A Review of Tsitsi Dangarembga's Book Nervous Conditions

‘Nervous Conditions’ is a novel we read for class, at first, I did not know what to expect from this novel. I thought it was going to be a very boring book and not very pleasing to read. It was very difficult for me to read this novel, at the beginning, it was hard to understand what was going on since, I am not a frequent reader and these types of novels don't catch my eye. It took me some time to adjust to the novel, but after two chapters I was buckled in for the ride. I started to enjoy it every time I had a chance to read, mostly at the end of my night right before bed. I learned a lot from this book about colonialism and the gender role as a woman. This novel is good, and I enjoyed it. It had its low points where I couldn't bear to read another page, but it mostly had an amazing part which was awesome. I would rate this book a nine out ten just because it is something, I would not read for entertainment.

When I think colonialism I think of war, expansion, conquering and making money, but what I didn't know is that colonialism brought a lot of problems. 'Nervous Conditions' helped me understand this, and shine the light on the truth of colonialism and feminism.

This novel takes place in Rhodesia in the late 1960, 'Nervous Conditions' tells a story about a young Rhodesian girl called Tambu growing up in colonial Rhodesia. The novel is told from Tambu's point of few looking back at her childhood. Tambu is so motivated to pursue an education after her brother had passed away. She soon proceeds to move out from the homestead to the missionary with Babamakuru so she can study. After settling in her uncles' home, she begins to question everything around her because every little thing is different. In the end, Tambu is careful when allowing culture to influence her beliefs because if she losses her traditions she thought she would lose her identity.

In 'Nervous Conditions' it is very clear that this novel is about colonialism, how Western Europe colonizing the people from Rhodesia, by making the Rhodesian people mimic the English values, morals, English taste and teaching the Rhodesian the English language and educating them. One example of the colonizer colonizing is when Babamakuru comes to the homestead to celebrate. Babamakuru brings Chido, Nyasha and his wife. Tambu is surprised that her cousin Nyasha does not speak their native tongue anymore called Shona and disapproves of Nyashas western clothes, because that was not normal and not accepted in Shona culture. Nyasha feels like her clothes are normal because she was raised differently where they had certain expectations.

Maiguru explains to us how her daughter doesn't speak Shona no more she states, 'They don't understand Shona very well anymore,' her mother explained. 'They have been speaking nothing but English for so long that most of their Shona has gone' (Tsitsi Dangarembga 42). I feel that this statement is very important because Tambu could not believe what Maiguru had said to her she was bewildered. Tambu could not wrap her head around this, believes the colonizer has colonized her cousins and she disapproved of this. Even Nyasha prefers to speak English because it is superior then Shona.

A second great example of colonialism and gender role is when Tambu finally notices why Nhamo was acting the way he was when he came back from the missionary. Nhamo not wanting to help around the homestead instead he wanted to focus on his studies, and he wanted to be treated better than all the siblings. Nahom must have picked up certain habits from Babamakuru because he looked up to him and wanted to be just like him. Tambus criticizes her brother for changing because he was exposed to English culture, Tambu could not imagine turning her back on her own culture. When Tambu moves to the missionary after her brother's death, she noticed why Nhamo was the way at home. This is when Tambu realizes that men are viewed as superior beings and are treated better the women and women just play the role of serving the man. To give some detail from the book I will be giving a quote on Nahoms actions at home and how he wanted to be treated and compare it to how Babamakuru was treated in the missionary by his wife

First, we see how Babamakurus actions were at the dinner table. He was already having a bad day and we notice this because he would grunt at almost every question his wife asked him about his day. In the novel, Babamakuru states 'You had already started. 'he observed to Maiguru.' Did you think I wasn't coming, even after you telephoned to say supper was ready and I said I was coming'. Soon as he says that to Maiguru, she is there to please him and be very apologetic and starts to serve him as if he was a king. It states in the novel briefly 'Then she picked up a plate from the pile in front of Babamukuru and held it for him respectfully with both hands while he spooned food on to his plate'. I believe this is a great example of colonialism because Babamakuru probably saw how white men were treated when he went to England to further his studies.

For Nhamo he had changed drastically it states this in the novel 'any of the tasks he used to do willingly before he went to the mission, became a joke''. Nahom found any excuse to not do his work, this shows that the mission had changed him, and he felt superior from his sibling as if they would do all the work. We can compare this to Babamakuru and his wife doing everything for him, and this is where Nahom adopted these habits from his uncle which were adopted from the colonizer. That the women did everything, and the man just sat there and watched as they kicked back and relaxed.

To end my essay, I want to focus on Babamakuru as he is an iconic man, a person which is viewed as a successful man and everyone praises him. One thing that his family members may not know is that he is suffering because he is not white. Babamakuru is trying to rank up in western society but cannot withhold both traditions. Babamakuru is trying to be part of the great society but he faces the challenge of not being white and this is a dilemma. Even though Babamakuru adopted western beliefs, their way of living, he will never be good enough but be very close to being like the white man. Babamakuru will never be in the position of being a colonizer himself and have rights like him and this bothers him. I believe therefore he must feel alienated because he will never have the same benefits and be privileged and won't be able to dominate.