Confessions of Nairobi Men and Women by Joan Thatiah: A Twin Review
Confessions of Nairobi Women
As a Nairobi woman living in this chaotic but beautiful mess that is my city, I’m intrigued! I love reading books that bring me home when I’m at home. Where my mind doesn’t have to wander so much to paint a picture of a city. Where, as I read, I can smell, feel, and relate to the places in the book. Confessions of Nairobi women did exactly that!
How do I even describe these stories that read like a movie script? To imagine that these are not tales, but realities of women who I could have met, maybe rubbed shoulders with, women who have been through it, messed up their lives, loved hopelessly, lived helplessly, and thrived in the mystic dynamics of a city where hustle is the game of the day- incomprehensible! I loved the vulnerability, admired the courage, sympathised with histories, and wowed with restitution amid the disarray of an unforgiving society. This is a book which reminds you that no matter what you are dealing with, someone else is having it rough. It’s a book that unpacks how human we are- our mess, care, naivety and greed.
From a woman who gets addicted to her man’s love-making (she doesn’t know his goods are laced with cocaine) to another who has to live under Nairobi’s Globe Roundabout and is literally raised by the streets, to one who loves wholly but is always under the mercy of his kicks and blows, and to the one who lives as a sex worker having witnessed her daughter’s death in the carelessness of matatu madness, and finally one who ends up in jail because in the spur of a jealous moment does bodily harm to another woman and her story ends with incarceration.
This book was so good I read it in one sitting. Thanks Joan for writing the book- and to the women in it, I wish I had your courage.
Confessions of Nairobi Men
When I say nothing under the sun that we human beings do surprises me, I mean it. Maybe it’s because life has done a number on me, or probably the exposure to a lot of information through stories in books, TV and other forms. But people’s stories hardly astonish me. That said, it doesn’t mean that the shock level equals the trauma moments that come once you read or hear stories! Confessions of Nairobi Men is dark, traumatic and breathtaking – knocks off the oxygen with ‘what the hell did I just read?’
These are not easy stories to read. They are daunting! Mostly because these are true stories of people I probably interact with on and off. They are stories of men whose lives have gone through staggering lacerations of the heart, mind and body. Stories that will break your soul, disappoint you while others will make you swear more than a sailor!
From an Uber driver who witnesses the violation of his body – twice, and a death all on separate trips. To a man who has to raise children who are not his despite the wife killing herself after that information is revealed. Stories of redemption and waiting through respite. This is a book of many things, but everything with some hoovering darkness of just the life we live. The people we live with, those who love us, hurt us, condone us and those who choose to be part of our rescue journey.
Confessions of Nairobi Men, just shows that in this city, in my city, we are all lab rats and the city in an experiment.
About the Reviewer
Corrie Kisilu is a climate communications specialist who is is a book nerd. When she is not working, you will find her tucked away with a good book. Find her on twitter, @corriemwende
