Mphuthumi Ntabeni’s The Broken River Tent, which has won the University of Johannesburg Debut Novel Prize 2019, is a metaphoric and graphic representation of how colonisation has eroded the magic and spiritualism of the Xhosa nation.
The River is a strong symbol throughout the book which was considered a very powerful natural element.
This translates to the Xhosa nation being referred to as the ‘River People’.
Ntabeni highlights how the river tent was broken through various descriptions.
The story introduces us to Phila, the protagonist, who is a qualified architect from Port Elizabeth.
Phila’s aspirations of being a successful architect are dashed by the corruption that exists in the government and he thus decides to do research and write on the history of his people, the Xhosa nation.
When he receives news from his sister that their father has passed on, it serves as a catalyst for a journey to self-discovery.
Readers are then introduced to Maqoma (1798- 1873), who was a Xhosa warrior and chief.
He is considered to be one of the greatest Xhosa military commanders and played a major part in the Xhosa Frontier Wars.
When he appears to Phila he initially thinks Maqoma is an apparition that only he can see, hear and talk to which he attributes to an analeptic memory.
However, as the story progresses one can detect supernatural elements to Phila’s ability to see and interact with the warrior.
This begins a series of stories regarding the history of the Xhosa nation and how the nation is impacted by the arrival of the British.
The story is a challenging read and should not be rushed as the volume of information contained therein needs to be digested and assimilated slowly because of the significance of the story that is being told.
There are also numerous European and philosophical references which readers might find difficult to understand at face-value without researching how they fit into the story.
Ntabeni’s writing has the potential to break the continuity in reading and pacing the story.
The text is verbose in some instances which requires consultation of the dictionary.
What Ntabeni manages to do beautifully is to tell a vivid and graphic tale of how the Xhosa nation fought and resisted against white domination.
He also highlighted the under-handed tactics that the British employed to gain the upper hand.
The scribe details graphically the Waterkloof battle, Hintsa’s death, the great Xhosa famine and Maqoma’s incarceration at Robben Island.
His clever use of different characters i.e. Maqoma, Phila and Zwelinzima to narrate the story breaks the monotony of a single narrator and also adds depth to the storytelling.
This novel is complex, multi-dimensional and touches on prevalent South Africa’s issues such as land and religion.
Ntabeni also highlighted how Christianity began to divide the nation.
His writing is poetic and philosophical with infusions of humour.
The book causes one to reflect on the cyclical nature of life and how history seems to repeat itself over centuries.
A worthwhile and necessary read for all generations.