The Mourned One, 1975, Stanlake Samkange ***

The Mourned one narrates the story of a young man who is condemned for allegedly raping a white woman in Rhodesia, today's Zimbabwe.

Ndatshana is born a twin, separated from his brother after birth, saved and raised by a white missionary. Life is good until he realises he does not really belong and starts to enquire about his background, which, does not sit well with the white missionaries.

The woman he allegedly raped is his

The River Between, 1965, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o ***

The River Between narrates the confusion that comes with the introduction of Christianity in a Kikuyu community. Clearly the religion divides them, a once united people start to drift apart, the struggle for power and confrontation begin.

Joshua is converted to Christianity, he changes his name and is told that his culture and tradition are heathenish and will not lead him into the kingdom of God. When one of his daughters decides that she wants to be circumcised because to her it means the initiation into womanhood as established in her culture and tradition, therefore part of her identity. Joshua refuses, he forsakes her, she flees. His second daughter, Nyambura falls in love with

Beyond the Horizon, 1995, Amma Darko ****

Beyond the Horizon, in my opinion, is a disturbing read though a necessary one. I think it should be titled The downfall of Mara, because she kept on falling from the very beginning of the story to the end as she is seen as a victim of her circumstances. She tells her devastating story. Married off to Akobi who  physically and sexually abuses her from day one, the abuse and exploitation continues as they move to Germany.

A provocative and a sad read, indeed. I wonder why Amma Darko portrays Mara as helpless and worthless, I also wonder why Mara follows Akobi to Germany if he is not treating her any better in Ghana, why should he be different in Germany? Perhaps, Amma wants to shed light on the role of women and the result of their social construction in rural Ghana? Trying to show the damages traditionalized male chauvinism does to women. For instance Mara thinks her marriage is

The Clothes of Nakedness, 1998, Benjamin Kwakye **

This novel came up on my radar as part of my reading challenge since it won the literary award Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book in Africa 1999. Apart from that, I had previously fell in love with an interview the writer gave to one of my fellow blogger, which encouraged me to want to read his works, which as well moved me to get in touch with him. His books were in my TBR list for a longtime before I at last purchased one "The Clothes of Nakedness", I am glad I did not buy all of them. I can be an impulsive book buyer sometimes!

Mystique Mysterious, a stranger finds a job for Bukhari on the condition that he would  receive fifteen to twenty percent of his monthly salary. Bukhari, finding out last minute did not object. Not only that, this stranger also persuaded him to be unfaithful to his wife, persuaded him to stay out late and drink, persuaded him to squander his money and pay little or no attention to his wife and son. I wonder why Bukhari should give in to such persuasiveness. It goes with out saying that it is the beginning of his downfall. Though, the whole incident is so surreal to me.

In my opinion, this novel leaves a lot to be desired. Perhaps, it's just me. I read a lot and have suddenly started expecting more from writers. Which does not mean that I need a novel to be read along with a dictionary. I simply take two things into consideration; storyline and narrative. It might seem simple, however, it is not a task many writers seem to accomplish. How strong is your storyline and how well can you put it into writing engagingly? I think that is what make up an interesting read and as a matter of fact, also make a distinguished writer.

Back to my review of The Clothes of Nakedness, the book was well written, however the storyline was flimsy. The writer created characters that accepted without question whatever that is thrown onto them however implausible it may seem. I know it is fiction, nevertheless, I believe there should be a certain amount of realism in the story being told.

The Purple Violet of Oshaantu, 2001, Neshani Andreas ****

The story of Kauna known as The Purple Violet of Oshaantu,  whose story was narrated through the voice of her best friend Mee Ali.

We called her the purple violet of Oshaantu. She was so delicate and she came when these flowers were in bloom.

Kauna's husband, Shange, is hot tempered and an abuser, he punches his wife like a punchbag and once punched their unborn child out of her womb. More than once he almost sent her to her grave. Upon that he has a mistress down town that the whole villagers were aware of.

This is a novel that I really enjoyed, I like the fact that voice was given to women living in a remote village in Namibia. Also, while reading, I kept on asking myself why anybody would want to stay with a person who uses them as their punchbag? Then I realised that it is a universal problem. Even in the country where I live, according to statistics, around the average of three women per month die in the hands of their partner. Sometimes, it is just PRESSURE, pressure to stay married. SHAME, shame of what people might say (as if your life was their business), shame to be branded a failure, shame to be stigmatised. LACK OF SUPPORT, which could be from family, community, to economic support.

