Mema

In this debut novella, Daniel Mengara captures the incredible story of a Gabonese mother that refuses to give in to Western influences nor the unjust pressures of her village. At its core, Mema is an unforgettable tale about resilience and a culture in transition.

In the eyes of her son, Mema is an incredible and formidable woman. However, with an intimidatingly sharp tongue and an stubborn grasp on her principles, she frequently provokes outrage in her village. So when her husband does the unthinkable and turns violent, her neighbours refuse to help, choosing instead to believe that her misfortunes must be brought upon herself.

Matters take a turn for the worse when her husband is unexpectedly found dead - and Mema is the main suspect. It quickly becomes clear that she must fight tooth and nail to be believed or she risks losing custody over her children for good.

In this profound and touching tale, Daniel Mengara brings to life the changing customs and beliefs of a rural Gabonese village, interweaving prose with traditional oral storytelling.