Exchange practices

In the novel, the Rhodesian community was torn between new European influences and traditional Rhodesian influences. There was a lot of skepticism deciphering the differences between “right” and “wrong” within the Rhodesian community, there did not seem to be a clear line of who felt which way. It seemed that the European settlers did not understand much about the African community and looked down upon many things they did not understand, such as when they saw Tambu selling some crops in a market and called it child labor. A majority of this came from the European settlers introducing new concepts and ideas that the newer generation grasped while the older generation did not. An example of this would be that the new generation valued education over farming and work, while the older generation did not see much value in an education at all, such as Tambu’s mother. Tambu greatly wanted to venture of into Britain and learn and be educated while her mother feared Britain and hated Tambu for leaving Rhodesia. It seemed that much of the older generation feared Britain and the outside world. While education was highly valued it seemed that nobody could ever achieve it.  

Subsistence practices

Rhodesian life is similar to the environment in Things fall apart. Much of Rhodesian’s food was obtained from subsistence farming. In order to get water, one had to walk to a near by river. When the Europeans arrived it became more common to obtain food from local markets rather than farming. Prior to the Europeans arrival, there were always markets at which one could sell their extra produce, however, it became more popular when the settlers arrived because there was more produce introduced to the market.  

Kinship in Rhodesia

The novel is set during the colonization of Rhodesia, during which many European settlers traveled into the country in attempt to change the Rhodesian’s standard of living for the greater good. Their presence greatly influenced marriages and family structure. An example of this is the husband’s ability to have multiple wives. Prior to European influence, it was common for Rhodesian men to have multiple wives and have a different set of children with each wife. However, the European missionaries did not agree with this practice and encouraged a majority of families to monastic relations with their spouse. Rhodesian opinions of marriage were divided, some families wanted to continue their way of life and marry multiple wives while some people were greatly revolted by this idea wished for a monastic relationship, pushing towards a Christian marriage t solidfiy their relationship. However, both Europeans and Rhodesian’s considered the husband to be the head of the family and it was socially accepted to beat both wives and children.    

Authors...

Author biography- Mattie
Map- Dory
 History of the region- Nour
Important information about the region today- Jennifer
Novel itself- Nour
Effects on author's life might have had on the writing of the novel- Mattie
Recommended audience for the novel and reasons- Dory
Reasons the novel should be read in school- Dory
Cultural features:

• Kinship terms- Mattie
• Marriage, mating, courting, dating beliefs and practices- Jennifer
• Gender Roles- Dory
• Subsistence practices- Mattie
• Exchange practices- Mattie
• Belief systems- Nour
• Medicine- Nour
• Status Hierarchies- Dory
• Community- Nour
• Arts- Jennifer
• Vocabulary- Dory

How Tsitsi's experiences have influenced the book…….

I feel as though Tsitsi has written much of herself and her feelings into Nervous condition’s main character, Tambu. One of the biggest similarities is the way they both treat their education. Both Tsitsi and Tambu seem to hold their future and British Education in the highest esteem. For the most part Tambu and Tsitsi lives both follow somewhat of the same path. While Tsitsi was born in Rhodesia and went to Britain at an early age, Tambu left Rhodesia at an older age and attended school in Britain. At certain points in the novel Tsitsi writes with a very disapproving tone towards African education, I received the feeling that Tsitsi believed African education to be less advanced verses Britain education. There was also a clear similarity between Tsitsi and Nyasha (Tambu’s cousin), when Tsitsi returned to Rhodesia after attending school in Britain she forgot her native language along with many other aspects and traditions of her culture and it is said that she felt like an outsider to her own people, this same scenario is represented with Nyasha. She also forgot her language and felt like in outsider. I have read online that many readers and writers consider this novel to be semi-biographical, meaning that bits of Tsitsi’s life have been represented through different occurrences in the novel.

About the Author.....

About the Author…..