Furthermore, it also annoyed me how some women blamed and slammed Kauna for her husband's behaviour. She was harshly criticised by her fellow women. Even her own mother did not want her to leave her marital home, alleging that she will tarnish the family's reputation. Her father once told her:

Child, don't wait until it is too late, I know your mother wants your marriage to work. But I have seen women who have died in this thing called marriage, or have done things you don't want to hear about. I don't want it to get to this. Don't think of me, or my work. You must do what you think is best for you.

Also, instead of leaving her husband, she started wishing her best friend Mee Ali (the narrator) harm, because she simply thinks that she too supposed to be punched by her husband (isn't that silly?) I love what Mee Ali told her:

Michael (Mee Ali's husband) is a good man, but this has nothing to do with me.... Shange was the man he was and again it had nothing to do with you. Don't take it personally. He would have treated any woman he married in the same way. ... he would have treated me like that too, but not just for so long.... (I would have left him) I want to be a wife, not a punching bag.

This is a novel that has been in my TBR list for a long time, I have so much looked forward to reading it. Nevertheless, I cannot say it was an amazing read (though, I would have loved to), some passages simply did not keep me on the edge of my seat. However, I must say it is an interesting read and I really like it. My first read from Namibia. I highly recommend.

Dew in the Morning, 1982, Shimmer Chinodya ***

I actually started reading "Dew in the Morning" in 2014 and finished in 2015. Narrated through the voice and eyes of a young boy, Godi. His parents not being able to afford to take care of him and his siblings in the city, send them along with their mother to live in the country side. For the most part, the novel is a narrative on Godi's coming of age in rural Zimbabwe and getting used to its custom, for instance; the dew in the morning, the rearing of cattle and farming. Not to forget the superstitious village people whose belief continuously baffle him. And how he aimed to win the heart of the girl he loves. His father remained in the city, alone, working very hard in order to send them to school. In my opinion the writer was in a way comparing the style of life in urban and rural Zimbabwe.

I am not sure if I really enjoyed this novel. Actually, it was a well written and easy narrative. Perhaps, it's the too much information about the rearing of cattle, ploughing and farming. Though, I totally understand they are part and parcel of rural life. Perhaps, it is simply because it is very young adult-oriented.

Dew in the Morning is Shimmer Chinodya first published novel, I look forward to reading more of his work not because I thoroughly enjoyed this book but because he won the 1990 Commonwealth Writers' Prize: Best Book, Africa with his novel Harvest of Thorns Though from its title it seems to be set in rural Zimbabwe too. I would also like to read his novel Can we talk and other Stories (1998), very well reviewed on African Book Addict.

My first novel read and reviewed in 2015, as well, an addition to my Reading African Writers Series Challenge. Lastly, I would like to point out that I love the painting on the book cover.

Have you read anything from Shimmer Chinodya? How was your reading experience? Do you recommend?

Head Above Water, 1986, Buchi Emecheta ****

With this review it goes without saying that Buchi Emecheta is one of my favourite writers. As you might have observed, you would guess I have taken on a mission to peruse all of her works. Before you read Head Above Water, I sincerely recommend that you read her first novels in the following order, if possible, at a go "In The Ditch", Second-Class Citizen, The Bride Price and the Joys Of Motherhood.

Head Above Water is a non-fiction autobiography, most of her stories are, anyway. If you are used to her novels, you'll remember her father died when she was really young. As a teenager she spent most of her time (even her holidays) in boarding school. Following that, she married a man who immediately moved to the UK after leaving her pregnant twice.  She had her first two children in Nigeria before she decided to relocate to the UK to join her husband who is forever a student. Her husband did not welcome her with open arms (as she has expected) instead he abused her, left her pregnant three more times before abandoning her with a total of five children. Buchi Emecheta was only 22 years old then, if not less. She lived on social welfare, brought up her children alone, went to university and became a professional writer. All at the same time, with little or no help. In fact, she succeeded in moving herself and her children up from the bottom of the ladder.

