CHAKA By Thomas Mofolo

Review by IM Soqaga

Harking back to historical novels of the nations which have been churned out incessantly over the years will continue to be fascinating. Many nations such as in Europe, United State, China and elsewhere in the world have been fully versed on the genre from medieval times up to the 20th century till today. Consequentially, African writers like Thomas Mofolo, Chinua Achebe, Sol Plaatje, Ayi Kwei Armha, Naguib Mahfouz, Wole Soyinka, Maaza Mengistu, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi etc have made many impressive strides in advancing this intriguing genre. Since around 1907 to 1910, a proficient African literary pioneer from Lesotho finished penning a monumental book in Sesotho, one of Southern African indigenous languages. The book is about the most famous Chaka, the King of the Zulu’s. It is a known fact as why the book was delayed and was ultimately being published in 1925. After its publication the book Chaka by Thomas Mofolo was immediately appreciated as a magnet that galvanized the world of literature. Substantially it was successfully translated into English in 1931 and into other European languages like French and German. Of course, it is amazingly enchanting to see the book written by an African receiving such quick recognition by the world especially at a time when an African was under paternalistic colonial supervision. What really prompted the quick rendition of such a dazzling book? Obviously there are countless answers to the question through academia and literary pundits. Briefly, some answers can be about the protagonist Chaka, unravelling the book etc. In the book we understand Chaka's life as a boy was very exciting and satisfying, the son of the king Senzangakhona was a humane, recourse during frightening times when precarious wild animals like lions and hyenas posed a serious threat to his people. Daringly, he would kill the lion and hyena which none would be able to kill especially the older people amongst his people. Nevertheless, his audacious character created mixed feelings amongst his people. Firstly, to women he was a real man as compared to men who were lacking those intrepid features Chaka had; and secondly to men, he was a threat to their stature in society. Therefore, Chaka was regarded as despicable and he was eventually abused, scorned, even connived at to be killed. His plight was compounded when it was uncloaked that his father Senzangakhona committed act of fornication with Chaka's mother Nandi by sleeping with her before marriage. Senior wives of the king after having male children because Chaka was the first son of Senzangakhona vowed to reveal the secret which the king had shrouded for years. Clearly, Senzangakhona was encountered with a dilemma and finally after seeing that the situation could be worse for him and he could be punished severely if the secret was revealed, he capitulated to his senior wife's demands. Chaka in such adverse situation which himself could not understand, alas he was completely condemned and rejected by his father the king. Subsequently, he decided to flee from his people and went to live or sought refuge at another powerful clan called Mthethwa led by king Dingiswayo. Chaka was warmly welcomed and since king Dingiswayo longed to see him because of his famous bravery and at Dingiswayo, Chaka became a remarkable war strategist and tactician. Because of his daring qualities in war he was promoted to be the leader of Dingiswayo's regiments. Ultimately after the death of Dingiswayo, Chaka ascended to the throne of Mthethwa’s, he introduced many changes especially the fighting tactics. So many things he changed but it was all about military changes. Among things he changed were that all young boys were expected to join the amabutho (regiments) and forbidden to marry, renamed his kingdom amaZulu, introduced a short spear for close combat with the enemy in contrast to the long spear that was popular at the time, abolished circumcision etc. Chaka suddenly became a despotic leader whose decisions were not questioned, having advisers but not being advised, his words were final, and all were expected to obey him. Moreover, Thomas Mofolo wrote that Chaka was strengthened by traditional potent medicine by a traditional doctor who preferred to be called Isanusi. Meeting with Isanusi was fortunate for Chaka as Isanusi provided him with two mythical personal assistants, Ndlebe and Malunga. The duo did many things for Chaka that his fame surged, they fought wars for him and were his spies in his kingdom. Enormous credit should be given to people who translated the book Chaka, their outstanding prowess is invaluable. One should understand that when the first translation was published in 1931, despite colossal efforts by F.H. Dutton to make certain that African literature is known in the world, he disappointingly supported and incorrectly attempted to unequivocally relate with the book as true reflection of African life, replete with savage colonial fables. Simultaneously, another translation by Kunene in 1981 helped to unravel the contents of the book as an imperative fiction and Kunene would write that: “By his own testimony, Mofolo, in writing this book, did not intend to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the Zulu king; but neither did he intend to tell nothing but ‘exaggerations produced by a facile pen’ a suggested by N.R. Thoahlane, a Mosotho reader writing in the Leselinyana la Lesotho in February 1927. The book, Chaka by Thomas Mofolo will remain a subject of concern to Africans and a continual study to the academics. The manner in which Chaka is described in the book ineluctably will spark constant debates pertinent to African lives before the systematic fully-fledged colonial Africa. Chaka is depicted as an evil savage king who obtained his kingship through the killing of his wife, Noliwa the daughter of King Dingiswayo. In the book we fathom that Chaka passionately loved Noliwa but because of his obsession with kingship Thomas Mofolo emphatically wrote that Isanusi told Chaka that for him to obtain the type of a kingship he wanted he should kill someone whom he fervently loved. The blood of that person would be used by Chaka’s warriors to win wars for him so that his fame continued to proliferate. Chaka's ambitions for kingship was heavily contingent on Isanusi and this made him absent-minded. As a result, the killing of Noliwa precipitated other murders. The appalling killing habit of Chaka induced him kill his own mother Nandi, women, children, the cowards, his trusted men and his nation etc.

