This is a story of fraternal twin brothers Mamo and LaMamo, who are close friends growing up in the small Nigerian village of Keti. Although both crave escape, success and fame, Mamo, who suffers from sickle-cell anemia, is forced to seek his fortune at home, whereas his brother LaMamo becomes a mercenary soldier traveling war-torn Africa. Mamo is clearly the primary character, but his true nature is difficult to understand, as he generally stands by doing and saying nothing. When he does act, it is often in negative or weak-willed ways that do not inspire the sympathy or admiration of the reader. The book is competently written, and includes many interesting details about the people of West Africa, their history and culture, however the plot often seems to wander aimlessly, as does Mamo himself. ( )

There is so much in this book, I'm not sure I will do it justice of any kind. It is a beautifully written book that mixes the modern novel form with traditional storytelling, it's narrative is rather melancholy. Set in the 1960s through the 1990s, it is the story of twin boys: Lamamo, who is strong and athletic, and Mamo who is sickly and studious. It is Mamo's point of view which eventually dominates. In it's telling the story of the twins; who are, by the way, aware that once they would have been seen as a bad omen and left in the jungle to die; the novel tells of Nigeria, even all of Africa.

Without giving too much away, the boys, so close growing up, go their separate ways as teens. Mamo, who suffers from sickle cell anemia, turns to study and becomes first a teacher, then a writer, and secretary to a local ruler. His writing career begins when, on request of a professor he had submitted a piece for a journal to, he is asked to write his own opinion of what good history writing is.

"...as far as he was concerned a true history is one that looks at the lives of individuals, ordinary people who toil and dream and suffer, who bear the brunt of whatever vicissitude time inflicts on the nation." p. 180

This is exactly what this novel does. ( )