The Kaffir of Karthala

by Mohamed Toihiri, Anis Memon (Translation)

Though Mazamba knows he only has a few days left to extract most out of the world, and though he is married, Mazamba "embarks on an affair with a French woman, Aubéri, and comes to look at the world around him with new eyes." He is met with a society of racism, a nation of corruption and a globe of preconceived notions. But he still undertakes the quest to "challenge the status quo while he still can." Toihiri is a courageous and fearless writer. He looks and writes about the world with a different eye; an eye more clear and vivid an eye more brave. From the descriptions of ‘a neighborhood where the Middle Ages and the Third Millennium went hand in hand’ to the humorous political past of Marshal Kabaya, Toihri is a brilliant writer. (description by Aisha Esbhani)

Genres: Comoros, Fiction, Africa, Contemporary, The World

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel from the Comoros (in French) is the story of a morally bankrupt man. The language is rich and full of symbolism, but it is not an easy story to read.

[Tutankhamun18 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine. We follow Mazemba, who learning he only has a few weeks to live embarks on an affair with a Frenchwoman and puts the corrupt government in its place. At times the descriptions are wonderful and funny, at others they feel somewhat flat. Themes of marriage, infidelity, polygamy vs. monogamy, corruption, money, power and love vs. lust vs. tradition.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I got all the references in this satire, and sometimes it felt as though we were moving scene to scene rather arbitrarily. But it's an interesting satire nonetheless. There seemed to be a bit of a homophobic equation of homosexuality with decadence and corruption, although maybe I'm being unfair. It's very inventive and sharp, in any event, especially as it builds to a dramatic and ironic conclusion. The ambivalence of Idi, the protagonist, about his opposition to aspects of his culture and society --which he opposes and yet feels like an outsider for opposing--is handled interestingly, though his countrypeople are mocked quite savagely. The real venom, though, is saved for the "Generous Partners," the white European neo-colonial exploiters (offset interestingly by the fact that he finds love with a white Jewish French woman, with the suggestion that relations could conceivably be otherwise). The brief interlude in South Africa, at that point only beginning to emerge from Apartheid, helps throw the dynamic into relief--at the same time as offering some little hope of moving beyond it.

[Rhoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was my read the world selection for Comoros.

Dr Mazamba has been diagnosed with cancer and knowing that he has limited time left, he decides to live life a bit differently. Although he is married, Mazamba decides to throw caution to the wind and have an affair with Auberi, a Frenchwoman, as his wife is cold, unloving and harsh.

He and Auberi travel to South Africa to a conference and Mazamba experiences racism such that he has never experienced before and is astounded that he is not even permitted to stay in the same hotel as the Frenchwoman or even walk on the same side of the road as her.

He also decides to tackle the corruption in his country and his plans all fall into place when the perfect opportunity presents itself to him.

It was a bit of a slow start getting into this book, but it really grew on me. Mazamba was an interesting character, who I couldn’t help liking despite having some very good morals and some pretty questionable ones! It also gave some good insights into life in Comoros and although there were some parts that dragged a bit, overall it was quite good. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

[DesertSlug · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for my reading-of-the-world project (Comoros). I struggled with giving it a one or a two star rating. I ended up giving it two stars because I think it nominally does what I was hoping to get from this project - which is to give me a sense of other cultures through the eyes of fiction writers. What I didn't like about it is that it left me with a lot of negative ideas about Comoros culture, and very few positive ones. I think it is supposed to be a satire, and maybe it is a translation problem, but I did not find it to be particularly funny or thought-provoking (which I expect of satires). It has an anti-hero of sorts as a main character, and I love stories with anti-heroes, but this one just fell flat. It wasn't the worst thing I ever read, but it was mostly unenjoyable and I would strongly encourage folks to find another book for Comoros.

[Roni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this book had had a good editor. It could have been great. I would have liked to have known more about the French mistress. All I knew is that she loved Idi. I would have liked to have known more about the General Partners from the very beginning. That would have made the ending so much more satisfying. I would have liked to have understood the reason for bringing Issa into the story. All of the different threads could have been woven together into such a rich tapestry. It was a good story, though, and I know more about Comoros now than I had before I read the book.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Global Read Challenge 81: Comoros

There are a lot of countries where the only book available in the US in English is self published. This book is definitely the best one of those I've read. It could use an editor, but it still works. There are some issues, like his wife is cartoonishly unpleasant in order to justify his affair, and why is Issa's story there but overall it was an easy interesting read. I learned a lot about Comoros including the tradition of the anda/grand marriage which is really interesting.

[Leslie (updates on SG) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book for my AtW challenge (Comoros) took a while to get going, but it did with a touch of the absurd.

[Mary Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comoros

[Nicole Kroger Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

#readtheworld Comoros

[Neuza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading around world #140: Comoros

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comoros

"But rather to his decision to make of his death an act of life."

"The country was white. Very white. All of a sudden she committed suicide: she took the doctor’s hand in hers. He was black. She was white. The staff was black, the clientele was black. Only the security was white."

"This is the Republic of South Africa, turn your clocks back fifty years.’ It’s because of people like you that we’re the pariah of the international community."

"There were different races on earth, and he belonged to the oppressed."

"Everything is racial. Education is racial. The economy is racial. The neighborhoods are racial. Even the rain and the sunshine are racial."

"He thought he was living a dream. A dream that would never end."

"Each of them had a different conception of life."

"An inner peace had taken hold of him, his soul was calm and detached from temporal contingencies. He would have no regrets in leaving this world."