Achakasara

by John Nkemngong Nkengasong

A new-born child is rescued from a refuse bin in Acacias in the Biyem-Assi neighbourhood and adopted by a couple who treat him like their real-born child.But things turn out to be different as Acha, the legendary boy, goes through a series of galling circumstances at home and later in the streets, wondering why the world is the way it is and who his real parents are.
Although John Nkemngong Nkengasong's principal concern in the novel Achakasara, is on the plight of street children,the novel also lays bare the crude realities of the contemporary society beset with unwanted pregnancies, parental irresponsibility, inhuman relations,segregation, robbery, juvenile delinquency and corruption. Significantly, Nkengasong manipulates the element of magical realism to create order in the rather debauched society.

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

John Ngosong Nkemngong Nkengasong (1959 – 11 June 2023) was a Cameroonian playwright, novelist, poet and scholar.

Reviews

[KHAN SENIOR]

For how many years ..I get to finally read this novel once more

[Clivemichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging story, told with an objective eye to exposing the reality of contemporary Cameroonian life in the city. Written in dialect English with occasional pidgin and French expressions throughout there is a stilted feel to the narrative along with the challenging (to me) use of some words and expressions.