Ama Ata Aidoo. First published 1977 This cover is of the first edition in the Longman African Classics series, published 1988 in paperback only.
The observations of a young woman from Ghana, Sissie, who travels to Europe with a degree in English Literature and travels first to Germany and then to London.
This prose poem, nearly fifty years after it was first written describes first impressions of a strange world: the German language, a mix of fellow travellers on the course, in addition to a German woman who befriends her.
In London she meets other Africans who moved there for work or their education and felt unable to return home due to their apparent obligation to earn money and send that home to support relatives.
During these journeyings we see through her eyes, read her thoughts and words, discover her surprise at what she finds and at times her naivete. Throughout, she talks and argues on points of colonialism, feminism, and the need for the educated diaspora to return to their home countries to help build their independent countries. Varying from her forthright youth and conviction on a subject, she balances the writing with a calmer view of observation on herself and surroundings, and an opposing argument. In the ‘London’ section, she gives voice to those making the common decision of remaining abroad and sending financial support to families in Africa. She is also reminded of the ‘kudos’ of having a relative living in Europe. Pros and cons of this life take turns. A culminating ‘discussion’ towards the end of the book is both fiery and having elements of debate. Tucked neatly through the pages are quiet moments of reflection and softer touches of life such as how she negotiates others and herself in the second section titled ‘The Plums’
This book may have been written long ago but has been an intriguing and influential prose-poem from the first. I believe this is still a text studied in Ghana and Africa. I hope it is studied as a ‘Literature in English’ text and in English/ International courses. No doubt still valuable in Sociology and Post-colonial studies. The book needs to be read as a whole, but for me, the poetry sections, which fit perfectly but frequently change the pace and tone of the ‘story,’ are the highlights. Okay, I may have been around when Longman first published the book (a series started and run by the brilliant Anne Walmsley) but it has taken me 35 years to read this for the first time. I have read it start to finish in almost one sitting. I just wish I had read it sooner
Check out the other works by Ama Ata Aidoo. You can also read her biog. details on this site: https://literarymama.com/articles/departments/2016/02/a-profile-of-ama-ata-aidoo-draft
Incidentally, I did read Lamming’s, In The Castle of my Skin (hardback) and Selvon’s, Lonely Londoners (Longman Caribbean Writers) when they were first published by Longman all those years ago. They are also still high on my list of recommendations of classic books to read.
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