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A review by lmurray74
Black Mamba Boy by Nadifa Mohamed
5.0
Loved this story and it had me up late at night. A lyrical and strong debut that is inspired by the life of Mohamed's father, Jama. Jama was born in Somalia and went to Aden as a young boy with his mother, while his father went to Sudan to chase a dream of driving cars. Jama's mother dies in Aden and Jama then comes back to Somalia. From here he leaves to find his father, travelling through Eritrea and Djibouti, eventually to Sudan, Egypt, and eventually the UK. He is caught up in the Italian invasion and occupation of East Africa still as a young boy.
I learned a lot from reading this story and it had me reading more on the side about the invasion and occupation of East Africa by the Italians, as well as general history regarding the region, and reading more about the people in the region.
Jama's story is compelling, and while some parts may have been embellished, as is the way with novels, Jama is a complex and layered protagonist. His journey is believable and as is the way with life, the more "unbelievable" events, such as meeting up across time and space, are what are probably the truest.
I loved going on this journey with Jama and I feel that tendrils of the story are still with me. Mohamed's words get under the skin, and the details have me thinking of the story as a movie. I feel close to Jama, wanting to learn more about him. I know the next novel Mohamed wrote doesn't carry Jama's story on, rather it focuses on mothers and daughters. I'm very much looking forward to reading it.
I learned a lot from reading this story and it had me reading more on the side about the invasion and occupation of East Africa by the Italians, as well as general history regarding the region, and reading more about the people in the region.
Jama's story is compelling, and while some parts may have been embellished, as is the way with novels, Jama is a complex and layered protagonist. His journey is believable and as is the way with life, the more "unbelievable" events, such as meeting up across time and space, are what are probably the truest.
I loved going on this journey with Jama and I feel that tendrils of the story are still with me. Mohamed's words get under the skin, and the details have me thinking of the story as a movie. I feel close to Jama, wanting to learn more about him. I know the next novel Mohamed wrote doesn't carry Jama's story on, rather it focuses on mothers and daughters. I'm very much looking forward to reading it.