Book Review for March (We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo)

The author shows a lot of wit by being able to satirise a lot of issues and still make you laugh at the same time. She appropriately without equivocation uses the eyes of Darling to peruse her mundane and parochial society without any form of prejudice and also apply same to a more sophisticated society without any prejudice.

The writer tried as much as possible to make sure we understand that no society is perfect, people are just people; in the case of Africans, who thought the foreigners were the problems, when they got rid of them, they became the problem: we don't need a microscope that this is a direct juxtaposition with most countries in Africa especially those colonized by the British.

The book also shows how Africans try to do away with their “Africa-ness“ once given the opportunity to get to better climes. Darlin’s aunt becomes insanely addicted to looking slim and fit when the husband who is a typical African man likes them thick and big.

In a nut shell, the book deviated from the norm of old people telling the African story, now we have the opportunity of hearing it from the mouth of an innocent child.

Satire

The book satirises African politicians, religion, foreign organization who say they want to help us but don't want to be part of our story, low self-esteem in most Africans when they find themselves high up the echelons of the society or in foreign climes.

Contrast

The place paradise contrast itself, paradise is supposed to be beautiful and heavenly but we find out it's just a slum where people live like outcast in their own country.

The book also contrast between African and foreign cultures using America as a case study of the the latter.

The book also show contrast between what people actually believe and what they actually feel. Darling always felt that her life would become okay in one swipe as soon as she got to America but that was not the case, even staying in America could not feel up the void of enjoyment she gets from her mundane life.

This goes to show that happiness is not somewhere; it is where you chose to meet it.

The book contrast what most foreign NGOs think of Africans and what they do for Africans. They resist knowing our stories or getting to know us, they either think we are cute savages or ugly savages who could get some empathy when seen in a picture almost naked trying to fill the stomach as quickly as possible.

Diction

The writer uses English in a very unconventional way to make sure that we all become the child Darling in our minds eye, we share in her foolishness and wits, we become that child because the language was once our language too.

Written by

Obaretin Osarogiagbon Harry