Greetings,
I’m making this publication in response to the contest that was organized by leaders of this community a few weeks back, I planned to submit my entry earlier but due to some matters that needed my urgent attention I couldn’t but I’m here now and that’s what matters.
I’m not gonna lie I’m not the type of person that reads many books because I mostly juggle both working and studying in school. But that not being said, I try to read a few books when I get the chance. Last year I read some books and today I’m here to talk about those I think were my favorite. So let’s dive right in.
The kaya girl is an African novel written by Mamle Wolo. The term ‘kaya’ is an abbreviation of the word ‘kayayo’ which is a local slang used to call people that offer services like carrying huge loads of goods on a basin or pans from one location to the other in the market. This is commonly seen in the marketplaces in Africa.
The kaya girl story is centered on two young Ghanaians girls from absolutely different worlds. Faiza lived together with her auntie and her little sister in the village. She wasn’t enrolled in school because her auntie said girls don’t go to school but rather become house wives. So when a 55 year old man showed interest in Faiza’s sister, she wanted to marry her off. When her sister got wind of what her auntie was planing, she fled the village to the city. Their auntie didn’t bother to look for her. And as a result Faiza took matters into her own hands and decided to go to the city and search for her lost sister.
When she arrived in the city, she didn’t know anyone and she didn’t also know where her sister was. The last time she heard of her was that she was spotted doing ‘kaya’ in the Makola market so she decided to go there. She worked day in day out under the hot scorching sun. Until she made a friend called Abena. She invited her over to their shop and asked her to stay for a while instead of working under the sun.
She agreed to stay. Not knowing Gifty another worker in the same store was jealous of her to an extent she stole money and blamed Faiza. Who was then sacked. She had to flea to a different market in another city. With hopes of still finding her sister. Will she meet her sister and what other dangers will she encounter? Read the book to find out more, I don’t want to give too many spoilers.
Not forsaken is an African novel which was written by A. Junourgh. This book causes as to sit down and think about social ostracization which has lead to a lot of children changing religions from the one they were born with. The question is, how do you relate to someone who leaves his family religion? If you are interested in finding out the answer to this question you should probably read the book.
The story originates from a village who unfortunately do not yet have lights. So at night the whole place is totally dark and quite if it weren’t for the sounds and screeching of animals, it would have been like a cemetery. Abdulai was born and raised there by his mother because his Dad passed away. So his mother has to raise him alone through all the difficulties the village threw at her way.
Alice, a Beaty girl also was raised in almost the same manner as Abdulai who is now 21 years of age. Their paths cross. His mother falls sick at the village, can he survive on his own? Why would he change his religion? What will his mom do when she finds out?
Read the book to find out.
Like I said I didn’t read so many books last year but I will try my best to read more books this year I’ve even got quite a few in mind. But with these books I’ve read last year, these authors have all talked about things that are currently on going in Africa.
The first is being about ‘kaya’ girls instead of being in school are going round the streets carrying stuff just to get ends meet. Some even go the extent of staying there at nights and as a result most of them are raped. Thank you for this opportunity given to me to talk about these books.
