Before the Mango Ripens

De: Afabwaje Kurian

Narrado por: Délé Ogundiran

In Rabata, everyone has secrets—especially since the arrival of the white American missionaries.

Twenty-year-old Jummai is a beautiful and unassuming house girl whose dreams of escaping her home life are disrupted when an unexpected pregnancy forces her to hide her lover's identity. Tebeya, an ambitious Dublin-educated doctor, has left prestigious opportunities abroad to return to the small town of her birth, and discovers a painful betrayal when she strives to take control of the mission clinic. Zanya is a young translator, enticed by promises of progress, who comes to Rabata to escape a bitter past and finds himself embroiled in a fight against the American reverend for the heart of the church and town.

United by their yearning for change, all three must make difficult decisions that threaten the fragile relationships of the Rabata they know. As tensions mount and hypocrisies are unveiled, the people of Rabata are faced with a question that will transform their town forever: Let the Americans stay, or make them go?

©2024 Afabwaje Kurian (P)2024 Highbridge Audio

Outstanding historical fiction

I felt transported. A heart wrenching and human tale at the intersection of US missionaries and Nigerian congregants and townspeople in the 1960s. Great writing. Great voice acting. Worth it!

Structure and character development

Really enjoyed reading this. Excellent character development. Tangible details painted a true picture of the life of that era. The delivery and organization of the book was very well done. Kudos!