Books Explore Decolonial Fatherhood

Why this is here: Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o, the author of Dreams in Times of War, has more than 24 children, identified not by name but by their mothers—a departure from traditional Western nuclear family structures.

Brazilian writer Jeferson Tenório recommends five books examining the effects of colonization on parent-child relationships. Tenório began researching the topic after noticing a lack of positive portrayals of fathers in literature, initially believing trauma or affection existed equally everywhere. His research shifted to explore how racial dynamics impact familial bonds in former colonies, leading him to seek a “decolonial fatherhood.”

He highlights Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o’s autobiography, Dreams in Times of War, which details a polygamous father with many children in Kenya. Isabela Figueiredo’s Colonial Memories Notebook portrays a Portuguese family in Mozambique, revealing a father’s racist treatment of employees. António Lobo Antunes’ Until the Stones Become Lighter Than Water tells of a tragic conflict between a Portuguese officer and his adopted Black son.

Agualusa’s The Women of My Father follows a woman seeking her absent African father, while Chiziane’s Niketche depicts Mozambican women navigating polygamy and patriarchal structures. Tenório acknowledges that understanding the full impact of colonization on family structures requires ongoing investigation.