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A review by sadiereadsagain
Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
4.0
Trying to get back on track with the Shelterbox Book Club, and this was a good book to do so with. This is the story of Jama, the author’s father (though she does say that it isn’t strictly accurate), a Somalian, as he travels over East and North Africa on the search for his father and a place for himself. Set before, during and after the second World War, we meet Jama as a ten-year-old street child in Yemen as follow him as he travels through many countries on his search. Tackling Italian fascists, British colonists and the dangers of the land, he makes it to Egypt and a job on a ship to England, transporting freed Jewish prisoners.
This book is not an easy read – Jama faces many hardships and, particularly as he is so young, the brutality of his life is harrowing to learn about. But there are also moments where he gets to be a child, such as childhood was in that time and situation – I loved his adventures with his friends, though even this does have a heartbreaking outcome.
Jama is a determined young man, and although not all of this story is true to life it’s very clear why Mohamed wanted to honour him with this book. And she has honoured him – her prose is effortless and her descriptions of both people and landscapes are vivid and rich. Although Jama faces so many challenges, with death, torture and fear all through his journey, this book isn’t gratuitous…it just doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities many Africans experienced during that time.
This book is not an easy read – Jama faces many hardships and, particularly as he is so young, the brutality of his life is harrowing to learn about. But there are also moments where he gets to be a child, such as childhood was in that time and situation – I loved his adventures with his friends, though even this does have a heartbreaking outcome.
Jama is a determined young man, and although not all of this story is true to life it’s very clear why Mohamed wanted to honour him with this book. And she has honoured him – her prose is effortless and her descriptions of both people and landscapes are vivid and rich. Although Jama faces so many challenges, with death, torture and fear all through his journey, this book isn’t gratuitous…it just doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities many Africans experienced during that time.