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The Cockroach Dance
Dusman Gonzaga and his neighbors in Dacca House, a tenement building in an African city, cope with cockroaches, the rental agent, and the constant search for enough money to keep going
Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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About the author
Meja Mwangi
37 books106 followersMeja Mwangi began his writing career in the 1970s, a decade after his more well-known compatriots such as Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Grace Ogot had been publishing their works. When he burst onto the scene with the award-winning Kill Me Quick in 1973, Mwangi was hailed in various quarters as a rising star in the East African literary constellation who was helping to disprove Taban lo Liyong's oft-cited claim that East Africa was a literary desert (Taban 1965, Nazareth 1976). Since then, Meja Mwangi has gone on to establish himself as one of the most prolific of Kenyan writers, publishing eleven novels in seventeen years in addition to short stories, children's books and working with a variety of projects in film. Mwangi's works have received awards in Kenya and abroad, they have been translated into six languages, and there are film versions of two of his novels.
For many Kenyan writers, the armed resistance to British colonialism in Kenya, which came to be known as the Mau Mau revolt and reached its height in the 1950s, was a far-reaching experience. [Meja Mwangi' Mau Mau novel] Weapon of Hunger is perhaps [his] best book yet. The picture he paints of the relentless quest for modern Africa is grim. What is most depressing, is that there seem to be no solutions. Western philanthropists, such as Jack Rivers, are portrayed in a favourable light as sincere people. All their energies, however, are expended on trying to understand Africa's problems and once they understand them they realise that the problems are beyond them. As for the Africans themselves, they could have provided solutions, but since they are lined up in warring factions, that is impossible. While the two sides fight on to the finish, will million of ordinary people continue to starve to dead? That is the questions which Meja Mwangi asks himself and which he asks the readers of Weapon.
(Excerpt from: Lynn Mansure, Weekly Review)
For many Kenyan writers, the armed resistance to British colonialism in Kenya, which came to be known as the Mau Mau revolt and reached its height in the 1950s, was a far-reaching experience. [Meja Mwangi' Mau Mau novel] Weapon of Hunger is perhaps [his] best book yet. The picture he paints of the relentless quest for modern Africa is grim. What is most depressing, is that there seem to be no solutions. Western philanthropists, such as Jack Rivers, are portrayed in a favourable light as sincere people. All their energies, however, are expended on trying to understand Africa's problems and once they understand them they realise that the problems are beyond them. As for the Africans themselves, they could have provided solutions, but since they are lined up in warring factions, that is impossible. While the two sides fight on to the finish, will million of ordinary people continue to starve to dead? That is the questions which Meja Mwangi asks himself and which he asks the readers of Weapon.
(Excerpt from: Lynn Mansure, Weekly Review)
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 4, 2024
There is no dawn in Dacca House.
The new day arrives abruptly, unheralded, with a violence like that of a small earthquake, a sudden explosion that lasts all day.
"The Cockroach Dance." Could alternatively be titled "The Quest For Social Justice." or better yet, "Dusman Gonzaga Being A Sarcastic Little Shit."
I'm loving this author's books.
May 11, 2018
It took the intervention of starting all over after not getting the gist of the book and after that i was hooked! Dusman is a parking meter reader who was once a water reader (he insists to the city council that he should go back to the latter job) surviving in the pangs of poverty at Dacca house. In fact the cockroaches dance to this tune and he can't get enough of them neither can the various pesticides. Here he meets the faceless ones and those who he loathes without even really knowing a hoot about their real names. One might think he is loosing it as he even consults a doctor Bates for psychiatric help but that leads to more questions than answers. Dusman believes everything will get better and he tries to drive his point home by coming up with a petition against the landlord, Tumbo Kubwa whom he believes charges high rent yet Dacca houses are in the worst conditions ever. He tries to convince the others but it is after a sour deal by Toto- his room mate; that puts the entire neighbourhood at prison probing them into the signing.
At prison he comes into terms with reality of the people around him who appear to be thieves. Each has a sentence to serve.
Meja takes a reader through the highs (women and beer) to the lows (mugging, fights, hungry nights, prostitution, diseases like 'nylon', poor living standards) in the most humorous and sarcastic tone. He leaves a reader not sympathizing with the characters but laughing at their naivety and cruelty. It also represents the Kenyan community transition from then to now but not much has changed though.
At prison he comes into terms with reality of the people around him who appear to be thieves. Each has a sentence to serve.