Tsitsi Dangarembg was born in 1959 in the small village of Mutoko, located in Rhodesia, modern Zimbabwe. When she turned two years old, her family moved to Britain where she received formal schooling until she turned six. In 1965, she returned to Britain where she began her childhood education at an American missionary school in Mutare. With a lust for knowledge, Tsitsi prided herself on the education she received in Britain and was egger to return to a British education. She was accepted to Camberage University, and from 1977 to 1980 she attended Camberage in pursuit of a medicine degree. However, in 1980 she returned home to Rhodesia after only three years of college due to home sickness and a sensed lacking of fulfillment in the medical field.

When she returned to Rhodesia, she attended the University of Harare majoring in physiology. While attending school she also held a job as a copywriter for two years introducing her to writing and publishing. During this time she also became very active in the theater community at the University. At the community theater her writing blossomed as she began to write plays, many were performed by the theater group. A few of her more accomplished works include; “The lost of the soil”, “The letter”, and “She no longer weeps”. She won the Swedish short story competition, SIDA with “The letter”.

From 1983-1987 she wrote and acting for the theater. After graduating in 1987, she began a new she career working as a teacher, however she found it hard to restrain her creativity in the school environment and returned to writing. When she turned 25, she wrote Nervous Conditions. When it was published it became the first novel written in English by a Black Zimbabwean Women. Five years after it was published, it won the African section of the Commonwealth writers prize. In 1991 she participated in the Faces of Africa festival and further continued her education at the Berlin, Deutsche Film und Fernseh Akademie college where she studied film direction. Since then, she has made numerous film titles included her most recent credit, “Everyone’s Child” which has been shown around the world at various festivals.  

Rhodesia, Zimbabwe (Setting)

http://www.nationmaster.com/country/zi-zimbabwe

Work Cited LIst

Danagarembga, Tsitsi. Nervous Conditions. Emeryville, CA: Seal Press, 2004. Print.
Emory University---English Department "Where Courageous Inquiry Leads" Web. 10 Dec.2010.<http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Dangar.html.>

"Tsitsi Dangarembga." Www.kirjasto.sci.fi. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/tsitsi.htm.>

"Writer Biography:Tsitsi Dangarembga." Essortment Articles: Free Online Articles on Health,Science,Education & More.. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.essortment.com/all/tsitsidangaremb_rbjf.htm.>

"Culture of Zimbabwe - Traditional, History, People, Traditions, Women, Beliefs, Food, Customs,Family, Social, Marriage, Men, Life, Population, Religion, Rituals, History and Ethnic Relations." Countries and Their Cultures. Web. 10 Dec. 2010.<http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Zimbabwe.html.>

"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site — Central Intelligence Agency. Web.10 Dec. 2010. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworldfactbook/geos/countrytemplate_zi.html.>

"History of Rhodesia." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 10 Dec.2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Rhodesia.>


This is a site used to find vocabulary. However, the information about the author was extremely limited-- there was only the website, so no MLA format could be generated. To avoid plagiarism, at least, here is the website: npillay6a2010.wikispaces.com/.../Nervous+Conditions+Vocab+and+ Pronounciation.docx

Novel Characteristics

Characters:

