For those of us living in the cities of East Africa, in the last three decades or so, it’s easy to forget the ingredients that qualify our nations as economically poor or what was crudely referred to as ‘third world’. In this novel by Mr. J. Mwakyusa threads are drawn to show how the middle class that captained the ships of our urbanization in East Africa. Are linked to humble beginnings rife with close ties to our histories rooted in a people recovering from severe abuse born of colonization & or slavery.
These heavy topics aren’t spread thick on this paperback of 124 pages; indeed this novel is relatable as it centers around four main characters. Albert, Sharon, Paul who take up most of the pages while Esther qualifies in this listing, as we’re also loosely but endearingly drawn in to her world. Together with enough characters in the periphery ‘It can’t be True’ makes for an interesting saga.
Albert now in his late thirties, is an orphan at the age of ten he witnessed the death of his parents in 1984. “Reaching there, he saw his parents’ bodies lying dead in a pool of clotting blood. He couldn’t stand that. His legs turned to jelly and could not support his small frail body.”-excerpt from It Can’t be True by J. Mwakyusa.
Albert is now a spy working for the government of Uganda, which in the novel also came into power through the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1986. The novel’s locale is Uganda with a short spiel happening in Tanzania in the region of Ruvuma. Albert in this novel is tasked with investigating a murder of a prominent lawyer in Uganda which looks like a terrorist attack.
His investigation is an integral part of the plot allowing us to know Sharon & Paul a couple at Makerere University pursuing their first degree. Paul is a Tanzanian who has won a scholarship to study there from his government, he thought he’d become a pastor but upon being chosen for this scholarship. “He abandoned his dream of becoming a pastor in order to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering. Who could resist studying at the mighty Makerere University.” -excerpt from It Can’t be True by J. Mwakyusa.
Sharon is pursuing medicine at this University; she has ties with Paul but as well Albert and the prominent lawyer who was murdered. The author in weaving their tale brings to light a love triangle that depicts honest scenarios of eligible women being ‘promiscuous’ for the sake of economic well being. He as well explores the hypocrisy of men falling in love while still pursing ‘in lust’ relationships with vigor.
What is impressive about this novel written by a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam. Is the way in a simple tale the themes of illicit financial flows for East African nations; “”You have been employing children in your mining activities, and you have been using the XBC bank to wire all the mining proceedings to your bank accounts in Europe and the Cayman Islands- is all that true?”- It Can’t be True by J. Mwakyusa. The themes of the dangers of religious fanaticism and mental health are all aptly explored, which is great food for thought for our society.
I found myself reading the novel to the end quickly which is always a good sign, on points of improvement. The plot could have been more tightly woven the stories don’t link so smoothly. I still highly recommend though as these novels from our locales richly affirm our identities. It Can’t Be True is published by Patridge and you can get your copy through Patridge Publishing
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