Mr.Myombekere and His Wife Bugonoka, Their Son Ntulanalwo and Daughter Bulihwali

The first complete English translation by Gabriel Ruhumbika of Aniceti Kitereza’s epic novel, set in the traditional life of the Wakerewe people of Ukerewe in northern Tanzania. The novel tells of Mr Myombekere and his wife Bugonoka, whose love survives despite their failure to conceive children in a polygamous society where sterility is stigmatised, bearing children is a central source of meaning, and a man is expected to marry additional women until he produces a child. The couple remain committed only to each other and search for a cure, finally rewarded by the birth of a son and daughter. Kitereza was born in Ukerewe in 1896 and wrote at the height of colonial rule, in part to preserve a culture threatened with extinction. He chose to write in his native Kikerewe because he wanted to preserve the language of his ancestors. The Kikerewe original remains unpublished; unable to find a publisher for it, Kitereza translated his work into Swahili in 1969, and it was published in 1980 to wide acclaim. Gabriel Ruhumbika is a writer, professor, and descendant of Kitereza who had unique access to the author’s manuscripts.