Francis Bebey (1929–2001)

Two Cameroonian villages, Effidi and Nkool. Effidi boasts a paved road and two important citizens: “King” Albert, the only black store-owner in town and Bikomou-the-Vespasian (because he owns a Vespa scooter), a civil servant in the colonial government. The plot revolves around their competition to marry Nani, daughter of the disliked and activist trade union man, Toutouma (from Nkool, of course). Village elders must decide who will marry Nani (her thoughts being largely irrelevant) and this story line intersects with that of the coming election, a first in the region. Both plots pit the younger generation against the older one and Bebey uses both stories to teach. That said, he does so in an unusually (at least in my reading experience of African novels from the 1950s and 1960s) even-handed, almost gentle way. Tradition, democracy, technology, and even personal and power relationships each play a not-always-predictable role in this well-written novel. Although it may not be mistaken for great literature, it’s well worth the time and offers some nuanced and carefully considered wisdom.… (mais)