has seen her cousins go away and forget their language and once known cultural ways yet she still yearns for the education that will save her family from the 'poverty' they live in. Tambu moves in with her aunt and uncle where she is treated like a 'queen'. She gets to experience the other side of life that she has not been able to because she has led a farmer's life up until this point. She has led the life that traditionally her people have.

As she attends classes and lives with her aunt and uncle she witnesses and learns that Maiguru is highly educated. Babamukuru takes Maiguru for granted, or Maiguru laments her figure in the household as the cook and has to clean up after all of the family. She doesn't like the traditional views upon women. Bringing in the feminist lens here, I believe that Maiguru's educational status has her thinking about what a woman should and shouldn't do in the household. Also the all too familiar roles should be challenged.

As Tambu continues her studies and finals roll around Nuns come and administer a test. Tambu is offered a scholarship and accepts it. She finds herself distant from Nyasha her cousin and once bestfriend. While away she grows even more distant Nyasha finds herself battling an eating disorder. As Tambu's mother puts it, the "englishness" has affected her. I believe that if Nyasha wasn't sent to school and placed in an environment where there is pressure to look pretty and be thin that she wouldn't have succumbed to the disorder in the first place.

It is the tragic effects of colonization that affects each of the characters in the novel. Babamukuru is under the belief that only education can save them from poverty. But who is to say that Tambu's clan likes the life they lead? Who is to say that they are not happy living their traditional way of life of farming, cultivating the land and living day to day? The effects of colonization are seen world wide and effect many of the souls walking upon this earth. It has made some of the greatest people yet have stripped them of heritage and cultural ways.