Eneriko Seruma

The author describes this book as "an expressionistic painting of confused contemporary Africa," which is inaccurate because this novel is neither expressionistic nor a painting. "The Experience" would have benefited tremendously from being expressionistic; it would have meant that the language was dynamic and unpredictable or at least rich and textured. But, Seruma is an unexceptional writer whose prose style does not demand or reward close scrutiny.

His story concerns Miti, a young Ugandan man given the opportunity to attend university in New Hampshire in the late 1960's. Scenes from this period of Miti's life are awkwardly scattered throughout the narrative, which otherwise features Miti's complete failure to fit into Ugandan society. Each of the book's episodes amounts to little more than a simple account of facts with an occasional declarative sentence about Miti feeling an emotion. There is nothing subtle about the delivery. I couldn't help feeling that Seruma was speaking as much of his readership as of Miti's white friends when he wrote, "They would not understand the racial tension that had broken him down and turned him into a pot-head, acid-head, speed-head lush. How could they understand?"

An author who feels that he has experienced something that nobody else can ever truly understand and something that he also blames on other people can become a bit tiring. I know that Seruma's novel has some implicit criticism of Miti's actions; but it is more full of sympathy for him as an alienated victim.

I have read a number of African novels that explore the violence to identity that can transpire when a poor African is thrust into the moneyed, leisure classes of the developed world. If you want a novel like that, read Dambudzo Marechera, who actually writes in an expressionistic fashion and leaves his readers with some work to do. Or read Amma Darko and discover a protagonist who can actually complain about being truly victimized.

All the same, I enjoyed reading a book set in Uganda and seeing how a Ugandan treats the prevailing stereotypes about different ethnic groups in the country. If you enjoy African stories, you don't need to avoid this; but don't come in search of literature.… (plus d'informations)