Nervous Conditions

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses death by suicide, depictions of sexism, domestic violence, child abuse, and eating disorders.

Tambudzai, or Tambu, reflects on the death of her brother, Nhamo, and on the lives of four women in her family—her mother Ma’Shingayi, her aunt Lucia, her aunt Maiguru, and her cousin Nyasha—whose stories are inextricably linked to her.

In 1968, Nhamo is living with his uncle, Babamukuru or Mr. Sigauke, and attending the mission school where Babamukuru is headmaster. Nhamo has been sent to school with the hope that he will help raise his family from poverty. Since leaving his family, Nhamo has become resentful of his family’s life on the homestead, and he avoids returning. When he does return, he avoids working, claiming he must focus on his studies. Tambu is also enrolled in the school, but she is two years behind where she should be at her age. She does not understand why Nhamo dislikes walking from the bus stop, as she has fond memories along the route from before the British District Council Houses were built, which changed the layout and