• Tambudzai: The novel’s narrator and protagonist. An intelligent fourteen-year-old girl, Tambu strives for an education and desires to escape her life on the homestead. While she is sensitive and kind, she is also often harsh in her evaluations. Tambu wishes to be loose from the limitations placed on her gender.  
• Nhamo: Tambu’s brother. Nhamo is the oldest son in the family. He is mean and annoys Tambu over the fact that he is getting an education. After he leaves for his education at the mission, he grows superior and lazy. He doesn’t help his family with the daily burdens when he visits them on vacations.  
• Jeremiah: Tambu’s father and Babamukuru’s brother. Jeremiah is immature, ignorant, and superstitious. He appears hardly worried with the future and achievements of his children and grows ever more apart from his family. When Babamukuru is around, he is submissive, praising his brother’s accomplishments. With his immediate family, however, he is uneducated and does not do much to encourage his children’s determinations.  
• Maiguru: Babamukuru’s wife. Maiguru is a strong, educated, and successful woman and stands out from the rest of the women in her family. Life in England has transformed her, and she prefers her children to behave and perform like the Western society. She later dreads the fact that they have become too Anglicized. She is caring and gentle and acknowledges her position in her marriage and the sacrifices she must make to keep Babamukuru happy. Though she protests and departs from him, she returns out of obligation and her devotion for her family.   
• Nyasha: Tambu’s cousin, daughter of Babamukuru. She does little to make the other girls at school like her. At times she is easily aggravated, unpredictable, and determined. She likes to dispute with her father. She is a result of two worlds and becomes confused of her personality because of the influences of England and Rhodesia.  
• Babamukuru: He is Tambu’s uncle. Babamukuru is the highly educated and a successful headmaster of the mission school. A patriarchal and authoritarian figure, he uses his power and position to progress the lives of his extended family, but he does it out of responsibility, not love. He is an unkind and distant father and has no problem hiding his disappointment in and growing dislike for his daughter, Nyasha. 
• Chido: Nyasha’s brother, son of Babamukuru. Chido is tall, athletic, handsome, charming, intelligent, and highly educated. He has little concern in his family or in visiting either the homestead or the mission. He is educated amongst the white colonists. He becomes familiarized with a life of luxury. He later has a white girlfriend. 
• Ma’Shingayi: Tambu’s mother. Ma’Shingayi is seen as a hardworking character that has worked and sacrificed so that her son can have an education. After Nhamo’s death, she becomes mean, angry, and jealous of those around her.  

Summary:

• The protagonist, Tambu, desires to be educated at the mission. However, they need money because they are of low status, and the family is already sending Tambu’s brother, Nhamo, to school. Babamukuru, the uncle of Tambu, provides for his entire family, and pays the fees for his nephew, Nhamo. Nhamo always gets on Tambu’s nerves because he brags about the education he gets and his high status in the family. One day, during the vacation, Babamukuru returned to the homestead without Nhamo; Nhamo dies of a sickness. Tambu now gets the opportunity to go to the mission school. However, Tambu’s mother becomes distressed because she thinks that what happened with Nhamo will occur to Tambu. When Tambu goes with her uncle and arrives at the mission, her bond with her cousin, Nyasha, grows. Tambu and Nyasha are very successful in school, but there are many problems that arise from Tambu’s family. The family problems that arose are resolved through the legal Christian marriage of Jeremiah, Tambu’s dad, and Ma’Shingayi, Tambu’s mother. Tambu’s success paves the way for her opportunity at the Sacred Hearts, the covenant. She goes to the covenant, how she starts to question the world and the influences of the whites. 

Major Conflicts:

• Tambu fights against the poverty and lack of opportunity in Rhodesia. Once at the mission school, she is delayed by sexism and the sacrifices she must do to satisfy her uncle and achieve his expectations of her. 
• Nhamo dies because of a sickness, and another person must take his place to bring honor and success for the family. Tambu is decided to take his place at the mission school. 
• Babamukuru is saddened by the fact that Takesure and Lucia are still at Jeremiah’s homestead.  Also, Lucia is pregnant with Takesure child. A family meeting is held to discuss the situation and is resolved that the couple remains under Jeremiah’s homestead.  
• Babamukuru then decides to fix Jeremiah’s domestic status by giving and providing him with a legal Christian marriage.  
• Maiguru quarrels with Babamukuru over the lack of respect that she gets, and the fact that her economic part to the family is not acknowledged. She departs the next day and stays with her son, Chido. 
• When Tambu leaves for the Sacred Hearts covenant, Nyasha turns physically ill by becoming extremely thin and suffers an eating disorder. Her problem eventually gets solved by going to therapy.  