Meja takes a reader through the highs (women and beer) to the lows (mugging, fights, hungry nights, prostitution, diseases like 'nylon', poor living standards) in the most humorous and sarcastic tone. He leaves a reader not sympathizing with the characters but laughing at their naivety and cruelty. It also represents the Kenyan community transition from then to now but not much has changed though.
March 12, 2009
This is a book is about the tragedy-commedy that unfolds in the slums of Nairobi. Although sometimes it falls into "common places", is a very enjoyable reading that shows with a little bit of bitterness the reality of life of the majority of black Kenyans after independece. The characters are so well depictered and so close to reality (for my memories from Kenya), I feel as if I met Toto and Dusman in person.
December 30, 2012
I found this book while traveling in Kenya and totally loved it. Dark in places, but with plenty of comic relief. It seems to portray the reality of Kenya (when I was there) extremely well.
April 21, 2018
Let me introduce you to Dusman Gonzaga.
A man who can't stop berating his neighbours. He also thinks he is their saviour.
He doesn't like his job reading parking meters and would rather go back to his former job reading water meters. A job which he also hated but now hates less. He also hates his neighbours. The Bathroom man for living in a bathroom. The Sukuma Wiki man for having intimate relations (with the wife) in the afternoon. The landlord for overcharging rent. Magendo for trading in stolen goods.
This rant goes on and on, very much like this review is going , taking various shapes and forms.
The most exciting part comes in the last two chapters where the neighbours find themselves in prison .
Even that ends in a whimper.
A man who can't stop berating his neighbours. He also thinks he is their saviour.
He doesn't like his job reading parking meters and would rather go back to his former job reading water meters. A job which he also hated but now hates less. He also hates his neighbours. The Bathroom man for living in a bathroom. The Sukuma Wiki man for having intimate relations (with the wife) in the afternoon. The landlord for overcharging rent. Magendo for trading in stolen goods.
This rant goes on and on, very much like this review is going , taking various shapes and forms.
The most exciting part comes in the last two chapters where the neighbours find themselves in prison .
Even that ends in a whimper.
September 27, 2008
Another of my all-time faves. This one gets better every time I read it. As with most of my faves, I know there are studious and serious interpretations, but I'm not that deep. I can appreciate the sheer humor, descriptive prose and ridiculous scenarios. Poverty can be hilarious!
September 17, 2020
An exceptional story!An easy read for young adults!
April 4, 2018
Most of the African literature tackles all the problems that we have in Africa, poverty leading the list. This is no exception. What I love about Meja Mwangi is that he doesn't make you want to put the book aside so that you may weep first and then come back to finish the chapter later. Nope. He describes the events so nicely with a heavy touch of humour, you just don't want to put the book down.
My favourite parts of the book is whenever Dusman Gonzaga is conversing to anyone, especially Toto. One morning thy are so broke they can't afford breakfast and then they are like we need to get organized. Their getting organized involved meeting up later the same day in the evening to drink one too many and find women to take home. His hatred for cockroaches is something hilarious. I remember when he was in jail and he heard the police planning to visit and search Dacca House brick by brick and he was like ...." Search Dacca house? Good luck with that. And tell those cockroaches I hate them and that they should move out and if they don't, I am burning down the whole building."
Dusman Gonzaga believes that the city ( Nairobi) was designed by a squad of drunk monkeys who have fake degrees in architecture regarding the sewerage system. Also, apparently, there used to be an actual river that River Road is named after. Where did it go to? And its Grogan not Grogon?
I just didn't like how it ended. Probably because it is not what I expected or I didn't expect it to end at all. Whatever the case, it was a happy ending fr Dusman and the Bathroom Man/Family.
This is an awesome book.
4.5 stars
My favourite parts of the book is whenever Dusman Gonzaga is conversing to anyone, especially Toto. One morning thy are so broke they can't afford breakfast and then they are like we need to get organized. Their getting organized involved meeting up later the same day in the evening to drink one too many and find women to take home. His hatred for cockroaches is something hilarious. I remember when he was in jail and he heard the police planning to visit and search Dacca House brick by brick and he was like ...." Search Dacca house? Good luck with that. And tell those cockroaches I hate them and that they should move out and if they don't, I am burning down the whole building."
Dusman Gonzaga believes that the city ( Nairobi) was designed by a squad of drunk monkeys who have fake degrees in architecture regarding the sewerage system. Also, apparently, there used to be an actual river that River Road is named after. Where did it go to? And its Grogan not Grogon?