Head Above Water is an enjoyable read, however, since it was an autobiography I felt she should have gone into details about her personal life. For instance, her relationship with her late daughter, Chiedu, and her subsequent death. She dedicated this book to her. However, she never mentioned what or how she died of. First of all, I am fully aware that "the death or loss of a child" will always be a difficult topic to expound on. In my opinion, however, I believe it is so significant it shouldn't be left out in an autobiography. Also, she stated that "The Joys of Motherhood", my favourite novel by the way, (and her best seller which earned her her fame) was written straight away after a tumultuous quarrel with her late daughter. Now, you may understand why I might be interested in circumstances surrounding her death.

Buchi Emecheta is what I would call an emotional writer. Writing to her is therapeutic especially during those difficult days. I know she has always wanted to be a writer even before she got married and started having children. However, her "In The Ditch" days (as she calls it in Head Above Water) somewhat evoked the desire and emotion to write in a kind of way that she would not have done in different circumstances. She is a survivor and my inspirational figure. An enjoyable read that I recommend.
Another writer who I consider to be my inspirational figure is Ishmael Beah author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

With this I end my reviews for the year 2014.

Unwinding Thread,1994, Women in Africa (Charlotte H. Bruner) ***

Another addition to my African Writers Series Challenge. "Unwinding Threads" is a collection of short stories written by women in Africa and edited by Charlotte H. Bruner. It is divided into four parts; stories from Western, Easter, Southern and Northern Africa.
I did not particularly take pleasure in the reading experience since some of the stories where extracts from novels that I happen to have already read and enjoyed. I read them again anyway. For instance, "A Man Needs Many Wives" by Buchi Emecheta was an extract from the "Joys of Motherhood", "Rejection" by Mariama Bâ from "So Long a Letter" There were also some more extracts from other novels. Therefore, instead of purchasing this book to read extracts from novels, I'd rather recommend you buy the original novel and read the story from beginning to end. Unless, you feel like experiencing and discovering, all at once, classical female writers from Africa  the likes of  Ama Ata Aidoo, Mariama Bâ, Flora Nwapa, Buchi Emecheta, Hazel Mugot, Grace Ogot, Doris Lessing, Nadine Gordimer, Bessie Head, Marguerite Amouroouche and so on, then this is your book.

Even so, some featured real short stories, in my opinion, were not engaging enough. Finally, I am not sure if to recommend or not., it's up to you.

A Man of the People, 1966, Chinua Achebe ****

"A Man of the People" written in the first person narrative is about the selfishness of politicians in a society rife with corruption. And its consequences.

Mr. Nanga has been  Odili's teacher sixteen years or so before he went into politics and became Chief the Honourable M. A Nanga, MP "the most approachable politician in the country....., a man of the people".

During one of his political tour in his village, they met again and Nanga used the opportunity to invite Odili to his house in the city. In Chief Nanga's house, Odili discovered, with evidence, that his ex-teacher was involved in a lot of unethical political practices. Abuse of power and authority. As a matter of fact, in my opinion, Chief Nanga was an unscrupulous politician who was ready to do anything for his advancement. He, in fact, never cared for the people, even if he was referred to as "a man of the people". However, Odili, his guest observed, took advantage when he could but never questioned his methods until it was his turn to suffer the consequences. As a result, he retaliated and swore vengeance.

"What mattered was that a man had treated me as no man had a right to treat another - not even if he was a master and the other a slave; and my manhood required that I make him pay for his insult in full measure. In flesh and blood terms."

Hence, began his plan to carry out his revenge on  Chief Nanga as the country was in the throes of reaching a boiling point that erupted in coup d'état.

This is one beautiful and  realistic novel by my late townsman, Chinua Achebe. A satirical novel about the pathetic state of many African countries right after independence from the Europeans. An easy, enjoyable and interesting read, some times funny; though, sad. What really bothers me is that things like this still take place today. So said, I highly recommend.

It goes without saying that  Chinua Achebe is one of my favourite writers, I hope to get to read all of his works. He is a genius and I love him. Lastly, this is part of my (undeclared) challenge on reading all of the African Writers Series (hopefully).

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Houseboy, 1960, Ferdinand Oyono ***

Houseboy as the title says is the story of a houseboy called Toundi. During the colonial period in Cameroon, he left his parents to work as a domestic male servant for the white men in his village. From one household to another he narrated his experience in form of a diary.

