The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo: A Novel

Peter Orner
Little, Brown (2006)
ISBN 0316735809
Reviewed by Linda Benninghoff for Reader Views (5/06)

This unusual novel tells the story of Larry Kaplanski, who volunteers as a teacher in a Namibian school for boys called Goas. A desolate, out of the way place, situated on the veld, Goas has shaped the characters of the other teachers and shapes Kaplanski’s outlook on the world.

The author is not afraid to show the negative sides of things as well as the positive, and a bleak picture is built up. The story is told of a former teacher who had an affair with another teacher’s wife. The jealous husband killed him, but he remained entwined in his wife’s arms at the scene of the crime, the two of them fast asleep. These strong, sometimes disturbing images form the background of “The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo."

Mavala Shikongo, a Marxist and guerrilla fighter in Nambia’s long war for independence, leaves then comes back, with a small boy, Tomo. Attractive, exciting and daring enough to go against convention, she seems to attract all the teachers, but most of all Kaplanski.

Kaplanski’s relationship with Mavala provides some relief from the oppressiveness of Goas. As he writes home to his mother, I have a sense how much his focus has changed during his time at the school.

Mavala asks him why he came here. "It seemed like a good idea at the time," Kaplanski answers noncommittally, as though the idealism that brought him here has disappeared in the face of the bleakness surrounding him. "To come and save all the dark babies," he goes on, with certain grimness.

The characters are well-rounded and seem to speak from the pages to the reader, and by the end of the book their generosity of spirit becomes apparent, as well as their negative traits. I came to care about them deeply. There is Obadiah, who is always making speeches. There is Auntie, who has a collection of puppies she has rescued. When Auntie is sick, Antoinette takes care of the whelps but there is talk of drowning them. Luckily Auntie returns.

I enjoyed learning about the history and culture of a country I knew nothing about. This immersion in another way of life is very effective. The writing flows smoothly. The images of the school and the veld unfold from the pages and come to life. This is a deep, mysterious and rich book.

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