Shreds of Tenderness is a 2001 play by Ugandan playwright John Ruganda. It explores themes of greed, individualism, and betrayal on a familial and national level and features conflict over everything from crops to political power.
The play takes place in an unnamed East African country following a "war of liberation" that caused widespread destruction and bloodshed and resulted in the creation of a tyrannical dictatorship. Certain parts of the play make direct reference to parts of 20th century Ugandan history: for example, Ruganda refers to "SRB spies", or members of Uganda's State Research Bureau-- a secret police organization from 1971 to 1979 under the regime of President Idi Amin, also known as the "Butcher of Uganda". Other critics have pointed out that the setting resembles Kenya due to its mention of the Odeon Cinema and the "tug between Wak and his brother Odie (step-brothers) about sharing of power after they could not agree to the Primer rules. . . [which recalls] the 2008 Kenya 'power sharing' deal." However, since the book was published well before 2008, and power-sharing as a governmental concept was implemented in several African countries before 2001, it is likely that Ruganda drew his inspiration from a difference historical source.
Shreds of Tenderness is structured such that the reader/audience experiences some major revelations about the nature of the characters and who is "good" versus "bad". These revelations and the overarching story highlight the struggles of refugees (specifically political exiles) and the conflict between refugees and "patriot[s], who stay behind amidst political turmoil" and view those who flee the country as traitors. Odie belongs to the latter group, and views his step-brother Wak as having "come home from a comfortable exile to sponge on the hard-earned harvest of those who stayed, fought and brought a semblance of peace to the nation."
