Few and Far Between

As I reached the end of this novel the glaring question of colonization comes full circle. Tambu’s story is one of confused and isolated identity as she finds herself few are far between two worlds once gripped in tepid cohesion, now being sundered at the very seems. The arrival of a new Zimbabwe does not bode well for miss Sigauke. She spent almost the entirety of her existence striving for a successful life in a colonized world. Could all the hard work, sacrifices, and neuroses be for naught? How is it that Tambu could fail and Nyasha the epitome of lost hybrid child have some semblance of success?
I found this passage interesting; “…the institution was distinguished, clean, white-plastered building, built for an old colonial purpose…the foyer was particularly comfortable…which gave it an atmosphere of extending constantly a generous welcome” (201/202). Tambu goes on to praise the aesthetic comfort of this old colonial building that has been transformed into her hostel. I find this epitomizes in several ways her predicament and her new found situation. The building was obviously not meant to house the single, high density, populace of the new Zimbabwe. The function of the building, like much of the landscape has been transformed post liberation. But Tambu expresses a deep sense of nostalgia for this building, perhaps a throwback or homage to the existence she so identified with in her youthful aspirations.
It would have been interesting to see how Tambu would have developed if her world remained a colonized entity. But now she has to deal with the gripping reality of post colonialism, where the same set of injustices will be delivered, but now their guise and intention are invariably converted – much like the hostel in which now she stays. A hostel in which is in many ways comparative to Sacred Heart, a place she so badly wanted to attend, a place where her world would change – but like the hostel, her forced smile could not hide her inner disdain, and she would leave ignominious.