Five Important Quotations:

1. “I was not sorry when my brother died.
• This quote is significant because it shows Tambu’s feelings and attitude toward her brother, Nhamo. This quote could relate to the gender inequality Nhamo pushes forth onto Tambu. He symbolizes everything she is denied because of Tambu’s gender. With his sudden death, Tambu’s life takes a dramatic turn for the better. She is offered his place at the mission school.  
2.  “And these days it is worse, with the poverty of blackness on one side and the weight of womanhood on the other. Aiwa! What will help you, my child, is to learn to carry your burdens with strength.” 
• The quote stated by Ma’Shingayi highlights the severe reality faced by mainly African women. Ma’Shingayi bickers that being black and female is a double load. Rather than urging her daughter to be strong and rally in counter to the existing conditions that plot to keep her down, Tambu’s mother pushes her to recognize the forces she feels are too powerful for her to control. This quote shows the differences not only between the two women but between the older, more traditional beliefs and the new attitudes emerging in a more modern Africa. 
3.  “What it is,” she sighed, “to have to choose between self and security.” 
• Maiguru’s words concisely sums up the sacrifices she has made in order to raise a family and give to a more traditional idea of a woman’s responsibility in African society. Maiguru goes on to tell Tambu of the options she observed while living in England. She senses that there is no appreciation of the cooperation she has made and endures her burdens in silence. 
4. “It’s bad enough . . . when a country gets colonized, but when the people do as well! That’s the end, really, that’s the end.”
• Bit by bit, Tambu becomes pulled in by the contact with the colonialist “new ways.” The colonialism and the whites eventually change her traditional ways and later her identity. Although Tambu is against to the embarrassment her parents will suffer by having to go through a Christian wedding ceremony, she agrees with Babamukuru’s claim that the ritual be performed. Nyasha disagrees with Babamukuru’s opinion, forewarning Tambu of the dangers of supposing that Christian ways are progressive ways.
5. “Quietly, unobtrusively and extremely fitfully, something in my mind began to assert itself, to question things and refuse to be brainwashed, bringing me to this time when I can set down this story. It was a long and painful process for me, that process of expansion.”
• She has desired advancement through education, however she starts to question what it has cost her sense of self and her ill mother, distressed at the thought of another of her children being changed by their need for Western education. Her use of the word brainwashed means a radical shift in her thinking. In this quote, Tambu seems to be speaking for Nyasha, who is also depressed and ill, stating the words that Nyasha can no longer say for herself. Tambu urges herself to no longer be passively swayed by the people and traditions around her. She is definite in her decision to question.

Interesting Features:

• Themes:
• Gender Inequality
• Influence of Colonialism
• Tradition vs. Progress
• Foreshadowing:
• Nyasha and Chido returning from England, having lost most or all of their native tongue, Shona, foreshadows the same linguistic dislocation that occurs to Nhoma and then to Tambu.
• Nhamo's growing dislike of returning home for vacations foreshadows the growing gulf that develops for Tambu between life at the mission school and life at the homestead.
• Symbols:
• Garden Plot: It symbolizes Tambu’s tradition and escape from her tradition.
• Mission: The mission symblizes hope and ambition.
• Ox: Meat is rare to eat, thus the ox symbolizes wealth and status of Babamukuru.

Community Beliefs and Practices

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html

People are Christian or have indigenous beliefs, but often they have a mixture of the two, called "syncretic."

In this society, it's less about how educated you are and more about how much money you have. Religion, at least in Tambudzai's family was a mixture of indigenous beliefs until Babamukuru became Christian. At this point, he forced Tambudzai's parents to have a formal, Christian wedding. Money is a controlling factor, not so much a god or some deity.

