A review by ska
Nehanda by Yvonne Vera

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

3.75

A really challenging read, it’s written in a very poetic style that challenges the reader to step in and out of first person. It’s done in a stylistic but challenging way, especially for readers unaccustomed to magical realism. It explores themes of ancestral spiritualism at the time of colonialism in Zimbabwe through the fictionalisation of a prominent figure during the civil war—Nehanda. Who was in fact a real person but has been depicted in a fictional sense. Interesting read, although for non-African or just non Zimbabwean readers who are not very knowledgeable of the culture and history, I would definitely recommend reading up on Mbuya Nehanda and her role in the civil war prior to reading this book in order to be able to get the most out of this read.