Habiba, My Habiba

By: Robert Fai

Narrated by: Erique Tranz

"His fleshless skin drives the couple into fear of if they will die soon from AIDS."

Ferdi, a young man hailing from Shangkwa, Cameroon, a town recently ravaged by the HIV epidemic, moves to Nigeria in hopes of earning enough to marry Janie, his love from his hometown. However, upon reaching Nigeria, he encounters some unexpected feelings which lead to certain unforeseen events for his lifetime—all when he ends up meeting a woman with a tragic past named Habiba.

With the threat of STDs looming on the horizon, will Ferdi be able to build a happy family with any of the two women he’s involved with? Will his marriage with any of his love interests stay successful? Or will it only start a chapter full of miseries and misfortunes for the couple?

Filled with twists, incredible world-building, and true-to-life characters, this is a tale unlike any other.

©2022 Robert D. Fai (P)2022 Robert D. Fai

This good African story is a must-read, and I stro

The Novel Habiba, my Habiba by Robert Fai, narrates the story of a young Cameroonian man Ferdi Rhokah, who, after failing to acquire the much-cherished education his family had looked up to him to receive, returns to his hometown Shangkwa feeling rejected. The events leading to his father’s death distract him from knowing what his relatives think of him. So, he quickly proposes marriage to a young woman Ogi Janie when the chance presents itself and leaves for greener pastures across the borders to neighboring Nigeria. The story depicts the usual hurdles families encounter when a loved one leaves home, and the experiences of Ferdi Rhokah in his new immigrant community will resonate with many young men who promise marriage to a loved one home only to realize that such promises can not likely be kept. This good African story is a must-read, and I strongly recommend it to lovers of African Literature.