ts7's review against another edition
The sentiments this book presents feels very mainstream today, which is a testament to the impact of the writing. Knowing that the book is the author’s farewell towards writing in English, it feels elegiac to a past version of himself that accepted the systems that he inherited. The language about colonialism and imperialism’s invisible violence towards identity is so swift and precise. It creates a discussion about further topics for me, such as when you are between cultures as an immigrant and the role of language used to communicate in increasingly wide and complex relationships - beginning with your immediate self and ending on where you are in history.
beelo's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
For my lit class. Very powerful. Language is political!!!
saintsaens's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Superbe essai. Rarement la forme et le fonds ont été autant maîtrisé pour faire connaître et partager des moments et des évènements symboliquement et intellectuellement / politiquement important avec autant de fluidité et de simplicité. L'histoire et la culture kenyanne apparaît dans toute sa complexité et l'auteur entremêle avec virtuosité sa vie, ces moments marquants, et des réflexions globales qui peuvent toucher et parler à toute personne questionnant sa propre langue et sa pratique. Une nécessité à lire.
as_a_tre3's review against another edition
5.0
Written more than three decades ago, this book is still relevant within our current neoliberal globalized world. The power inequality between the Global North and the Global South has exacerbated inequities among the countries in the latter. Neocolonialism, well colonialism, never ends. This book’s author argues for the need of postcolonial nations to centralize their own needs, to be critical of the injustices the neocolonialism, that has changed name into neoliberalism, the Global North continues to impose on the Global South.
michelle_locdout's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Loved it. Makes you question the use of particular languages when communicating radical ideas that are apparently aimed to help the masses, especially when its not done in the language most common to the natives.
sar_p's review against another edition
5.0
I was planning on arguing against Ngugi about the need for African writers to write ::solely:: in an African language, but his argument (with a mix of Marxist criticism and history of colonialism) was too compelling. A really great read.
itschlve's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
If I could give more than 5 stars I would
Brilliant work
Brilliant work