Why a Booktrail?
2000s: They burned down the market on the day Vivek Oji died.
The Death of Vivek Oji
What you need to know before your trail
One afternoon, a mother opens her front door to find the length of her son’s body stretched out on the veranda, swaddled in akwete material, his head on her welcome mat. The Death of Vivek Oji transports us to the day of Vivek’s birth, the day his grandmother Ahunna died. It is the story of an over protective mother and a distant father, and the heart-wrenching tale of one family’s struggle to understand their child, just as Vivek learns to recognize himself.
Teeming with unforgettable characters whose lives have been shaped by Vivek’s gentle and enigmatic spirit, it shares with us a Nigerian childhood that challenges expectations. This novel, and its celebration of the innocence and optimism of youth will touch all those who embrace it.
Travel Guide
Travel to Nigeria BookTrail style with Vivek Oji
Aba
Vivek Oji grows up here and is the beloved son of a Nigerian father and an Indian mother. The physical setting here however is not as important as the human setting – what it means to be different, queer, trans and what it really means to be yourself. To be yourself in a world where there seems to be rules and standards to adhere to, is the biggest challenge of all.
The concept of differences and ‘ outsiders’ is also looked at when you meet the Nigerwives (foreign women who are married to Nigerian men) The author herself was born and brought up here apparently and so understands the term “half-caste” which is the term used in the novel to describe the people here. The difference between North and South, such as places like Hausa and Igbo are explored.
Another feature of this story is the number of strong beliefs that rule life here. There are religious exorcisms and a number of practices that are very hard to read about. One such practice is when they put a flaming fire is put around someone’s neck.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Death of Vivek Oji
Destination/location: Nigeria Author/guide: Akwaeke Emezi Departure Time: 2000s
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