Chaka as the subject of on-going analysis and discussion and the character of Thomas Mofolo had convinced the critics to have another proposition that the cause of delay for the book to be published was centrally as a result of the French Missionaries. Kunene would elaborate by writing that: "This revision of the manuscript was finished some time before July 1922, the time when Mofolo told Zurcher that he (Mofolo) ‘had just finished writing the book Chaka: When this is taken together with the fact that, as Gerard asserts, ‘the records of the “Conference des missionaires du Lessouto” clearly show that Casalis was solely and entirely responsible for the publication of the book; the conclusion is inevitable that the revisions of the early 1920s were done with Casalis’s direct assistance, and probably at his suggestion.” Throughout colonial history of Africa foreign European missionaries were only concerned by one or more things, to convert Africans to Christianity even through literature and anticipated that Africans should adore European civilization. Unfortunately through such Christian activities, missionaries contributed largely and directly in destroying the very fabric of African society. Certainly, the book can be regarded as repulsively repugnant and possibly can trigger unnecessary rancour if read with a narrow mind. Of course, Africans will never agree with the writing of Thomas Mofolo, however it is very important to read the book with a clear consciousness without being virulent at its contents. After all, it is a fictional historical novel about a famous African king; therefore, it requires a reading skill cum the ability to glean from other written sources about the book. Although, it was rejected by some Africans as unpatriotic and at the very same time the stance of early Europeans saw the book as another form of written literature that intends to promote paganism. Chaka by Thomas Mofolo would impinge significantly in West Africa especially in a Negritude movement. African luminaries such as Senghor, Badian and Malikita would revere the book and produce wonderful written pieces of response about it. Chaka is neither bad not a strange historical romance. The book is still famous even today and it is celebrated by the academics and general literary aficionados. In essence, there are incidents where one will understand that to live in an abusive situation like Chaka did when he was a child, it is likely to be abusive when one fully grows up. Teachings about leadership qualities, ignoring wisdom of the elders, lacking independent thinking despite military sweeping changes Chaka introduced in his kingdom are some lessons to imbibe in the book. In contrast to the stereotypical rancour over the book, the book must be accepted as seminal to the similar works of historical literature about kings and queens of Africa that will be churned out in future.

CHAKA by Thomas Mofolo Translated by Daniel P. Kunene (1981)Review by I M Soqaga (above)