After 4:30

by David G. Maillu

After 4:30 rocketed the now reknown author, David G. Maillu, to become the most widely read, controversial and humorous writer in East Africa in the 1970s. Told in African traditional poetic or song-style, provocative and bluntly-critical, the book gives a refreshing and entertaining read. It craftily unravels the problems of housewives, office secretaries, sex workers, with unusual frankness and remarkable clarity. Philosophically, Maillu penetrates beyond mere preoccupations with sex and reveals the pangs of moral purity in a culturally transitional African world governed by materialism. It is a must for champions of Women Liberation Movements.

You are likely to find three copies of this book within one family for, when the husband is reading it, he doesn’t want his wife to know he is reading it. When the wife is reading it, she doesn’t want her husband to know she is reading it. And finally when the mature children are reading it, they don’t want the parents to know that they are reading it. Why? Find out.

Genres: Fiction, Love

Unknown Binding

About the author

David Maillu was born in colonial Kenya on 19 October 1939. He went to school at age 12, at a Salvation Army School. After four years, he sat for a national colonial education examination, called Common Entrance Examination after which he joined Intermediate School whereby we sat for the Kenya African Primary Education (KAPE). There would be another examination after two years, called Kenya Junior Secondary Education, then finally the East Africa Cambridge School Certificate examination (The O-Level).

He went to a technical school to Painting and Decorating, which took 3 years. He also enrolled for the British Tutorial College, to study for the High School education. Right from his Intermediate and Technical Schools, he developed passion in African Art, Literature and Sociology.

He is married to a German, Hannelore, from Berlin.

Reviews

[Gregory Gondwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book might come out as vulgar for many cultures, it presents some feminist realities and the gentrification of gender. In this fictitious novel, Mailu highlights the challenges faced by prostitutes, who in this case represent the challenges faced by many women in our societies...the abuse they go through and how they are perceived and treated in society. The novel is filled with exciting and entertaining events that have been presented in a language that you always give a second thought. For example, "When a man says, I love you very much, what he means is that I want to fuck you very much....May a mad dog chew your testicles". This and similar vocabularies are what you will encounter in the book

[Henry Ozogula · Rating 4 out of 5]

When some of us were quite young, we hardly believed that our fellow Africans could write books, never mind creative works. We knew academic, school books could be done by them, often in collaboration with others, mainly whites. Or maybe they copied white writers elsewhere! we thought, in childish bad faith. But I remember that as a young boy - already reading a lot - I read a piece on Kwame Nkrumah where at the end, mention was made to many of his books! I was shocked to see that the great man had written so many books. So we blacks could be so prolific?!

Hence the healthy respect I would have for the likes of David Maillu a bit later on when I learnt that he had written and published so many books. His versatility was also very impressive, as he seemed to have written about virtually every subject matter. That he was also a very popular writer in his eastern Africa made me sit up and read everything I could absorb about him.

The old man (as I thought of the author in my mind) wrote very well, and his imagination seemed endless. Even now, I have great great respect for him...

[Gesare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me feel a mix of sadness, discomfort, curiosity, and even moments of unexpected laughter. It's bold, raw, and at times very uncomfortable, but that’s what makes it powerful.

Maillu wrote this in the 1970s, but the themes he explores such as societal hypocrisy, double lives, sexual politics, survival, and emotional hunger are still relevant today. What struck me most is how nothing has truly changed. We’re still navigating the same issues, just in different clothes.

The writing took a moment to adjust to because it's more poetic and conversational than traditional storytelling, but once I got into the rhythm, it pulled me in. The emotions, the confrontations, the inner battles... it felt very human and very honest.

One particular scene really stayed with me: a child asking questions too big for her age. That moment shattered the illusion of adult control. It reminded me how early children begin to sense the complexity of the world, and how adults often live lives they can’t fully explain even to themselves.

I'd say this book isn’t for everyone. It’s provocative, unapologetic, and doesn’t offer neat conclusions. But it made me reflect. It challenged me. And sometimes, that’s exactly what a book should do.

[Vincent Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

After 4:30 is a great book, and not just for the 1970's Kenyan society but for generations to come, let's say it's ageless. All issues addressed by the author will keep on recurring in Africa, and I don't think there is going to be change any time soon. I enjoyed the book, with so much lessons on marriage and its woes (which will never end).

Now, the publisher MUST carry his cross - there are design errors, and poor editing. It should have been revised by now, over 40 years after its publication.

[CuriousMind_Ke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albeit some grammatical errors, this book is enlightening. The issues discussed are timeless, still the same ones experienced today.
My swahili was put to test by the second story. 👏🏽

[Kevin Owagah · Rating 3 out of 5]

That Kiswahili story in the second part of the book over the prose any day.The first part is a well written prose on the struggles a woman goes through in the corporate world made up of men, the plight of prostitutes and what it means to be the wife of a boss who's never at home. The writer does not fear going vulgar.
*On being a prostitute*
I don't shake
when a man tells me
he loves me
even drunkards say that
all rogues
all murderers (read murders)
say that when erect.

*on being the wife of a boss *
I don't like that, dear wife
shut up!
I've come home, to my home
a person coming to his home is never late
what do you mean by being late
late for what?

Then came the second part. The best part. As vulgar as it is. Maillu narrates the unfortunate events between two brothers. AMEOKOLEWA. Ndugu wawili waokolewa. Mmoja kutoka kwa ugonjwa uliomsumbua kwa muda, na mwingine kutoka anasa za dunia. Lakini wokovu mmoja una mshike mshike, kwani ndugu mmoja ameokolewa na kuma. Naam. Kuma yaweza kumuokowa mwanaume. Ila historia tangu karne ina mabaya ya kusimulia kila wakati mwanaume anapo okolewa na kuma. Ni yapi yanayotokea baada ya wokovu wa namna hii?

[Edwin Osuda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually it has been a book with a thrilling and quite entertaining massages. I read it sometimes back and it would be of my desire wish to once more obtain a copy of the same.

[Oliver]

Poignant. Unputdownable

[Wilson Rutinu]

Where can I get this book?

[Isaack Kinyua]

But it's not displaying!

[Benjamin Andongolile]

Great book to re read again especially after reading it many years ago

[Samuel Chege · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book

[Peter]

.

[Njuguna Njenga]

Wow

[Felix Kaugi · Rating 5 out of 5]

sounds the best

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Sam Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished reading it after4:30. Though it has glaring grammatical errors, the novel is well written and the story flows as it captures the reality of a society that is first and foremost drunk with itself and second of all a society that has lost its moral compass.
Mailu paints the picture as it is.