A Silent Song by Leonard Kibera

              Plot summary 

A Silent Song is a story about Mbane, a young paralyzed, blind city street beggar who has spent much of his life living on the streets of a city, begging for money and seeking shelter in a back lane at night. He lives in destitution, begging from the passers-by while seething with pain and discomfort. However, despite being surrounded by people and activity, Mbane is isolated and unable to fully participate in the rhythms and pleasures of urban life. He is unable to share in the small talk of the pedestrians, and even when they sing or whistle to the morning sky, Mbane can only observe from a distance.

In the story, the city is depicted as a place of noise and activity, with people singing and dancing and engaging in various forms of work and leisure. However, Mbane is only able to experience this activity from a limited perspective, and is unable to fully understand or participate in it. This is due to Mbane's blindness, paralysis and destitution as such he cannot really participate in the city's noise and activity.

In contrast to Mbane's destitution his brother is a wealthy preacher who 'rescues' Mbane from the 'barbaric city' unto the 'light of God' after neglecting him for a long time. Mbane's brother 'rescues' him from the city and brings him to a hut in a serene, but suspicious, location.

Mbane reflects on his life in the city and the differences between his new surroundings and the city, including the lack of noise and busyness, the presence of trees, and the fact that his brother has brought him here with the intention of showing him the "light of God."

Though Mbane was unable to fully join in and express himself in the city with its vibrant energy and culture he misses it. He painfully reminisces his street life with nostalgia at his brother's lonely hut. He thinks about his brother and wonders what his intentions are in bringing him to the hut.

He is not as happy though he is now in a more serene environment. He remembers the bright weather, lovely morning and beautiful sunset as the citybustling with people during the day talk. At night, the good men and women turned drunk and the pimps and whores have their turn to smile, sing and dance. Though he used to beg day and night for a living.

In his religious brother Ezekiel's hut, Mbane is nursed by Sarah, his brother's wife, who administers bitter fluid down his throat. He swallows it painfully, and she assures him of being well.

His religious brother, Ezekiel, preaches to him about Christ, the saved ones and sinners. He asks him whether he knows where sinners go when they die and whether he accepts Jesus, and Mbane says he doesn't know.

Mbane wonders why certain groups, such as pimps and whores, are considered bad, and reflects on the violence and hostility that he has witnessed in the city.

Mbane is in pain and struggling to survive, and at one point he is overwhelmed by sharp pangs and momentarily paralyzed by them. 

Before Ezekiel saves him (brings him into the light of God), Mbane's strength wanes, the pain goes, his head jerks down to the bed, and he is gone.

In the end, Mbane is unable to fully comprehend or connect with his brother, and feels that his brother's efforts to communicate and guide him are like a silent song - a message that is present, but that Mbane is unable to fully hear or understand.

Despite this, Mbane remains hopeful that his brother's intentions are well-intentioned and that he will be able to find meaning and purpose in his new surroundings.