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A review by bookish_abena
Aluta by Adwoa Badoe
Summary: Charlotte Adom just gained admission to the University of Science and Technology (currently The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) and life at the university is better than she dreamed of. She meets Mary-her sophisticated roommate. Mary introduces her to nightlife in Kumasi – parties, clubs and boyfriends. Charlotte actively joins student politics in school and finds herself in trouble – during the 1981 Coup d’etat period in Ghana.
Review: Aluta was a very easy, relatable and insightful read for me. Though I did not grow up during the time of the coup d’etat in the country, I grew up listening to stories from my parents. This book was an eye-opener in the sense that it transported me to the era of coup d’etat and how people lived through it.
I like that the book delved into student activism in Ghana’s politics. Large protest marches called Alutas organized by various Student Representative Councils (SRCs) bought about the change that Ghanaians desired – Democracy. I love a good history lesson in a storytelling form – this book nailed it right on the head.
The book explored prominent issues around education, governance, women leadership roles, student’s activism in Ghana’s politics, rape, parenting, love and friendship among others. Adwoa Badoe was real, honest and simple. The story took some time to fully capture my attention but after a few chapters, I was stuck on the pages like crazy.
I did not like how the story ended. (I will try not to give you spoilers). It could have been better – maybe a bit of love and good news in the end
Adwoa Badoe spiced up the story with Ghanaian words like Adinkrahene, Awo)shia, D)-me-a-bra, Kalabule etc. The book felt like home.
Note: Please don’t read this book if you are hungry – It felt like a cooking class on Ghanaian dishes.
Review: Aluta was a very easy, relatable and insightful read for me. Though I did not grow up during the time of the coup d’etat in the country, I grew up listening to stories from my parents. This book was an eye-opener in the sense that it transported me to the era of coup d’etat and how people lived through it.
I like that the book delved into student activism in Ghana’s politics. Large protest marches called Alutas organized by various Student Representative Councils (SRCs) bought about the change that Ghanaians desired – Democracy. I love a good history lesson in a storytelling form – this book nailed it right on the head.
The book explored prominent issues around education, governance, women leadership roles, student’s activism in Ghana’s politics, rape, parenting, love and friendship among others. Adwoa Badoe was real, honest and simple. The story took some time to fully capture my attention but after a few chapters, I was stuck on the pages like crazy.
I did not like how the story ended. (I will try not to give you spoilers). It could have been better – maybe a bit of love and good news in the end
Adwoa Badoe spiced up the story with Ghanaian words like Adinkrahene, Awo)shia, D)-me-a-bra, Kalabule etc. The book felt like home.
Note: Please don’t read this book if you are hungry – It felt like a cooking class on Ghanaian dishes.