Firstly, he was fascinated by the European way of life; although, gradually, he came to realise that all that glitters was not gold. He saw how the white men patronised and dehumanise his fellow villagers. As a result, he started finding fault with the principles of the "so called" Europeans. Which, unambiguously, led to his downfall.

"Everybody told his own little African story to refute him and demonstrate that the African is a child or a fool....."

In one occasion his adulterous madam once told him

"....you are a conscientious worker... but you haven't got that joy one finds in African workers... You  give the impression that you are doing a houseboy's job while waiting for something else to come along"

Worst of all, Christianity was their perfect weapon to indoctrinate Africans. The same Madam asked Toundi to start forming a family since they were paying him enough. He  replied.

"Perhaps, Madame, but my wife and children will never be able to eat and dress like Madame or like white children"

She replied

"Oh dear, you are getting big ideas. You must be serious. Everyone has their position in life. You are a houseboy, my husband is Commandant... nothing can be done about it. You are a Christian, aren't you"

Another incident was:

"It was terrible. I thought of all the priests, all the pastors, all the white men, who came to save our souls and preach love of our neighbours. Is the white man's neighbour only the white men? Who can go on believing the stuff we are served up in the churches when things happen like I saw today..."

This was not a novel I thoroughly enjoyed; however I recommend it if you want an insight into (pre) colonial Africa. It is as well part of the African Writers Series, click here for more info. Please bear in mind that the novel was originally written in French, in case you might want to read the original version.

My first novel read in 2014, lets see how my reading goes this year. No pressure, please.

Neighbours, 1995, Lília Momplé *****

Neighbours narrates the deadly connection of different families in post colonial Mozambique, during the sabotage from the Apartheid regime of South African to the government of a recently independent Mozambique. As Lília Momplé wrote in the preface:

".......Neighbours was written out of my horror at the way countries can abuse each others sovereignty for their own ends and with impunity. Like many Mozambicans, I lived through decades when South African did as it pleased in Mozambique in order to protect the interests of the apartheid regime. During this period many Mozambicans were killed or had their lives destroyed. It is to them that I dedicate this book."

The story transpired in the eve of the festival of  Eid (an annual Muslim festival marking the end of Ramadan, involving the exchange of gifts and a festive meal), between 19.00 hours and 08.00 hours.

Naguiss immersed in her family problems (a young daughter who ignores men and wanted to study medicine, older daughters who wanted to get married but no husband, her own husband who barely sleeps at home) was busy preparing dinner for the feast while horror news was broadcasted on the radio as usual.

Leia, after an unsuccessful search of a more or less decent place to live with her family, excitedly accepted a flat a friend offered her without hesitation. In the novel we get to know a lot about her husband Januário, who has been through so much since his birth in a village lost among the forests which was plundered and put to the torch by RENAMO, a political group sponsored by the white minority governments of Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa.

In the home of  Dupont and Mena (husband and wife), Zalíu and Romualdo and the South Africans visitors were carrying out another plot to destabilize the Mozambicans governments and civilians. We get to discover a lot about the lives of this couples and the strangers in their house.

Dupont suffers from severe self-doubt and emotional insecurity which made him mistreats his wife any time he had the chance. His greed for money led him to become an accomplice of the South Africans. We get to discover why he behaves the way he does. Though, there is no way escaping the fact that the deep social and racial division in his country was as well to blame.

Zalíua was born into a poverty-stricken family, his father abandoned his mother when he was still a foetus. He joined the police and was later thrown out because of his continuous abuse of authority. His greedy thirst for revenge led him to take part in the plot.

Romualdo, from a disconcerting background, was recruited by the South African apartheid regime, brainwashed and trained as a professional terrorist. Hatred for his own race made him accomplice of the other two.

As the horrific event unfolds, and one situation leads to another, the lives of Naguiss, Leia, Januário, Dupont, Mena, Zalíua and Romualdo is caught up in a vicious bloodshed.

I am always wary of reading translated novels, however, I must admit that this novel, perhaps novella, translated from Portuguese to English was a page-turner, insightful and an enlightening read, though a tragedy. Not only did the apartheid regime harm people in South Africa, it as well disrupted the lives of many innocent people in its neighbouring country. Needless to say, I highly recommend.

