| Publisher | Abibiman Publishing UK |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 26 July 2021 |
| ISBN-10 | 1998995801 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1998995806 |
| Format | paperback |
| Pages | 337 |
| Price | £ 8.00 |
The Strangers of Braamfontein
by
Immigrants from various African countries gravitate to the Johannesburg suburb of Braamfontein, including many from Nigeria, such as the young painter Osas, who find criminality a route to survival.
Review
The central character in this book is Osas, a Nigerian from Benin City who seeks a better life than he has living with a disapproving grandmother. Given his intelligence and skill as a painter, his job as a bus conductor is unsatisfying, and looking elsewhere for opportunity, he selects South Africa as the safest and best option.
On arrival, menial work in a restaurant is all he can find, but by chance Osas does a favour for another Nigerian expatriate, Chike, who introduces him to countryman Papi, the leader of a criminal gang. Soon Osas is rubbing shoulders with drug dealers, scammers, prostitutes – those involved in any activity that can be made to pay.
The action is seen through the eyes of some of those close to Osas. Papi demands tribute and exacts terrible retribution if crossed. Prostitute April and Madame Ruth are both sleeping with Osas in ignorance of the other. Chamai is a Zimbabwean forced into male prostitution and takes revenge for what is done to him.
As these main characters negotiate difficult lives they come into contact with other expatriates: Ethiopian human traffickers, Congolese kidnappers, Malawian forgers and Francophone gangs. There are plenty of locals too competing for business, including rapacious police and customs officials. Between all these groups there is a lack of understanding and sympathy; in many cases a hatred that easily descends into bloody conflict.
Like the lives of those featured, the book is fast-paced, full of tough demands and desperate choices. The author at one point explores the question of whether these characters should be held responsible for the greed and deception that is such a conspicuous part of their behavior, or whether we should regard them as merely victims. Either way, it is difficult to regard the lives they lead without horror.
The above is not the only way in which the book may be regarded as a difficult read. Much of the direct dialogue is given in pidgin, which is not easy to follow, or at least to appreciate the subtleties of expression. The remainder is in English but even here there are occasional unfamiliar uses. In addition, The narrative jumps in time and between locations without warning and this can be disconcerting.
Despite such problems, however, the book is a powerful one and the stories of the participants are compelling. The very nature of the society held up for scrutiny limits the likelihood of literary attempts to describe it, and for no other reason this may be regarded as an important book. But beyond that, it furnishes a commentary on contemporary African life that strongly impels the reader to ponder how such dysfunction came about and what should be done to help the people who suffer from it.
On arrival, menial work in a restaurant is all he can find, but by chance Osas does a favour for another Nigerian expatriate, Chike, who introduces him to countryman Papi, the leader of a criminal gang. Soon Osas is rubbing shoulders with drug dealers, scammers, prostitutes – those involved in any activity that can be made to pay.
The action is seen through the eyes of some of those close to Osas. Papi demands tribute and exacts terrible retribution if crossed. Prostitute April and Madame Ruth are both sleeping with Osas in ignorance of the other. Chamai is a Zimbabwean forced into male prostitution and takes revenge for what is done to him.
As these main characters negotiate difficult lives they come into contact with other expatriates: Ethiopian human traffickers, Congolese kidnappers, Malawian forgers and Francophone gangs. There are plenty of locals too competing for business, including rapacious police and customs officials. Between all these groups there is a lack of understanding and sympathy; in many cases a hatred that easily descends into bloody conflict.
Like the lives of those featured, the book is fast-paced, full of tough demands and desperate choices. The author at one point explores the question of whether these characters should be held responsible for the greed and deception that is such a conspicuous part of their behavior, or whether we should regard them as merely victims. Either way, it is difficult to regard the lives they lead without horror.
The above is not the only way in which the book may be regarded as a difficult read. Much of the direct dialogue is given in pidgin, which is not easy to follow, or at least to appreciate the subtleties of expression. The remainder is in English but even here there are occasional unfamiliar uses. In addition, The narrative jumps in time and between locations without warning and this can be disconcerting.
Despite such problems, however, the book is a powerful one and the stories of the participants are compelling. The very nature of the society held up for scrutiny limits the likelihood of literary attempts to describe it, and for no other reason this may be regarded as an important book. But beyond that, it furnishes a commentary on contemporary African life that strongly impels the reader to ponder how such dysfunction came about and what should be done to help the people who suffer from it.
Reviewed 19 February 2022 by Chris Roberts
