"I saw Nelson Mandela slap his wife Evelyn in the presence of us kids" South African novelist Zakes Mda says as he supports Wa Thiongo's son for speaking against abuse

Zakes Mda, aged 76, has voiced his support for Mukoma Wa Ngugi after the latter disclosed his father Ngugi wa Thiongo's history of physical abuse towards his mother.

Mukoma's revelation on X about his father's abusive behavior stirred varied reactions, with Zakes Mda commending him for his courage in speaking out. Drawing from his own experiences, Mda recounted witnessing instances of abuse, including Nelson Mandela slapping his wife, Evelyn, in front of children.

Zakes wrote: "I am greatly moved by your tweet, son (I can call you that; you’re two years younger than my oldest son).

"This is the bravest thing any son of an icon can do. Ignore those who are denouncing you. What is more important is your truth and your healing.

Many of us need such reckoning with the truth of our past.

"My father never physically beat up my mother - to my knowledge. But his words were abusive to her most times. I never said or did anything about it. I thought it was normal, it was how real men talked to women.

"It was the same when I saw Nelson Mandela slap his wife Evelyn in the kitchen in the presence of us kids.

Here too I thought it was a normal thing that men should do occasionally - discipline “their” women.

"It was only on looking back as a young adult that I realized that what I saw growing up had left me traumatized.

It was only after I had written about these incidents in my memoirs that I felt the relief, and I came face-to-face with my humanity once again.

“Like you, I was denounced by those who have placed themselves as gatekeepers of what is or is not African. They can all go fry eggs.”

Mda emphasized the importance of confronting the truth of one's past and the healing it brings, sharing his own journey of acknowledging the trauma caused by witnessing abuse. Despite facing criticism for his honesty, Mda affirmed the necessity of reckoning with such truths for personal growth and healing.