Mr. Myombekere and His Wife Bugonoka, Their Son Ntulanalwo and Daughter Bulihwali

Mr. Myombekere and His Wife Bugonoka, Their Son Ntulanalwo and Daughter Bulihwali (original title: Bwana Myombekere na Bibi Bugonoka, Ntulanalwo na Bulihwali) is a novel by the Tanzanian author Aniceti Kitereza. The novel is a love story depicting the history of the Kerewe through three generations.[1] It was first published in 1981 in Swahili by Tanzania Publishing House, but was originally completed already in 1945 in Kiterezas mother tongue Kerewe. As no publishing house wanted to publish a novel in the endangered language Kerewe, Kitereza himself translated the novel into Swahili shortly before his own death, and it took 35 years to find a publisher. Since, it has been translated into English, German and Swedish. The novel is the only one to have been written in Kerewe, and the most comprehensive novel on pre-colonial life and customs published in an African language.[2]

The German translation was published in two parts with posthumous titles and notes explaining the cultural and linguistical background a reader may need.[3] The Swedish translation is based on the German, but only the first part is published. The English translation from 2002 by Gabriel Ruhumbika is translated directly from Kerewe to English; thus being the only translation not having passed via Swahili.[4]