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Botlhodi: The Abomination: A Postcolonial Setswana Novel by T.J. Pheto
Botlhodi: The Abomination: A Postcolonial Setswana Novel by T.J. Pheto | T J Pheto
2 posts | 1 read
Botlhodi - The Abomination is a powerful story about British colonialism and its aftermath in Molepolole, Botswana. It is a compelling juxtaposition between Traditional Setswana ways and Christianity. The protagonist, Modiko, finds himself conflicted when both his strict father, a pastor of Motlhaoetla church, and his grandfather, an unapologetic traditionalist, expect him to choose between Setswana tradition and Christianity. Torn between the two worlds, Modiko at the end makes an informed personal decision. The road is not smooth though, as he experiences persecution, bullying, abuse, witchcraft and nightmares along the way. Other characters in the novel engage in some serious conversations that allude to some important historical developments. In this work, T.J. Pheto presents to his readers a hilarious story pregnant with themes of identity, social change, discrimination, racism, colonialism, love and, 'tradition' versus 'modernity'. This pioneering literary response to British colonialism in Botswana is an outstanding postcolonial fiction of resistance. Pheto's humor makes the book all the more hard for a reader to put down.
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Dilara
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This was a bit of a chore, which is why it took me 2 weeks to finish it... The translation is amateurish, which might colour my perception, but I don't think comparing the writer to Ngugi Wa Thiongo and Chinua Achebe is warranted, despite similar themes of christianisation and colonisation. Still, I got enough out of this short novel that I never felt like giving up.

Pic: old palapye church https://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/explore/old-palapye

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Dilara
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Reading Botlhodi, a novel translated from #Botswana's official language Setswana into English, which I found on Everand.
Pictured dish is a chicken stew (onion, chicken thighs & drumsticks, chili, cumin, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and sweetcorn) with madombi (dumplings): https://ahungryafricanoriginal.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/mini-dumplings-in-stew/

#FoodandLit
@Catsandbooks @Texreader

Ruthiella OMG that looks delicious. 😋 2mo
Dilara @Ruthiella It was decent! 2mo
Catsandbooks Yum!! 🇧🇼❤️ 1mo
TheBookHippie YUMMMMMMM 1mo
31 likes4 comments