I just didn't like how it ended. Probably because it is not what I expected or I didn't expect it to end at all. Whatever the case, it was a happy ending fr Dusman and the Bathroom Man/Family.
This is an awesome book.
4.5 stars
June 21, 2021
An absolutely horrifying rollercoaster ride of being middle class a few decades into Kenyan independence, which means your sliding downwards, if you are not stealing with 10 fingers. The painful, relatable depressing life of Dusman on River Road speaks volumes to anyone living in cities in this day and age. It also brings us front and center to the journey of a Kenyan in the city after independence. Maybe things have changed less then we think, as this book has not aged 1 bit and would hit as hard as it did in the 1970s, today.
The characters of your current tenement have surely driven you mad as well. We all have been worked to a point of near hallucination, where the sight of a laptop, or in Dusman's case, a water meter can haunt us past working hours. We have all been stuck. The book reminded of the Joker quite a bit, in terms of brutal nihilism, cruelty and misfortune served to Dusman. But like a god-fearing man, Dusman never really snaps ala Joker. Thought you wouldn't blame him if he did. A powerful look into the psyche of a time and a place in Kenyan history, it crosses all lines and boundaries. I was immediately brought to the grim estates of many cities and the life of a parking meter reader there. We are not that different after all.
I wont spoil the book, but if you enjoy fiction, you should pick this one up.
The characters of your current tenement have surely driven you mad as well. We all have been worked to a point of near hallucination, where the sight of a laptop, or in Dusman's case, a water meter can haunt us past working hours. We have all been stuck. The book reminded of the Joker quite a bit, in terms of brutal nihilism, cruelty and misfortune served to Dusman. But like a god-fearing man, Dusman never really snaps ala Joker. Thought you wouldn't blame him if he did. A powerful look into the psyche of a time and a place in Kenyan history, it crosses all lines and boundaries. I was immediately brought to the grim estates of many cities and the life of a parking meter reader there. We are not that different after all.
I wont spoil the book, but if you enjoy fiction, you should pick this one up.
April 9, 2022
Different than the short story format of African writing- and sometimes a bit crazy- but a very comical look at the life of a man who complains about everything, hates everyone (sometimes with good reason)- yet is no better than them as they all suffer from the grips of colonialism and the rape and savagery of the theft of Africa, its people and resources. This book made me laugh out loud at the end- with the use and realization of the benefits of counselling- delivered by a muzungu- who would have absolutely no idea - being the benefactor of colonial rules and privilege- yet had influenced the protagonist to see things and people in a different way to improve his own quality of life. It may not make one hate things less- but imparts that onus of the obligation of us all to do better and realize that everyone has a story behind the face you see. This will be lost on those who are unable or unwilling to realize the context of the times this was written in- as well as to enjoy irony and sarcastically crafted deconstruction of it.
July 30, 2021
A 'character study' of a man (Dusman Gonzalez) who lives in a neighborhood on Grogan Road in Nairobi (not a slum like Mathare; way better than Kibera). How to live when you are not being chased by parking meters, or watching the cockroaches dance and listening to them plot against you. Pretty bad, but it is a level of normal, as they are reminded when policeinvade without warning & search all 50+ rooms in the place and take some away to jail (Nairobi Central) and then search the whole building down to the smallest de4tail. They even search the Bathroom Man's room & the common toilet for all the people.
January 27, 2024
An easy read. Hilarious as well. Simply put, it's a tragicomedy.It is very easy to relate it as it captures the real situation of what Grogan Road in downtown Nairobi looks like. At first, Dusman comes across as one who's lost/is losing his mind. Later, though, it turns out that he's the most normal of them all. The fact that he's also very genuine and real endears the reader to him some more. I'd read this book again a few months down the road.
November 17, 2022
A dismal and depressing slice of life from the point of view of a man who lives in and around abject poverty, wants to escape, but cannot.
It is brilliantly written and is even borne along on a kind of desperation humor. But this book is set in misery and displays it unflinchingly.
It is brilliantly written and is even borne along on a kind of desperation humor. But this book is set in misery and displays it unflinchingly.
November 4, 2021
unfortunately, the version i had only went up to chapter #7 (which means every1 else in my class also was only able to read up to chapter #7….oops) but this seven chapters were very good
May 1, 2025
A powerful portrayal of postcolonial Kenya by a master story teller.
May 8, 2024
My first attempt at reading this book was about 6 years ago and I couldn't get (into) it! It's one of those books that need you to be in a certain headspace to appreciate it.
