User:Faintsmoke/E.K.N. Kawere

E.K.N. Kawere

Writing

Zinunula omunaku is classic is one of the most widely read novels of the Luganda language. It is set in the pre-colonial days and details the life of an orphan boy named Zinunula. Zinunula's father dies before Zinunula is born and his mother about two years after he is born. He is raised by his grandparents. His paternal uncle - a wealthy man with several wives and servants takes him to his home after the death of his grandparents - against his wish. He becomes the darling of one of the uncle's wives and her daughter Komunaku, but the other wives hate his guts. The head wife plots to kill him and a servant Mikolo whom he had befriended. Komunaku tips them off and they decide to run away and they experience many wild adventures on the ensuing journeys. They eventually settled in another land with new strange customs. They display courage in many instances: killing lions and other fierce animals and taming or clipping the wings of bullies. Bad luck befalls them when on a fishing trip with the sons of the chief, one of the sons drowns in the lake. At court, Zinunula's life is saved from the fury of the chief by an old man named Muyodi. The two become friends and Muyodi teaches him many a trick. The cheif however harbours an intense dislike for Zinunula and secretly looks for ways to kill him and his friends. Zinunula falls in love with one of the chief's daughters named Mirembe and their great secret romance is one of the most beautiful love stories in Luganda. The two however are betrayed to the chief who arranges a gladiator type of fight hoping it will result in Zinunula's death. The epic struggle makes for very dramatic reading. It earns Zinunula great respect and popularity at the expense of the chief and serves him well in his further equally dramatic adventures. Against overwhelming odds, Zinunula saves the village from a hostile invasion. In the end, the chief is left with no choice but to allow the marriage of Zinunula and Mirembe.

Published works

• Nketta mu Bizinga. East African Literature Bureau, Kampala. (1960). {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
• Zinunula Omunaku. Uganda Literature Bureau. (1954). {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)