Finally, I noticed there is something weirdly fascinating and tempting about the book cover, kind of scary and attractive at the same time.

For more information about RENAMO, please click here.

For more information about FRELIMO, please click here.

A Question of Power, 1974, Bessie Head ****

Elizabeth, a "biracial" South African citizen, had no idea of her biological mother until she was sent to a mission school at the age of thirteen. All those years, she had loved another woman as her mother, before the unkind principal of the mission school, who naturally had a strong aversion for her, told her

"....You must be very careful. Your mother was insane. If you're not careful you'll get insane just like your mother. Your mother was a white woman. They had to lock her up, as she was having a child by the stable boy, who was a native".

And yes, Elizabeth ran mad; though, it was some years later. Prior to that, she married a gangster recently out from prison, with whom she had a son. A year later, she left him and South Africa entirely to Motabeng, Botswana where she worked as a teacher, with a no return exit.

"She did not care. She hated the country. In spite of her inability to like or to understand political ideologies, she had also lived the back-breaking life of all black people in South Africa. It was like living with permanent nervous tension, because you did not know why white people there had to go out of their way to hate you or loathe you. They were just born that way, hating people, and a black man or woman was just born to be hated. There wasn't any kind of social evolution beyond that, there wasn't any life to the heart, just this vehement vicious struggle between two sets of people with different looks".

Life in Motabeng was calm at first and then Elizabeth's descent into insanity was gradually appreciated. She had mental disorders typical of Schizophrenia (though the medical diagnosis was never mentioned), from hallucinations, delirium, delusions, moods disorder, asocial behaviour to suicidal thinking. At some point she was raving mad.

Considering Elizabeth's circumstances and surroundings: the oppression of the apartheid regime, her disturbing background (her white family never loved her because she was black and there was no idea who her black father was) no sense of belonging and identification, no ability to choose a life partner to love and to be loved in return, alone in a pitched uphill battle. In my opinion, they all contributed to her mental illness. Not just because her mother was insane. All the same, she was still an intellectual woman with a beautiful mind I strongly admire.

This is a novel I read confusingly, I was incapable of comprehending what transpired in Elizabeth's hallucinations. Although, I am wholly to blame, not the book, in that it is puissant, poetic, lyrical and thought- provoking. Again, I read somewhere that Bessie Head, whose life's trajectory was like that of Elizabeth, started writing this novel when she was admitted in a psychiatric hospital for a mental breakdown. There were a whole picture of her hallucination and delusion in writings, which were beyond me.

This review is in honour of Bessie Head and her Work hosted in Kinnareads. Bessie Head would have turned 76 on the 6th of July 2013.

She was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, the child of a wealthy white South African woman and a black servant when interracial relationships were illegal in South Africa.

In 2003 she was awarded the South African "Order of Ikhamanga in Gold" for her "exceptional contribution to literature and the struggle for social change, freedom and peace.

Please click here to read more about Bessie Head.

Kehinde, 1994, Buchi Emecheta *****

At long last, Kehinde moved to England to live the life of her dreams with her husband Albert. Some years later, they had two children, as she secured herself an enviable bank position in London, whereas her husband worked as a mere salesman.

Almost twenty years later of life as Londoners, she became pregnant again when her husband finally gave heed to his sisters' insistent advice to return to Nigeria, and establish himself as a big man, since the country's economy was thriving.

Considering the fact that Kehinde was the breadwinner of the family, her husband talked her into getting an abortion, as he was absolutely not looking forward to the expenses and drawbacks of a newly born baby. Moreover, his wife was about to get promoted, which made her income essential in the moving back preparation.

Albert moved first to Nigeria and then followed the children. He asked his wife to stay back and sell the house before returning. Two years later, Kehinde couldn't sell the house. She missed her family and decided to reunite with them. Upon her return, to her greatest surprise, her loving husband has taken in a second wife. Beautiful, young, educated, pregnant and carrying a toddler. Kehinde felt like an idiot, cheated and defeated. Was it not the same Albert who asked her to get rid of the child they were expecting, now came back to Nigeria and impregnated a woman twice?

