Readers with a knowledge of Catholic tradition might be aware of the Five Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, relating to Jesus’ last days. This novel has these five prayers as separate parts. Substituting Andy Aziza for Christ is not blasphemous – Andy believes life in Africa is tragic: ‘The lives of everyone on this Cursed land mirror the prayer’.
Andy lives with his mum in Kontagora, a Nigerian town outside the capital, Abuja. He’s never known his father. He and his friends, Slim and Morocca, serve as altar boys. Their behaviour, however, is anything but angelic. Slim is gay; Morocca has already fathered a child, and Andy has erotic dreams featuring blondes. This is the story of Andy’s coming of age, especially as a blonde girl, Eileen, comes to Kontagora. He wants to be rich; he wants to know who his father is; he wants to leave Africa.
Language plays a vital role. The text is primarily in English, with smatterings of Hausa words, slang, idiomatic contractions and Western brand placement. Poetry also features. Usually, mixing prose with poetry makes the text weaker, as writers are generally better at one or the other. Here, however, the poetry elevates the narrative to sublime levels.
Juxtaposition is at the centre of the narrative: Andy’s blackness and Eileen’s whiteness; the sacred and the profane; Christian and Muslim; rich and poor; and Africa and the West. Battles between Christians and Muslims boil over and Andy’s church is attacked, resulting in his mother’s paralysation. Her failing health initiates Andy’s discovery of his father’s identity. However, this only makes his situation worse. He needs to leave.
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa is a masterfully written novel – intelligent, emotional and passionate.
Reviewed by Bob Moore
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