Land for Fatimah

There is a large amount of personal experience i see running parallel to this book. Enjoyed it a lot.

Opening with a story of demolition of a slum in India: wiping out historic and familial ties, and being part of the childhood history of Anjali, one of the voices in this story. Now in Africa, she is working with the Aanke people, who have received notice to vacate their traditional lands (and industry) to make way for a cocoa plantation. Here I where Fatimah’s story comes forward as she is determined to fight both the eviction and the lack of planning for her people’s resettlement. Here is where the story actually becomes one of multiple dimensions: the poorer being moved in the name of progress: their limited options and resources to fight, or perhaps even survive the battle that foreshadows the loss of traditions and history.

The beauty of the landscape is presented through Anjali’s eyes, giving those unfamiliar with the country a sense of place and allowing the imagination to fill in moments with visual references, exploring the diversity from one place to another: not just in traditions and tribes, but in the landscape that helped to form and provide for them. But, this is ultimately about the challenges- both as an aid worker in the country, but the struggles between progress, profit and people – and raises questions about the ability of traditions existing with progress, or if one necessarily overtakes and consumes the other.

All four of the voices here have a different view and priority, and these will clash often as the personal interest is often in conflict or opposite to the view that is ‘best for the group’, and there is no denying that poverty and thus the political power that does not exist without a strong financial backing are huge players in this tale, and sometimes there is just no way that everyone will come out winning. An interesting and thoughtful story that should be on your shelf, for these issues will become more prevalent world-wide as progress in the name of profits continue to rule – and seeing the impact, small and large, is important in informing your stance.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href= https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9FT/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A story set in Africa will always capture my attention. I'm African and when I read books set in Africa, I'm overprotective of the people, culture and more so of the fact that it tells of a place in a continent I reside in. This book tackles one of the most contentious issues in Africa- land. It begins with a demolition in one of the slums in India and then next the author takes us through a drive in Africa in the region where Anjali works. The story then picks up on the Aanke, Fatimah's people, who receive a notice to vacate their ancestral land to pave way for a cocoa plantation and there's no talk about re-settlement and the battle is far from over when Fatimah meets Anjali.
This book had a very slow start for me. I'd have preferred to have the chapter on the notice to vacate given to the Aanke people come first, it's vibrant and from the get-go, it was easy to identify with Fatimah as being insightful, astute and courageous.
I'd have the opening story on demolition of a slum in India as part of a conversation as though Anjali was remembering something about her childhood.
The extensive description of the lands as they drive through to where the organization Anjali works for was too much, I did not take to that and coupled with the slow start, I might have rolled my eyes once or twice.
I'm grateful to NetGalley for ARc because this made for a good read and land rights and issues in Africa is not an easy topic to tackle and in fiction, the author succeeds in not only portraying the challenges the displaced people face, but how their identity is affected and also how an outsider who is trying to help gets caught in the web of lies and intimidation.

A very complex book, dealing with, among other things, the displaced people of Africa and India. The voices here are compelling and worth listening to. Well done!