Once again, Buchi wrote about the many problems affecting us African women and Africans in the diaspora as a whole. How much should we take in the name of culture and tradition? And how much are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of  marriage and family? Life was tough for Kehinde; however, I am glad about the last decisions she took concerning her destiny and I strongly believe it was thanks to the guidance of the spirit of her dead twin sister. Though, I felt that she was somehow naive for not realising how selfish her husband was from the beginning; who was only waiting for the opportunity to blow the lid off.

As most of my readers already know, I have a strong admiration for Buchi Emecheta. I love her novels and her way of approach to stories. It goes without saying that this was a book I took so much pleasure in reading. Short and absolutely not brief in content. I highly recommend, however, keep in mind that quite few paragraphs were written in pidgin English. Even so, it is no deterrent to enjoy the story.  

Heroes, 1986, Festus Iyayi ****

During the the Biafran War, Osime Iyere who was a journalist sided Nigeria. According to him, the Biafran soldiers were rebels, whose main and only purpose were to loot, plunder and destabilise the country. However, after the Nigerian federal troops gruesomely murdered his landlord, he realised it was time to start seeing the war in a new light. Certainly, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Heroes is a reflection of war. Was the (Biafran) war necessary and justifiable? Then, I sincerely ask myself, was there ever a necessary and a justifiable war? The plain truth is "No".

"This is not a war. This is an investment in blood and destruction by those at the helm of affairs with expectation of profit. This war is the great excuse of our natural vices... But in time of war, there are no law, when we misbehave. We are strictly on our own, we are answerable to ourselves then. And see what happens. We loot our neighbour's property, we set fire to his house because we say he is on the other side. We loot, we burn, we rape, we murder, lie and steal. We exhibit our vomit then, we show ourselves up for what we really are. And what we really are is ugly and slimy and poisonous and dark and weak".

Despite the fact that all Nigerians no matter their ethnic groups lived together in harmony, they loved and married among themselves. Suddenly, they started to kill one another, on account of the fact that they were told that a man from one of the ethnic groups, let's say Igbo, who was previously, perhaps a student, a farmer, a worker or simply a trader, was now a rebel and needed to be shot dead. The Igbos were equally told to do vice versa. Sheer madness.

Osime's aim in this novel was to recruit a third army, starting with himself, who could realise that the war was a spiteful one. That certain people in high running positions used the ordinary people against each other for their selfish ends. That the real enemies were neither the Biafran rebels nor the Nigerian soldiers, but the politicians, business men, generals and colonels of both sides. That the war was never for the benefit of the people but to take advantage of them. That the working class were deliberately swindled into the war, so that the ruling class can confortably scavenge with impunity. Unfortunately, the people failed to face up to the facts and instead, they were too eager to massacre themselves, rape each other's women, kill each other's children and destroy each other's homes and farms. Whereas, their respective generals have their family safely kept somewhere outside the country.

Even though Heroes is an erudite work of fiction, it is absolutely an eye-opener and and a great insight into the Nigerian civil war (Biafran war). Suprisingly, I realized that most novels I have read so far regarding the war were written from the view point of the Igbos. For that reason, reading Heroes gave me a whole different perspective. Don't expect a light or heavy reading, but a heart-rending and a sorrowful one that gave love a place. Love in times of war

Festus Iyayi is the first African writer to win the Commonwealth Writer's Prize for Best Book Overall, in 1988. That was how I came about reading his novel. With regards to this Prize, I have a thought to share, which will be posted next week.

Iyayi is also the author of Violence, The Contract and Awaiting Court Martial, of which I look forward to reading. Finally, I would like to know your opinion if you have read any of his novels.

I highly recommend, food for thought.

Striving For The Wind, 1990, Meja Mwangi ****

"Striving for the wind" mainly narrates the relationship between Baba Pesa and Baba Baru, who are neighbours. On the one hand, the former is proud and pompous and known to be the father of money. The largest, richest man on his hill and the next and the next. Who is constantly on the look-out for any situation that would tarnish his reputation. Disgracefully enough, he has a well learned son called Juda [name given to him in weird circumstances] who due to his constant drunkenness was popularly labelled as the village drunkard. Juda, whose principles differs from that of his father is fond of haranguing the villagers on the greater values in life.

-that a man was truly free and happy only when he had no desire for the things money could buy.

