Mzingile

Mzingile ni novela (riwaya fupi) ya kifalsafa na kibaadausasa iliyochapishwa kwa mara ya kwanza mwaka 1991. Riwaya hii ni pacha ya ile ya Nagona (1990). Riwaya hii inasawiri chimbuko, maendeleo, maangamizi na kuzaliwa upya kwa dunia kutokana na fujo za wanadamu.

Kakulu, mhusika kiini wa novela hii, anasemekana kuwa alizaliwa kiajabuajabu, na umbo lake na maisha yake kwa jumla yalikuwa ni ya kushangaza na kutatanisha, yakihusishwa na matukio ya ajabu na uwezo usio wa kawaida aliosadikiwa kuwa nao. Hatimaye Kakulu anajitenga na jamii na kwenda kuishi peke yake juu ya kilima, lakini watu hawamwachi kwa amani kama anavyotaka, bali wanaendelea kumfuata na kumsujudia na kumhusisha na mambo ambayo yeye anasema hahusiki nayo. Hata baada ya karne nyingi bado watu wanamwamini na kumsujudia. Kwa njia hii kisasili cha Kakulu kinaundwa na uvumi unageuka kuwa ukweli. Unapotokea msiba unaodhaniwa kumhusu, anatumwa mjumbe (Msimulizi) kwenda kumtafuta Kakulu kumwarifu juu ya msiba huo. Safari hiyo ya karne nyingi inageuka kuwa msako wa utambuzi na ufunuo, na kuishia katika amagedoni inayoifuta dunia kongwe na kuasisi dunia mpya iliyo nje ya duara la Kakulu.

Hii ni hadithi ya kifalsafa inayosaili simulizi kuu zinazotawala duniani, ikiwamo ile ya kuumbwa, kuanguka na kukombolewa kwa dunia. Riwaya hii inatuchochea kuyatazama kwa jicho jipya yale tuliyozoea kuyafikiria kuwa kweli isiyosailika, zikiwamo imani za dini, siasa na sayansi. Ni hadithi inayoifikisha riwaya ya Kiswahili katika kiwango cha juu cha tafakuri na sanaa. Inafaa kusomwa na kila binadamu anayejali asili na hatima ya ulimwengu huu na watu wake.

Mzingile is a philosophical and modernist novella (short story) first published in 1991. This novella is a twin of Nagona (1990). This novella depicts the origin, development, destruction and rebirth of the world due to human mischief. Kakulu, the central character of this novella, is said to have been born miraculously, and his appearance and life in general were surprising and confusing, associated with strange events and the unusual powers he was believed to have. Eventually Kakulu isolates himself from society and goes to live alone on a hill, but people do not leave him in peace as he wishes, but continue to follow and worship him and associate him with things he says he has nothing to do with. Even after many centuries, people still believe in and worship him. In this way, Kakulu's nature is created and rumors turn into truth. When a supposed disaster strikes, a messenger (the Narrator) is sent to find Kakulu to inform him of the disaster. The centuries-long journey turns into a quest for insight and revelation, ending in an Armageddon that wipes out the old world and establishes a new world outside of Kakulu's circle. This is a philosophical story that questions the main narratives that dominate the world, including that of the creation, fall and redemption of the world. This novel encourages us to look at with new eyes what we used to think of as unassailable truths, including religious beliefs, politics and science. It is a story that brings the Swahili novel to a higher level of reflection and art. It is worth reading by every human being who cares about the nature and fate of this world and its people.