Tsitsi Dangarembga

Tsitsi Dangarembga is now a staple of African literature courses with her novel Nervous Conditiosn. This novel was written in 1988 and won its big prize in 1989. Since then, Dangarembga has played on the local stage in Zimbabwe, recently winning prizes for her films in at the Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou. She emphasizes local issues and the struggle for identity in her books and films.

Nervous Conditions is often hailed as autobiographical, but the reader needs to decide whether Tambudzai or Nyasha are carrying the weight of her experience. In my understanding of the story and Dangarembga's personal story, it seems like she is mixed into both characters, which makes Nyasha a more interesting character. I am interested that she chose Tambudzai to be her central character through which we experience Nyasha. Does that make Nyasha more pathetic or more heroic, or, of course, both? This was her first novel, and since then she has gained more narrative experience. There is uncomfortable pacing that can be accommodated by an experienced reader, I think, but even after reading it several times, I find the ending unsatisfactory, abrupt, rushed. This time around I can try to read it more slowly and see if I can appreciate it more.

Despite all her fame, awards, and international attention, Dangarembga seems to have retained her self-possession, perhaps hard won, if her first novel is any indication. Here she is tearing up the dance floor at a film festival in Durban where she got some more prizes. I know a lot of academics, and none of them can do this! Or when they do, it is best to just look away.