Status Hierarchies

In Family:

Babamukuru Patriarch (not necessarily the oldest, but the most successful brother or father)

 Jeremiah Other men in the family that have been less prosperous

Ma'Shingayi, Ma'Chido Older, respected women that have borne children already

Chido, Nhamo Male offspring
Tambudzai, Lucia Female offspring and unmarried aunts

In society:

White men

Nuns at Sacred Heart White women

Babamukuru Black wealthy men

Jeremiah Less wealthy black men

Ma'Chido Black women

Tambudzai, Chido, Nyasha Black children, male and female (based on intelligence)



Who should read this book? Why?

We recommend this book to people that:

• are interested in Rhodesian society
• enjoy the mixture of different languages in writing
• are older than thirteen, due to mature subject material.
• enjoy books about coming-of-age.
• realize and appreciate that the chapters are long and the text is small.
• are female, or are emotionally available males.

You should read this book because:

• it is beautifully written
• it is relatable for girls, because Tambudzai is going through many of the same stages teenage girls do.
• it is very interesting and the reader learns a lot about life in Rhodesia.
• Tambudzai is a fascinating character, as are her struggles.
• It captures the struggles and success of many different areas, from issues with the family, to racism, to educational successes.

Marriages

There are two types of marriages that are recognized right under the law. Normal marriages are usually consistent of Zimbabwean men who have multiple wives. Civil marriages are monogamous and can be dissolved by death or divorce. Customary marriages are the more common form. Arranged marriages are rare, although families on both sides are heavily involved in marriage disputes, which include deciding on the bride price to be paid by the husband to the woman's family; thus, a wife and her children, belong to the husband and are joined with his family. Marriage gives women status and access to land. Unmarried men and women are rare. Polygyny is still widespread. Divorce is uncommon and carries shame, especially for women.

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Zimbabwe.html

Arts

Sculptors:
Art sits are held higher then normally here. Harare and Bulawayo and other areas, are many training places. Some of those centers are self-run, started with the assistance of a patron; some are run by nongovernmental organizations; and some are cooperatives. The most famous is Tengenenge in Guruve District, which has produced many of the most famous Shona sculptors.  The National Gallery in Harare was established in 1954, has been influential in the promotion of art, especially sculpture. The competition is very high in every aspect and is very active in every artist.

 Graphic Arts:
Shona sculpture is internationally acclaimed and exhibitated. The works that are done are thousands of dollars on the international market, mostly sold in the United States and Europe. Even through the work is called shona sculpture; it is not specific to the shona. The themes come largely from Africa folklore and transformed into figurative and semiabstract works that use a different types of stone, including black serpentine.

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Zimbabwe.html

Facts About Rhodesia

Government type
Parliamentary Democracy
Languages
English (official), Shona, Sindebele, and minor tribal dialects
Major imports and exports
Electricity - Exports:
32 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - Imports:
2.691 billion kWh (2007 EST.)

Oil – Exports:
0 bbl/day (2007)
country comparison to the world:166

Oil – Imports:
13,830 bbl/day (2007)
county comparison to the world:131

Natural  gas – Exports:0 cu m (2008 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas – Imports:

Exports:
$1.213 billion (20009 EST.)
County comparison to the world: 143$1.396 billion (2008 EST.)

Exports – commodities:
platinum, cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

Exports -  partners:
Democratic Republic of the Congo 14.82%, South Africa 13.39%, Botswana 13.23%, China 7.82%, Zambia 7.3%, Netherlands 5.39%, UK 4.93% (2009)

Imports:
$2.413 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 146
$1.915 billion (2008 EST.)

Imports – commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuel, product

Imports – partners:
South Africa 62.24%, China $4.2 %( 2009)

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/zi.html 

Medicine

There is a belief that sickness may have been imposed in cause of angry spirits. The treatment of this type of sickness might be to consult a n’anga, or divine healers. N’anga are respected for their counseling skills, especially in treating psychological and psychiatric problems. Herbal remedies continue to be exercised extensively in for small illnesses.

