The Perfect Nine. The Epic of Gikũyũ and Mũmbi - Ngøgð wa Thiong'o

In his rst attempt at the epic form, Ngũgĩ tells the story of the founding of the Gĩkũyũ people of Kenya, from a strongly feminist perspective. A verse narrative blending folklore, mythology, adventure and the allegory, The Perfect Nine chronicles the eorts the Gĩkũyũ founders make to nd partners for their ten beautiful daughters-called "The Perfect Nine"-and the challenges they set for the 99 suitors who seek their hands in marriage. The epic has all the elements of adventure, with suspense, danger, humour and sacrice. Ngũgĩ has this to say about the epic: "The epic came to me one night as a revelation of ideas of quest, courage, perseverance, unity, family; and the

sense of the divine, in human struggles with nature and nurture." The Perfect Nine has the hallmarks of myth: exaggeration, adventure, magic, humour. The Washington Post The story feels both ancient and immediate as the chronicle drifts seamlessly between reverie and suspense... Ngũgĩ crafts a beautiful retelling of the Gĩkũyũ myth that emphasizes the noble pursuit of beauty, the necessity of personal courage, and a sense of the Giver Supreme-a being who represents divinity and unity across world religions. World Literature Today