Mary Okeke Reviews: January 2013

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Beneath the Lion's Gaze, 2010, Maaza Mengiste ****

Beneath the Lion's Gaze is a political historical fiction novel set in Ethiopia between 1974 Ethiopian Revolution and the late eighties, I guess. It was difficult to tell because the novel ended in a sort of cliffhanger that I was asking myself if the family mentioned survived the war or not. Obviously, at the end of the novel it is understood that the war hasn't ended yet.

To begin with, in Ethiopia, before the year 1974, existed a Solomonic Monarchy, of which, Haile Selassie was the emperor. He was very well loved and admired far and away until famine struck the north-eastern part of his country in 1974 and did away with the lives of over two hundred thousand people. Meanwhile, the emperor was enjoying an affluent life style in his prestigious palace, for this reason, his citizens rebelled against him. They were mad with grief, mainly students, they protested and his popularity fell to the ground. Consequently, the military, took advantage of the upheaval and overthrew him. Most of the Ethiopians, I believe, thought his arrest will put an end to the blatant social inequality and classism of that time. However, the worse was yet to come.

Next, military took over the country, backed up mainly by the Soviet and Cuban Communist who supplied them with ammunition to kill themselves. As was expected, Emperor Haile Selassie was imprisoned and later on murdered.

Inevitably, with the military rule came dictatorship and reign of terror. In fact, they declared death to counter-revolutionaries, murdered mercilessly and threw dead bodies to the hyenas. Moreover, to show a hint of compassion they made families pay the wasted bullet tax before they could collect the corpse of their loved ones and mourn for them. Henceforth, began a bloody war.

Beneath the Lion's Gaze narrates the terrifying ordeal of an Ethiopian family in the throes of a civil war with their life in dire straits. Evidently, in this novel, Maaza Mengiste was doing homage to the civil war victims.

Furthermore, reading this book helped me acquire a reasonable knowledge on the history of Imperial Ethiopia, of which, I knew nothing about, until now. I was also introduced to Mengiste Haile Mariam the military head of state during the war. What baffles me above all is that he is still alive and kicking with his household in Zimbabwe where he sought asylum, despite the fact he is suppose to be extradited to face his death sentence in his home country where he is accused of mass murder. As a matter of fact he authorised most of the massacre.

Finally, I wouldn't say this was a spellbound read; nonetheless, it is a skillful written debut novel I read with no trouble! Do not take notice of the book cover. As far as I am concerned, it does not do the novel justice. I recommend this book to adults and lovers of history and politics.

On a side note, this is one of the novels I suggested to the library. I am glad they bought it.

Sunday, 20 January 2013

The Concubine, 1966, Elechi Amadi ****

What would you have done if you lived in the land of the Igbos, long before contact with the Western world. A land where every one was bound to follow strong established rules. Decency and decorum was expected, as well as self-control. Any excessive or obsessive expression of one's feeling was totally unlooked-for. One day, you found yourself a widow, not once but twice. With time you got over it and fell in love again. However, you couldn't marry the man you loved because he had been betrothed to another woman when he was a child as custom required. Besides, even if you were reputed to be one of the best women in the village, his parents thought you were so worn-out to be considered as his "first" wife. In addition, they believed their son deserved an untouched young woman. Finally, he married a beautiful young woman, immediately, after which he was unhappy and miserable to the extent he ran mad and you were the only one who could bring him back to well being. His parents came back to you - this time, after they had eaten their humble pie. They pleaded earnestly, you gave heed and ignored what happened in the past.

Eventually, they accepted you as their in-law to be, since you saved their son's life. Nonetheless, shortly, before the marriage ceremony took place, it was prophesied that this man you so much cherished was going to loose his life in a mysterious way if he married you. First of all, the sea lord must be appeased.

This was the life of Ihuoma in Eastern part of Nigeria long before the Europeans arrived. The Concubine, however, is not only about Ihuoma, it is also about Adaku, Wigwe, Nnadi, Ekwueme, Wagbara, Anyika and the whole village of Omokachi.

The characters in this novel are lifelike; hence, I felt I have met them not read them. Elechi Amadi gave an excellent description of life in the village then. Yet, I was somewhat undecided about rating it five or four stars, at last four because the novel evolved in a slow manner. I guess Amadi was just respecting the rhythm of life in those days and I am glad he took that into consideration. Regardless, at some point I felt long-drawn-out. At the same time, I have to admit that his writing style is superb and the story line was pleasing, some times humorous but with a grievous ending.

This novel was used as WAEC (West African Examination Council) exam text for 30 years. It was actually the reason a lot of high school students read it back then in Nigeria.

The Concubine is Elechi Amadi's first novel I have read so far, a master piece, I believe his Magnum opus as well. An African classic I wholly recommend to all and sundry.

Monday, 7 January 2013

Women are Different, 1986, Flora Nwapa *****

First book to be reviewed in 2013 and Flora Nwapa's second novel I have read so far. In order to read my first review of her novel please click here.

Women are Different is about Agnes, Dora, Rose and perhaps Comfort with different background. They met when they were teenagers in an entrance examination to high school in 1945, Nigeria. Eventually, they passed and were all admitted to girls boarding school. A British missionary was the school principal. She was determined to raise them in the Christian way and prepare them for the fast approaching "ill-considered" independent Nigeria.

Life in boarding school was fun, full of dreams and hope for the future, romance novels were clandestinely read. They met boys; fell in love and talked about how beautiful life would be with them.

After many years of swotting for exams, they finally passed and graduated from high school to face the real world.

To start with, Agnes was forced to marry a man she loathed. Even so, she gave birth to four children or so, whereupon, her marriage finally fell to the ground, so she decided to start life afresh on her own with her children. Next, Dora happily married Chris, her high school love and bore him four children there around. Afterwards, Chris had to travel abroad to forward his studies but he never returned. It was later learnt that he was in a relationship with a German lady in Hamburg. Rose's high school love just vanished into thin air. Thereafter, she only came across men who duped and jilted her, she was catching-up the age of forty-two without a husband and children. In fact, her personal life was nothing to be proud of in those days. Nonetheless, her professional life was thriving. Finally, Comfort, she was always there to give her opinion.

These women were struggling against all odds to change their plight in the midst of Nigeria that got her independence in October 1960. No sooner had January 15th coup of 1966 occurred than it became restive, followed by a civil war that started in 1967 and ended in 1970. At a point, considering what has become of their lives, they wondered whether the British missionary really prepared them to exist in such a society.

I enjoyed this novel, it is an insight into the life of women in Nigeria between the 50s and the 70s. I recommend it to everyone (adults especially). Flora Nwapa writes inspiring stories about women. Even though, "Women are Different" is a novel I took so much pleasure in reading, I have to admit that there were few grammatical errors detected. However, it would not diminish your relish for reading. Five stars read indeed.