The book review and author interview I’m sharing with you in this issue is so relevant to the discussion of race and the Black Lives Matter movement. Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman has been called both a coming-of-age book and a mystery book, and it was inspired by the killing of Damilola Taylor, a ten-year-old schoolboy from Nigeria, in South London in 2000.
Join us as we venture into the captivating world of literature with our curated selection of must-read books for this quarter. We’ll delve deeper into the stories that resonate with the spirit of Africa; featuring insightful book reviews and author interviews that offer a glimpse into the creative minds behind these literary masterpieces. Get ready to be inspired, enlightened, and entertained as we celebrate the diverse voices and experiences of Africa through the power of storytelling.
Lured in by the striking cover, I picked up this book while waiting for the train at a little station bookshop. I was immediately connected to the story and pulled into the tragedy, optimism, curiosity and humour.
Every now and then, I’ll encounter little things that remind me of my journey and transition from Africa to the UK and this was one of them.
What caught my attention on the cover was a striking picture of the boy chasing pigeons. I actually thought there was a connection between the Pigeon and “Pidgin English” when I started reading it, but then I realised there are parts of the book where an actual Pigeon narrates – funny huh?