The Exodus Down South: a novel by Oswald Kucherera

'The Exodus Down South' writes about how migration works for those who leave their homes because of desperate measures, hoping the grass is greener on the other side, then only to realise that the colour is just the same.

“ I am somebody” summarises what Oswald is trying to convey with this short novel. These words are found close to the end when he is explaining a scenario that allows you to imagine how a person turns to an object for labour, invincible and seen only when the anthropological gaze wants to take a photo of the immigrants. These words he utters also show how and when dignity becomes inaccessible when one is in a foreign country. 

Oswald Kucherera is forced to leave home when the Great Zimbabwe has no more the great to make it the kingdom it once was. After his retrenchment at a local bank, he sells most of his belongings so that he can catch a bus to South Africa in attempts to find better ways in which he could chase the cat away from sleeping around the fireplace. 

“I am somebody” reminds the readers of many a man who have been stripped off their manhood because of situations that forces them to sell their dignity in exchange for survival. Oswald remains a somebody even when the society he is introduced to upon his arrival in the city takes him for granted because of his status of being a 'foreigner'. He marks borders as the second worst things which has ever happened to Africa after slavery because his fellow brothers fail to see him as a human being like themselves because of the differing language, nationality and creed he comes from. His words, ‘I am somebody’ reminds us that Kucherera is still human even when he finds himself in a foreign land full of strangers that look like him but are fearful of him because of being seen as a threat to jobs which the locals are also aiming for because of the current oppressive economic measures that are no less different from those of the Zimbabwean government. In his book,the author expresses of his experience of seeing his fellow brothers being set alight because of being told they do not belong in the country as they have earned a derogatory term Makwekwere. 

The story takes us through painful stories about love being found and lost again by people surrounding him and himself. The book leaves us cursing love for the unfortunates that befell the four men who come to South Africa and leave with shattered hearts because of failed love. He offers us no hope of any of the four people in his life ever finding happiness. The story of Rudo and Tshepo breaks our hearts as it is living evidence of how an oppressive system turns black people against each other. 

However, the book plays the devil’s advocate in explaining the socio-political challenges South Africa is faced with that lead most of its citizens to act in the manner they do as it mentions nothing of the political sphere as well as economic distribution which has held the country backwards. Moreover, the book plays it safe by not expressing sincere feelings experience by the author probably for avoiding getting in trouble with both governments; the South African one as well as the Zimbabwean one. This neutrality restricts us from sharing the author’s pain that he has suffered in his pursuit of happiness. If there should be a sequel, the author should open up to us about his true feelings without feeling apologetic for the things he opens up about in the book.

Nonetheless, the book offers hope to all those who are forced to leave home for better chances of making life work. The author gives hope to immigrants to continue dreaming despite the odds they find themselves in. He is somebody today who is content with himself as a person first as he found happiness in reading, in literature that has paved doors for him to touch many with his pen.

Review by Noluvuyo Mjoli