It [degree] is not like a third leg... it is not a second head or a different skin.... It is mere piece of paper that says you have read and understood this and that book, and behaved in this and that way. That is all! The mere possession of it does not make you any less or more of a human being than you were in the first place. 

On the other hand, Baba Baru and his house-hold were poor and humble that they solely depended on their small piece of land as their source of income. Pesa [the rich man], who couldn't stand their state of hopelessness and beggary, was hellbent on keeping them out of sight by requesting to buy their only piece of land. Which, of course they refused to sell him.

This novel was somewhat informing in the way many lives were lived in the post-colonial Kenya. To put it differently, there was neither advancement nor improvement after the Europeans ceded power to the Kenyans. The only difference was that those [Kenyans] who rose to power, imitated their ex-colonial master by intimidating, oppressing and humiliating their not-so-lucky fellow country men

Furthermore, in my opinion, only few authors can write about so important an issue with the wit and wisdom Mwangi employed. Most chapters made me laugh like a drain while, some others profoundly made me reflect on the human condition.

In addition, do not expect to meet a protagonist, all characters herein are important. For instance; Mutiso the goatherd, Baru's teenage daughter, Elijah (Pesa's younger son), the village mad man [specialised in stripping himself naked and running amok in the market square], the new police officer nick-named pass-it-around, Pesa and Baru's respective wives. There is neither rising, nor peak nor fall in the story, I rather felt that each chapter was a sequence of scenes. As a result, I found out  that Meja Mwangi is as well involved in the film industry.

Yes, I do recommend this novel; as a matter of fact it is a Commonwealth Writers Prize Africa short list. However, keep in mind that the story is set in rural Kenya; therefore, look forward to reading about farming and ploughing.

This is my first African Writers Series [aws] of the year, to see more novels I have read from the AWS please click here.

One is Enough, 1981, Flora Nwapa *****

At long last, Amaka got married to Obiora; even so, she was childless for the six years her marriage lasted. Her doctors declared her barren while her mother in-law harassed and distressed her out her husband's house. She left for Lagos to start afresh.

She abode by her mother's advice "forget men, be pregnant, have your children and live an independent life. Take your sister Ayo as an example; even though she is not married, she has four children with a wealthy man (already married) who is in charge of their welfare. And indeed doing it well, it is far better to be a mother than to be a wife".

In Lagos, she was involved with a number of men who helped her with important contracts from the government; thereby she made money hand over fist. Interestingly enough, one of those men was a Catholic priest, who was, in my opinion, special, interesting, curious and weird at the same time. You know, one of those fellows you aren't sure if to love or despise. However, Amaka did not care. For all that matters to her was to make hay while the sun shines.

On the other hand, her mother still queried her about an evidence of her womanhood; that is, to be a mother. But, how can such a thing be possible if the doctors already told her she can never become pregnant. Moreover, adoption was out of the question.

 Furthermore, in her relationship with the man of God something went astray. Now, that the Catholic priest was in an important position as a director, would he abandon priesthood and take responsibility for his deeds? Would Amaka give marriage a second chance? Considering all she would benefit from him in his new position. Unquestionably, you would have to read the novel to find out.

One is Enough was an enjoyable read; actually it only consists of 154 pages and certainly not brief in content. Most of the characters were pretty well developed, for instance: Obiora (Amaka's husband), Obiora's mother, Amaka's mother, Ayo (Amaka's sister), Adaobi (Amaka's childhood's friend), Mike (Adaobi's husband), Nanny (the poor woman who works in Amaka's house, once married with a German), Alhaji (one of Amaka's lovers), and of course the Catholic priest. The practice of twin killing that took place long time ago in Igboland was as well talked about.

Sometimes I wish I existed when this story took place, most times I am happy it was the other way round. Life seemed to be somewhat rough in Lagos then. After the Biafran war, a deluge of bereaved Biafrans (mostly women) moved to Lagos where they had to fight an uphill battle in order to provide for their children. Normally, I have always had the greatest admiration for women in Flora's fiction; however, I am not certain about my feelings towards Amaka. Even though I enjoyed her story and rooted for her till the end.

I officially proclaim myself a fan of Flora Nwapa. This is her third novel I have read so far. I am looking forward to reading all of her works. Her other two novels I have also read are Never Again and Women are different.