***
Duzman Gonzaga works for the (Nairobi) City Council as a parking meter reader. He lives in a deplorable state in Dacca House on Grogan Road with annoying neighbors that he just hates.
"The story of his life had no apparent end or beginning. Whenever he reviewed his life privately, it was sometimes impossible to believe that he had actually lived it and was currently continuing to do so. His life was a series of catastrophes thrown haphazardly across his path by time itself. Each time he tried to narrate the story of his life, it left his audience with a queer expression on their faces and thereafter they made an obvious effort to avoid him. How could they believe the tragedy that was his life? And tragedy was what it was. How else could he describe a life shared with a man who lived in a bathroom, a witchdoctor and, once, with a cat that wouldn't eat mice and ended up committing suicide."
He just longs for a better life: to move out of the "rat-hole" he lives in and get a transfer back to being a water meter reader. But nothing ever seems to go his way and he thinks he's going starting to go mad. He's now seeing parking meters in random places and the cockroaches in his room dancing.
I enjoyed the author's wit:
"...Mind you, I have nothing against them, but I think mother sometimes overdo it a little. What I mean is . .. my name for example. Kimende. Who in his right mind would burden a child with such a name? Kimende for God's sake! Would you believe it doesn't mean any. thing? I keep telling people this, but they never believe me. They make me spell it two or three times and then they forget it almost instantly. For all the time I have been in City Hall, the Mayor himself can never call me by my name. He says it sounds vulgar. Kimende! She must have been drunk when she dreamed that one up."
The author's descriptive writing paints a vivid picture of life in a "plot" in Nairobi, and life generally in the 70's - 90's. He gives the reader a great summary of the history of the city and why Grogan Road came to be what it is today. It's also interesting to note that in as much as the city has grown from the time this book was written, a lot of issues raised still remain the same.
***
Duzman Gonzaga works for the (Nairobi) City Council as a parking meter reader. He lives in a deplorable state in Dacca House on Grogan Road with annoying neighbors that he just hates.
"The story of his life had no apparent end or beginning. Whenever he reviewed his life privately, it was sometimes impossible to believe that he had actually lived it and was currently continuing to do so. His life was a series of catastrophes thrown haphazardly across his path by time itself. Each time he tried to narrate the story of his life, it left his audience with a queer expression on their faces and thereafter they made an obvious effort to avoid him. How could they believe the tragedy that was his life? And tragedy was what it was. How else could he describe a life shared with a man who lived in a bathroom, a witchdoctor and, once, with a cat that wouldn't eat mice and ended up committing suicide."
He just longs for a better life: to move out of the "rat-hole" he lives in and get a transfer back to being a water meter reader. But nothing ever seems to go his way and he thinks he's going starting to go mad. He's now seeing parking meters in random places and the cockroaches in his room dancing.
I enjoyed the author's wit:
"...Mind you, I have nothing against them, but I think mother sometimes overdo it a little. What I mean is . .. my name for example. Kimende. Who in his right mind would burden a child with such a name? Kimende for God's sake! Would you believe it doesn't mean any. thing? I keep telling people this, but they never believe me. They make me spell it two or three times and then they forget it almost instantly. For all the time I have been in City Hall, the Mayor himself can never call me by my name. He says it sounds vulgar. Kimende! She must have been drunk when she dreamed that one up."
The author's descriptive writing paints a vivid picture of life in a "plot" in Nairobi, and life generally in the 70's - 90's. He gives the reader a great summary of the history of the city and why Grogan Road came to be what it is today. It's also interesting to note that in as much as the city has grown from the time this book was written, a lot of issues raised still remain the same.
January 9, 2020
City struggles, laced with humour and satire sifts through the whole book. It depicts the real life of the Nairobi dream chasers who are on the run and on the chase of something always.
Read the book at 11, and in my adult life. I think this is one of the best books I have ever read.
Read the book at 11, and in my adult life. I think this is one of the best books I have ever read.
November 15, 2016
Reminded me a bit of Confederacy of Dunces. The characters are quite overdrawn (but interesting enough) and the story ambles along pleasantly, until out of nowhere everything gets tied up in a big ending ex machina.
April 27, 2016
The mind games when went on in my head ... best Kenyan read yet. Again colonial hang over very prominent.
November 30, 2016
it is a very nice book that potrays the life of the under-priviledged in the society and it is also quite humorous congrats to Meja mwangi
December 1, 2016
One of the most amusing, well written books by a Kenyan author.
Read
April 21, 2017It was funny!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews