Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangaremgba

I did a little background about the author and found out that Tsitsi Dangarembga grew up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) but spent part of her childhood in the UK. She is a physician by training which may explain the title of the book and the reason I was drawn to this novel. Been in the healthcare field myself, I am always excited when I come about a fellow nerd who is also a lover of literature:). Also, I was intrigued to read a book that examines the psychology of Africans especially because mental health is not a very popular topic in the African society. Without further adieu...

Nervous Conditions is a narrative told by Tambu, a hard-working and intelligent 14 year old who grew up in a rural Zimbabwean community. Her desire to be educated is met by her father's resistance in a male dominated society. Her brother can go to school but she must stay home to learn housekeeping. Her father tells her,

"Can you cook books and feed them to your husband? Stay at home with your mother. Learn to cook and clean. Grow vegetables."

Tambu is rescued by her wealthy British-educated uncle (Babamukuru) and leaves her rural hometown to enroll at Babamukuru's missionary school. Nyasha, Babamukuru's daughter, is about Tambu's age and also attends the same school. Nyasha is a curious and intelligent young girl with the wisdom of an 80 year old and perhaps the stubbornness of a mule. Tambu, on the other hand, is determined and wise without been disrespectful. Despite (or because of) their polar opposite personalities and upbringings, Tambu and Nyasha develop a special friendship as they grow into adulthood and begin to question the society they live in. In their own ways, they challenge aspects of their culture, ask difficult questions and with resolute determination, travel the road less traveled...

Nervous Conditions is definitely in the feminist genre but I think it certainly did more than just explore the lives of post-colonial African females. Overall, I found it to be a thought provoking African novel that explores 1) the psychology of post-colonial African male and female (both young and old) 2) the awareness of social, cultural, psychological and economic inferiority created by colonialism 3) how the two aforementioned factors contributes to one's state of mind and ultimately impact the choices an individual makes.  

I borrowed the book from the library but it's available on Amazon. Click here

Rating: 4 bows