A fable on how humans learnt to walk upright is the most translated short story in African history, according to the group that published it. The piece was written by award-winning veteran Kenyan author, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and published by the Pan-African collective Jalada Africa. Titled “The Upright Revolution: Or Why Humans Walk Upright,” it has so far been translated into 54 languages.

Ngũgĩ, as he’s usually known, originally wrote the story in his mother tongue, Gikuyu, and then translated the piece into English himself. The fable narrates the story of how “humans used to walk on legs and arms, just like all the other four limbed creatures” and how the rest of the limbs got jealous with their “seamless coordination” and started conspiring against them. The story follows the unfolding of that duel, until all the body parts enter into a symbiotic relationship to work together, setting off what he calls an “upright revolution.”

Ngũgĩ, 78, decided not write in English since the late 1970s, producing award-winning novels and plays in his first language Gikuyu. His vocal opinions on reviving African languages and reading was what attracted Jalada to ask him to write for their translation issue, which featured the story.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, currently Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine, was born in Kenya, in 1938. He is the recipient of ten Honorary Doctorates from universities in Denmark; Germany; Britain; New Zealand, America and Africa. He is also Honorary Member of American Academy of Arts and Letters and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. A many-sided intellectual, he is novelist, essayist, playwright, journalist, editor, academic and social activist. His books include Devil on the Cross; Matigari; Wizard of the Cross, (English translations from the Gikuyu originals)

http://sobolation.com/the-upright-revolution-or-why-humans-walk-upright-world-most-translated-short-story/

The short story, "THE UPRIGHT REVOLUTION: OR WHY HUMANS WALK UPRIGHT", is now THE WORLD’S MOST TRANSLATED SHORT STORY!!!!

It has so far been translated into 54 languages!!!!

Wow.

Africa is blessed!!!