I highly recommend.

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.

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.

Never Again, 1975, by Flora Nwapa ****

Flora Nwapa (full name: Florence Nwanzuruahu Nkiru Nwapa) was a female Nigerian writer, born in Oguata, Eastern Nigeria on the 13th of January 1931, and died on the 16th of October (Chinua Achebe's birthday) 1993. I wonder what she died of. She was actually of Chinua Achebe's generation. They both attended University of Ibadan, an appendix of London University then, it became a fully fledged Nigerian University after the Independence of Nigeria from the British in 1960. She later on travelled to England where she obtained a degree in Education from the University of Edinburgh. With her first novel Efuru published in 1966, which I am yet to read, she was proclaimed the first female African writer to publish in English. She is also credited with being the first African woman to establish two publishing houses, one specialised in Adult Fiction and the other in Children's Fiction. If Chinua Achebe is widely known as the father of African Literature, Flora Nwapa is considered to be the mother, as well as a feminist. Although, the latter she denied. Nonetheless, she once said in an interview that her interests lies on the rural and urban women on their quest for survival in a fast changing world dominated by men.

Never Again is what you could regard as a novella, it consists of eighty-five pages. Its brevity is no deterrent to peruse it. As a matter of fact, it is an engaging and a voracious read, and certainly not brief in content. The story was told in a first person singular, which I utterly enjoyed because I connected with the narrator at once.

Kate, an upper middle class Nigerian Citizen, married, with five children, and her housemaid had to flee from one place to another in search of safety in 1967 when the Biafran War erupted. Their run off started from Enugu, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Elele and at last Ugwuta their home town. In fact, they were in the throes of a conflict break out on account of post colonialism, however, Kate was determined to survive with all her household members.

Did the war finally found them in their home town? In what condition? This novella tells the story of the war through the eyes of Kate. Do not expect a detailed description of the conflict, as I said earlier it is eighty-five pages novella.

To put it differently, Never Again is an entertaining, heart-rending short novel, of which, I recommend to all and sundry. It is an easy read.

The African Trilogy: Part 3; Arrow Of God, 1965, by Chinua Achebe ***

Amazingly, at last I am done with the African Trilogy. On the post face of the novel was written that "Arrow Of God" is a continuation of the epic saga of the community in Things Fall Apart, second volume of Achebe's African trilogy and is followed by No Longer At Ease. I was for a moment bewildered because I thought I was reading the saga the wrong way round. Nonetheless, in many official book website it was clearly indicated that this novel is the last part of the saga. It made sense because it was published five years after "No Longer At Ease". Anyhow, you do not need to read these novel in a sequel in order to understand and therefore enjoy them.

To start with, Arrow of God is my least favourite of them all. At a point I doubted if I was reading a story or perhaps a narrative of the Igbo Culture (of which I am proud of). Do not get me wrong. To my way of thinking, this part of the trilogy was unattractive compared to the previous ones. I somewhat felt it was a sequence of events whence you need to grab the information however it pleases you. Moreover, most of the conversations were held in proverbs. In fact, if you want to insight yourself on Igbo proverbs this is the book to read. At the same time, I have to admit I enjoyed most of the proverbs because I grew up hearing them from my relatives (in Igbo of course). Albeit, until present I still do not understand the meaning of some of them. For instance "A toad does not run in the day unless something is after it", I can recall exactly the way it is said in Igbo, even so, this is a proverb I am yet to comprehend. Why shouldn't a toad run in the day time? In any case, I do not want to divert so much from my book review.

Chinua once more wrote about the changes suffered in Eastern Nigeria due to the influence of the white man. The story is about Ezeulu a chief priest of the God of six villages who, with the presence of the European was finding it difficult to demonstrate the power and relevance of the god of the land. He was accused of desecrating the land by sending his son to  the Christian school in his village and to church to worship the European god (another god).

Certainly, the ending of this book was quite unlooked-for and appalling, typical of Chinua Achebe's. I felt a little distressed.

Finally, I understood and learnt that changes are persistent and preordained. The Igbo Culture is no exception, with or without an outside effect, it would have surely gone through transition indeed.

Do I recommend this book? Well, yes! Especially if you are reading it as part of The African Trilogy.

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