Reviews

Kibogo by Scholastique Mukasonga

dukegregory's review

4.0

Ironically witty beyond the other Mukasonga works I've read. Not as emotionally investing due to its distancing tactics (and almost mythic/oral narrative qualities), but Mukasonga's thematic depth is totally present. The Kibogo mythology fosters various stories which collide with colonial missionaries, leading to the convergence of local Rwandan history and Catholic encroachment, and then, in some characters' hybrid martyr ideology encapsulating both Kibogo and Jesus, lines blur as time goes on and stories merge, are revised, and completely rewritten to appeal to the white academic gaze. Trying to perceive history through an academic gaze (historical materialist, structuralist, anthropological, etc.) leads to wanting new narratives to fulfill pre-ordained archetypes. And the Kibogo narrative at the heart of the novel is somehow both distorted beyond belief yet remains essential to the core of the community depicted. There are also nods to neocolonial expectations in tourism (dress up and perform like ye old tribal drummers to bring tourists in, like in This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga). It's like if Audrey Magee's The Colony actually had an original perspective to offer.

hashtag_alison's review

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A

3.5

jaiminh0's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

istaisa's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Colonisation

kateofmind's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

andy_acid's review

reflective

3.5

 This collection offers a fascinating exploration of Rwandan cultural erasure amidst long-running natural disasters. While the concept of post-coloniality presented here primarily focuses on cultural homogeneity, rather than offering the best insight, the book itself serves as a poignant reflection on the tragedy of lost myths within Rwandan culture 
3.5/5

jake_'s review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

4.0

emelini's review against another edition

3.0

This was one of those books where I knew it was GOOD and I did enjoy it, but sometimes I had to convince myself to pick it up and keep reading. 

I feel like I need to re-read it to really appreciate the story.

unhingedreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

ckretsche's review

mysterious sad slow-paced

4.0