A review by serendipitysbooks
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

 The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born is a satirical look at immediate post independence Ghana under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah via the experiences of the unnamed narrator, a railway clerk who struggles to maintain his integrity and avoid the lure of corruption. It’s not an optimistic or feel good read. The promise of independence was not realised, with leaders seemingly more interested in accessing western consumer goods than working to improve the lives of ordinary Ghanaians. Neocolonialism was not much of an improvement over actual colonial rule. The author’s use of excrement as a not-so-subtle metaphor for post-colonial Ghana didn’t necessarily make for the most pleasant reading experience, but it certainly was effective. For readers who have little knowledge of Ghanaian history a quick crash course via Wikipedia will help you get more out of this book.
 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Colonisation