Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor’s “Dust”
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor’s rise to fame within the Kenyan (and African) literature world began after her original story “Weight of whispers” was published in Kwani? - a Kenyan literary magazine in 2003. After this, various pieces of work by Yvonne Adhiambo were published and turned into short films - such as “The Knife Grinder’s Tale” in 2007. Yvonne has not been a stranger to the spotlight, nevertheless, it was her novel “Dust” that catapulted her to fame in 2014.
I had the honour of speaking to Madam Yvonne and ask her what it meant for her to be considered one of the most influential Kenyan women in literature; this was her response:
“It is an idea that means digging deeper, writing faster (haha) and urging more and more of the truly brilliant closet and other writers to create without fear. There is so much to explore and offer as creative story to other East Africans and the continent.”
Every once in a while, I come across a book by a female writer that captivates me; transports me to a different place, “Dust” is one of these books. The book is set during the infamous post-poll election violence that terrorised Kenyans between the months of December and February 2007.
Cultural silence is not a new concept; it has contributed to grief and death. For women of colour, they are discouraged from speaking out against their aggressors. They find themselves either scared into silence or shunned by the community when they do speak up/out.
“National doors slammed over vaults of secrets. Soon the wise chose cowardice, a way of life: not hearing, not seeing, never asking, because sound, like dreams, could cause death. Sound gave up names, especially those of friends. It co-opted silence as an eavesdropper; casual conversations heard were delivered to the state to murder…from that day, their days were stuffed with choked fear, suffocated by the family habit of silence.”
In the same way Kenya, during and after its fight for independence and freedom, is haunted by the secrets its aggressors and freedom fighters held, Odidi and his family reflect the realities of surviving colonisation.
At first glance “Dust” seems to be the story of Odidi Oganda, an engineer turned gang member, who was framed by the police and shot to death on election night. Following the shooting we are introduced to his sister, Ajany, who has returned from Brazil to mourn her brother’s death and bury him in Turkana, their home. Ajany easily becomes the main focus of dust alongside her father (Nyipir), mother (Akai) and an ominous British man (Isaiah).
The main themes of “Dust” are loss, grief and guilt. The book explores the aftermath of death and the violence and injustice seen during political upheaval. Yvonne’s choice of a third person narrative makes the reader feel like we are looking into this family’s intimate moments. It feels intrusive and there is a constant sense of foreboding.
“Perhaps history and silence and memories and secrets are like dust - everywhere.”
Very rarely do we hear about the history of Kenya, the story of Kenya, illustrations and literature of Kenya’s past, present and possible future from women. Yvonne Adhiambo, in my view, draws a comparison between election violence and the trauma hidden within the home.
