Review of Leaving Dahomey
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Naomi Nthiga
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Review of Leaving Dahomey
[Following is a volunteer review of "Leaving Dahomey" by Jude Shaw.]
Adeoha is a fortunate young girl. Born as a lady of nobility, she is the daughter of Lord Tubutu and Lady Lamtaala of the Ewansi clan. This honor, bestowed upon her family clan by the Aladanohu kings of Dahomey kingdom, assures her wealth, prestige, and a rich inheritance in her native village of Atogon. Together with her friend Sewextu, they join the prestigious Language Drum Society. This society trains its initiates in the ancient art form of storytelling through dance. Though reluctant to join, Adeoha thrives and shines above the other initiates during the final dance of commemoration. Even the chief priestess, head of the Language Drum Society, attests that Adeoha's dance language is by something otherworldly. A great honor for a new initiate.
Adeoha's good fortune continues when she establishes a thriving merchant business at 16 years of age. Her entrepreneurial spirit takes her fledgling business beyond her region into the neighboring villages of Allada, Akpe, and Tori. Adeoha's prowess as a dancer during the dance contest with the Allada dance troupe gives her unprecedented popularity. So much so that the royal court takes notice. What ensues is a series of events that spell harm to her life and that of her entire family. One has to read Leaving Dahomey to the end to see how Adeoha gets out of the sticky situation arising from her fame and continued good luck.
Leaving Dahomey by Jude Shaw is the 1st novel in the Friendly town trilogy. It is a book steeped in rich African culture, set around the early 19th century. It is very well-researched. The story focuses on the customs, people, mythology, and activities around the West African kingdom of Dahomey, located in present-day Benin. The booming slave trade alluded to in the story adds credence to the book's timelines. As a lover of historical fiction, I appreciate the historical accuracy of the book. In addition, the author is diligent in developing the story around Adeoha, the main character, and the other secondary characters introduced in the book. The book is also exceptionally well-edited.
Of note is the complexity of the folklore told within the book. For example, the story told by Eldeide, the bokonoe ( diviner), to the elders. It is not easy to understand the layers of meaning hidden in this and other such stories sprinkled in the book. It is complicated further when the author does not elaborate on the folklore's meaning through a character's narration. As a result, the reader gets lost and takes away from the flow of the story. It is because of this that I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to scholars of West African history and myths. The author has gone to great lengths to reference the folklore's/ myths source for further study. Lovers of historical fiction would also appreciate this book.
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Leaving Dahomey
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Adeoha is a fortunate young girl. Born as a lady of nobility, she is the daughter of Lord Tubutu and Lady Lamtaala of the Ewansi clan. This honor, bestowed upon her family clan by the Aladanohu kings of Dahomey kingdom, assures her wealth, prestige, and a rich inheritance in her native village of Atogon. Together with her friend Sewextu, they join the prestigious Language Drum Society. This society trains its initiates in the ancient art form of storytelling through dance. Though reluctant to join, Adeoha thrives and shines above the other initiates during the final dance of commemoration. Even the chief priestess, head of the Language Drum Society, attests that Adeoha's dance language is by something otherworldly. A great honor for a new initiate.
Adeoha's good fortune continues when she establishes a thriving merchant business at 16 years of age. Her entrepreneurial spirit takes her fledgling business beyond her region into the neighboring villages of Allada, Akpe, and Tori. Adeoha's prowess as a dancer during the dance contest with the Allada dance troupe gives her unprecedented popularity. So much so that the royal court takes notice. What ensues is a series of events that spell harm to her life and that of her entire family. One has to read Leaving Dahomey to the end to see how Adeoha gets out of the sticky situation arising from her fame and continued good luck.
Leaving Dahomey by Jude Shaw is the 1st novel in the Friendly town trilogy. It is a book steeped in rich African culture, set around the early 19th century. It is very well-researched. The story focuses on the customs, people, mythology, and activities around the West African kingdom of Dahomey, located in present-day Benin. The booming slave trade alluded to in the story adds credence to the book's timelines. As a lover of historical fiction, I appreciate the historical accuracy of the book. In addition, the author is diligent in developing the story around Adeoha, the main character, and the other secondary characters introduced in the book. The book is also exceptionally well-edited.
Of note is the complexity of the folklore told within the book. For example, the story told by Eldeide, the bokonoe ( diviner), to the elders. It is not easy to understand the layers of meaning hidden in this and other such stories sprinkled in the book. It is complicated further when the author does not elaborate on the folklore's meaning through a character's narration. As a result, the reader gets lost and takes away from the flow of the story. It is because of this that I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to scholars of West African history and myths. The author has gone to great lengths to reference the folklore's/ myths source for further study. Lovers of historical fiction would also appreciate this book.
******
Leaving Dahomey
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: E M P Honeymoon by Dorothy May Mercer