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Zimbabwe.html

Belief Systems

World Fact on Religions in Rhodesia:
Syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Ancestors:
In the traditional religion, the spirit of the dead person returns to the community, and the ancestors of the family have powerful influence on the family life. The ancestors are worshipped and honored during good harvests and in appeals to deal with misfortune.

Death:
Normally, the dead are buried close to home. The graves are arranged near the homestead. A diviner may be asked to visit the family to find out the cause of the death. After a one year, a final ceremony is demonstrated to make the spirit become a spirit guardian to look after the family.

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Zimbabwe.html

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/countrytemplate_zi.html

 

History of Rhodesia

 1923: The United Kingdom added Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company- becomes a British colony.

Rhodesia got its name from a man named Cecil John Rhodes-the founder of Rhodesia.

The colonial capital of Rhodesia was Salisbury. The territory consisted of the former British colony of Southern Rhodesia.

Rhodesia was divided by North and South Rhodesia.

o   North Rhodesia was renamed Zambia-1964

o   South Rhodesia was renamed Rhodesia-1964

1961: A constitution was created that approved the whites for power.

1965: the white-minority government, preferably IAN SMITH (prime minister), affirmed its independence from Britain, but the United Kingdom did not acknowledge the declaration.

A civil war, consisting of guerilla uprisings and United Nation endorsement, guided to a free election in 1979 and the creation of a renamed country, Zimbabwe.

1970: The Republic of Rhodesia was established.

1980: Rhodesia developed international acknowledgement of its independence. The nation became known as Zimbabwe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Rhodesia

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108169.html

Vocabulary!

This is for chapters 1-10, (the entirety of the book.)

Maiguru- term of honor and respect for an older woman. 
npillay6a2010.wikispaces.com/.../Nervous+Conditions+Vocab+and+Pronounciation.docx

bwana- important person, boss.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1R2RNSN_enUS403&defl=en&q=define:Bwana&sa=X&ei=gN4ATb_LHIa8lQffu9mDCQ&ved=0CBMQkAE

sadza- this is a food eaten during dinner, prepared by the women. It is basically a cooked corn meal that is a staple in Zimbawean diet.

Mukoma- this is basically a title, like "Mr." Respected men are called Mukoma ____ (followed by their first name.)

muera bonga- which as far as I could find, is another term of respect. Also, it is used out of thanks, when a person has given something to someone else.

Babawa- father
http://translate.google.com/#sw|en|baba%20wa%0D%0A

nyamashewe- a ritual greeting,
 npillay6a2010.wikispaces.com/.../Nervous+Conditions+Vocab+and+Pronounciation.docx

tete- aunt
npillay6a2010.wikispaces.com/.../Nervous+Conditions+Vocab+and+Pronounciation.docx

Mwaramu- title of respect for males
npillay6a2010.wikispaces.com/.../Nervous+Conditions+Vocab+and+Pronounciation.docx

hozi- a hut made of grain used for storage and sleeping quarters.
npillay6a2010.wikispaces.com/.../Nervous+Conditions+Vocab+and+Pronounciation.docx

Dangarembga, Tsitsi. "Chapters 1-10." Nervous Conditions. New York: Seal, 2004. Print.

Gender Roles!

In this book, there is definitely a patriarchal society. The men typically control the lives of both their children and wives. However, in this specific society, or at least in Tambu's household, women have some more rights. Although Tambu's father did not want to let her, Tambu's mother was the one that allowed her to take some seed for her own cultivation of a plot of land. Also, Tambu can go to school. It is not scorned upon to allow girls to attend school, but their education is simply not as important as the boys'. The women are ultimately expected to have babies and take care of the household and cooking. Also, the women are just considered inferior to men. At dinner time, a woman is expected to go to each person dinner and give them a washing bowl and a cloth. She must go in order of "Rank," meaning from the most notable guest/family member to the least. The women are always last, regardless of age.