by Hollie Nielsen, AWC Central Scotland/AWC London
How Beautiful We Were, by Imbolo Mbue, is a story mainly about environmental degradation, but education plays an important role. Set in the fictional African village of Kosawa, it tells us of the catastrophic effects of oil spills and river pollution on the land and on the people of Kosawa. Children die from poisoned water, and farmland becomes infertile. One girl, Thula, receives a scholarship to study in America, where her academic knowledge increases greatly, as well as her ability to organize protests and rallies. She returns to Kosawa and tries to make the exploitative American oil company pay restitution to the people of Kosawa. Years and years pass without the oil company being held responsible, and the corrupt African government also does nothing to help Kosawa. The tragic consequences of the environmental disaster and the effects on the villagers last for generations. This was a very sobering, difficult read; the book is well written and told in several voices.The details of life in the village are fascinating.
