African Love Stories

So I went on a little shopping spree yesterday, what can I say mamma need a new selection of books. So I ordered about eight books, but out of all the eight I have got to admit I was particularly excited about one, that being; "African Love Stories" which is an anthology (a literary collection of short stories) edited by Ama Ata Aidoo  (who is going to be in conversation at the Conference Centre, British Library on Sat 12 Jul 2014, 18.30-20.00). So me being the eager reader I am, I ordered the books on next day delivery. Its about 12:50pm right now, the post man arrived at about 11am and I have read about a third of the anthology, it started of as just reading the introduction, then one entry, then two ... and well you know the rest. I literally had to force myself to put it down so I can get on with other things I had planned for my day. This anthology interestingly ties back to my first entry where I discussed the idea of relating to either the protagonist or other characters within a text. Even Ama feels like it too! She makes an interesting point in her introduction; 

"Meanwhile for the average,black female, young or adult, the reality was truly unspeakable. Since there was no black versions of even these romances, she was expected to identify with the white heroine!"    (p.viii)

Aidoo makes this point in relation to the love stories that exist both in the western canon such as "Romeo and Juliet" and more modern texts such as Mills and boons texts. She highlights that often texts such as African Love Stories are not promoted and black women are left without a heroine to relate too.

So basically I am thinking the reason why I am slightly obsessed with this text is because I think I believe I can relate to the characters? Because they are black ... sounds a tad silly doesn't it when I say it like that? Well I think that is how I felt when I began reading the text but after reading a few stories, I don't think the latter is true... even with their skin colour closer to mine that what of Juliet's would have been, I am still not content.  From the few stories I have read the stories are about slightly older women who are coming from abroad marrying white men and going back to the homeland with them and basically working through their issues. Whilst there are aspects of these texts I can relate too, I cannot fully , because in the country where they feel foreign and are considered foreign, I feel at home. Nevertheless this anthology is still amazing, it gives a chance for colonial relationship problems to be put forward and discussed such as collisions of culture and their effect of the relationships of inter-racial couples.  I would say from what I have read so far if your looking for a twist on the usual canonical love story, this is the book for you. I would rate this book  3 and half stars. So check it out. 

F.

(2/07/2014)