I read this book as part of Canongate Book’s March readalong. And I’m so grateful for the opportunity. It’s taken me a while to cement my thoughts and commit them to “paper“ for I found it to be a profoundly moving read. There is something quite beautiful about the dignity of a people treated callously who refuse to just take it.
An American oil company have devastated the environment and ecology of the village of Kosawa where the growing land has been rendered infertile and the toxicity of the water has caused death amongst babies and children. False promises are made. But the village fights back. However it takes generations of dedication and sacrifice to fight the profiteers.
A solid, pertinent story is one thing but the quality of the writing behind the story adds so much substance to this novel. The sense of time passing through the generations is cleverly achieved by the chapter structuring. There are chapters featuring one of the main characters followed by chapters entitled The Children. By the end of the book many of “the children“ of the village have their own children! And somehow that had such a potent effect on me.
Thula, her uncle Bongo, her mother Sahel, her grandmother, Yaya and her brother, Juba all enjoy their own chapters but it seemed to me that Thula is the thread that binds them together and her single-minded dedication to her cause and the sacrifices she made are humbling.
It’s a sad, devastating story almost but the indomitable spirit of a wronged community and the determination to fight is inspirational. The cultural traditions of an indigenous people are celebrated too, perhaps subliminally, but nevertheless it’s there. And that was something else I found uplifting. The spiritual beliefs too add another dimension to the overall situation.
I guess we can hope that books like these can be read, lessons learned and maybe fuel and inspire others to act for what is just and right.
Thank you Canongate books for the privilege of reading this story.
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