It is a story of street children in the chaotic slums of Accra the capital of Ghana and although it ends with a hopeful resolution for one child, the novel leaves an indelible impression that there is no future for thousands of others. Faceless begins in a slum cynically christened Sodom and Gomorrah with year-old Fofo narrowly escaping rape by Poison, a Street Lord and local thug.
The scene then shifts abruptly to the middle-class life of Kabria, a good-hearted researcher for MUTE, an NGO which is a repository for alternate stories not found in books. Kabria is harassed by her demanding children and a bone-idle husband who expects his wife to wait on him even though she is in full time work as well.
Like her older sister Baby T. Baby T. They enlist the help of Sylv from a community radio station, and together they confront the shocking truth about Baby T. Part of the achievement of this book is the insight into the complexities underlying street life. Maa Tsuro is a victim of her own fecundity and the widespread belief that women are better off with a bad man than the shame of not being wanted. She is illiterate and unemployed and she falls for sweet-talking men who hint at regular income but tragically for her children these men turn out to be more than just losers taking advantage of her.
Kpakpo sexually abuses Baby T. And she is just one child of many. These contrasts lighten the mood and make reading the book a bearable experience. Every year this review gets thousands of hits, obviously from students studying Faceless as a set text. Print copies are horribly expensive at Fishpond and similar online stores Faceless so although I hate supporting That Big Behemoth I bought this one for the Kindle.
A wonderful and deeply insightful review, Lisa. And I think your suggestions is very laudable one. Like Liked by 1 person. By: readinpleasure on December 2, at am. Like Like.
