Zambian authors are no strangers to the global literary scene, with numerous Zambian writers achieving international acclaim for compelling narratives that often convey Zambian realities in a beautifully retold masterpieces. The Mourning Bird by Mubanga Kalimamukwento is one such compelling tale exploring the devastating effects of the AIDS pandemic in Zambia against a backdrop of admiration and loss.
The Mourning Bird by Mubanga Kalimamukwento is a novel set in Lusaka that offers a glimpse into the struggles faced by one of the most vulnerable groups in society – street kids. This must-read gut-wrenching tale of hardship is great entry way into the world of Zambian literature. Kalimamukwento has won many awards for her writing, including The Kalemba Short Story Prize and the Dinaane Debut Fiction Award.
Harsh Truths in The Mourning Bird
The novel is told from the perspective of an idealistic young girl named Chimuka. She is somewhat rebellious, opting to play outside with her brother, Ali and friends rather than fulfil the expectations of a daughter in an African home. This puts Chimuka at odds with her mother, a staunch Seventh-Day Adventist and authoritarian. On the other hand, Chimuka idolises her father. Chimuka's father is a secondary school English teacher - whom she thinks is the smartest man in the world. She delights in his use of 'big words' and the stories he tells her and her brother. However, her father is not without fault.
Although Chimuka does not realise this, her father is an alcoholic and a womaniser. He is unable to control his vices and this leads to his untimely death. As a result of his womanising, Chimuka's mother contracts HIV/AIDS and her youngest brother Kufe is also born with the disease. Her father's death sets off a series of unfortunate events that lead to Chimuka and Ali becoming street kids. Aside from Kalimamukwento’s prolific writing in this novel, the story she assembles tugs at the heartstrings. In The Mourning Bird, harsh truths about the lives that Lusaka street kids live are put on display – from sexual abuse to exploitation by NGOs and 'good Samaritans.'
Kalimamukwento’s Perspective
Kalimamukwento poises this narrative in a way that asks fundamental questions about societal and individual morality. Perhaps one of the most jarring aspects of the novel is the visceral reaction that people have towards Chimuka, Ali and the other street kids. Passersby recoil at the sight of them, sometimes in fear of being robbed or with disgust at the children's filth. Mubanga's tale highlights the helplessness of these children. She shows how they are forced into the streets and have to fend for themselves, which often leads to them resorting to crime. Mubanga tactfully juxtaposes the vulnerability of the children with how they are ignored and exploited by people in society. In effect, this invites the reader to question the attitudes that they may have towards street kids.
Gender and the Exploitation of Street Kids
The variation in experiences between Chimuka and Ali gives attention to how gender affects how street children navigate lives on the street. Although they both face some form of sexual exploitation, Chimuka experiences it to an extent that her brother does not. At some point in the novel, Ali points this out to Chimuka – which leaves her feeling uncomfortable. Whether Mubanga was intentional about this or not, this variation serves as an interesting point of departure into a discussion of gendered exploitation and how vulnerable people operate within this exploitation. The Mourning Bird is a novel filled with necessary truths and uncomfortable realisations, definitely an essential book to pick up.
How to get The Mourning Bird:
You can purchase a copy of the book here.
