Nervous Conditions Chapter 3
Babamukuru and his family return triumphantly from England, where he has earned his university degree after five years. A great celebration takes place to welcome the return, with the entire village greeting them, and a vast array of relatives all gathering at the home. When his motorcade arrives, the rejoicing and celebration reach a fever pitch, with much dancing and singing.
Tambu notes her cousin’s revealing dress, and does not approve. Tambu finds it inappropriate, while Nyasha offers little more than an implied but insincere apology about revealing so much skin.
Tambu struggles with conflicting emotions at this time, as she deals with anger over not being allowed to go to the airport to meet the family, and the apparent Westernization of her returning cousins. Nhamo recognizes her frustration, and does all that he can to aggravate it further, with taunting glances and smirks. She questions why she no longer likes her cousins, even though they had been close at one time, and even wonders if she likes ANYBODY, at this time.
Tambu is greatly disturbed at the westernization of her cousins, who have apparently accepted English as their language, and have even found difficulty in speaking their native tongue of Shona. Tambu busies herself with the chores expected of a woman, but notes that when these activities are not demanded, they are far more pleasant to perform. Today, with so many other women at the homestead who can assist with the preparation and chores, Tambu is able to enjoy performing the tasks, being somewhat voluntary in nature. She also receives praise from the other women for her efforts, which Tambu basks in the pleasure of.
The males of the family hold a conference to try to create a game plan to bring the entire family out of poverty. All agree that education is the key, but that only Tambu’s older brother is worthy of education. It is agreed that Babamukuru will take Nhamo to the mission school, where he will live with his family and receive formal education, in order to prepare him for a university education.
Tambu’s resentment for her brother grows as Nhamo not only expresses his displeasure at the primitive and poverty-stricken ways of his family, but also endlessly taunts Tambu about the fact that he has been deemed worthy and gifted, while she remains a peasant. He gloats over the belief that she will always remain so, while he will succeed and escape this lifestyle.
In the fall, though, Nhamo falls ill, and dies while at the mission. Babamukuru returns to the family village with the bad news, and is met with accusations and hostility from Tambu’s mother, who is convinced that Babamukuru has intentionally killed her son. However, in spite of this deep anger, Babamukuru and Tambu’s father agree that with Nhamo dead, that Tambu should now be given the opportunity to receive formal education. Tambu’s mother is furious, as well as fearful that she will lose Tambu as well, even leveling accusations towards Babamukuru, but is powerless to overrule the decisions of the men. Tambu is thrilled.
Analysis:
The importance of Shona traditions and customs is evident, especially as it contrasts against the English ways. Tambu respects her heritage, but also sees advantages to the English ways. She even resents many aspects of the Shona traditions, such as those that treat women as second-class to the males.
The glory of becoming educated is tantalizing to Tambu. She sees the glorious hero’s welcome afforded her uncle, and understands more of the idea that education is the key to success and respect. She wants that, but is held back because of her gender. Her resentment grows.
When her brother’s death opens the door for her own education, we see why she had previously said that she was not sad at his passing. In addition to his foul nature and his pompous pride over the benefits he enjoyed simply for being male, his absence through death provides the opportunity to Tambu to pursue her dream of education.
