Allegory, realism and fantasy in Feso

Abstract

Feso, by Mutswairo (1956), is the first Shona novel. Being the first Shona novel, it marks a transition from oracy to a new mode, the written word. Feso was received with much enthusiasm and varied interpretations by critics which resulted in the novel being banned at the height of political upheavals during the colonial days. The main purpose of this article, therefore, is to highlight three aspects, allegory, realism and fantasy in Mutswairo's novel, aspects that make Feso a masterpiece.