The Usurper: and Other Stories
Product Description
Western-educated and smooth-talking Jeremiah Nana Njike visits his grandparents in rural Africa and spends time with his even smoother-talking grandfather and his seer friend who entertain him with stories where:
- The son of a prince maneuvers his way to become the new king; and then tries to convince everyone that he is his predecessor’s brother, which makes him the son of his predecessor’s father. But is he of royal blood? (The Usurper).
- A feared and respected juju buckles under the threat of a mad cow, even though it is supposed to have the powers to crush anything and anybody on its path. (Ngoko’s Folly).
- A clan head abuses his position, misuses the wealth that has been passed down from generation-to-generation; but cries out in the world after, when his angry ancestors judge him. (The Verdict of Hades)
- The jaded womanizer loses the woman of his heart even though he had her in his hand, after she asked for divorce from her husband. He rues afterwards as other men raise his children born by the women he was fond of. (The Oaf).
- A king accused of marrying off his unhappily-married granddaughter to his notable, appears in an administrative court and tries to maintain his dignity with claims that kings have the sole right to dispose of the first born daughters of their sons. (His Majesty’s Trial)
- A young king faces a layman of another realm in court over claims that the king took away his sister’s child from her conjugal home. (The Dowry)
- The abandoned Billy recounts his story to the grandmaster about an affluent life lived and about betrayal experienced in the hands of his parents.(I am Hated)
These stories touch on fierce love, loyalty, kinship, betrayal, war and peace, tradition and the mysterious; and the redeeming power of humanity. The listeners are involved in the story-telling with questions and remarks of their own. It is an engaging style that gives a vivid and engrossing account of the way of life of a unique people and culture. Each preceding story acts as a forerunner to the next in a smooth flow that is meant to eliminate any sense of disconnect between stories. The book is full of humor and pathos.
The Usurper: and Other Stories
by Janvier Chouteu-Chando,
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