14th Book: When the Plums Are Ripe by Patrice Nganang
The second volume in a magisterial trilogy, the story of Cameroon caught between empires during World War II
In Cameroon, plum season is a highly anticipated time of year. But for the narrator of When the Plums Are Ripe, the poet Pouka, the season reminds him of the “time when our country had discovered the root not so much of its own violence as that of the world’s own, and, in response, had thrown its sons who at that time were called Senegalese infantrymen into the desert, just as in the evenings the sellers throw all their still-unsold plums into the embers.” In this novel of radiant lyricism, Patrice Nganang recounts the story of Cameroon’s forced entry into World War II, and in the process complicates our own understanding of that globe-spanning conflict. After the fall of France in 1940, Cameroon found itself caught between Vichy and the Free French at a time when growing nationalism advised allegiance to neither regime, and was ultimately dragged into fighting throughout North Africa on behalf of the Allies.
Moving from Pouka’s story to the campaigns of the French general Leclerc and the battles of Kufra and Murzuk, Nganang questions the colonial record and recenters African perspectives at the heart of Cameroon’s national history, all the while writing with wit and panache. When the Plums Are Ripe is a brilliantly crafted, politically charged epic that challenges not only the legacies of colonialism but the intersections of language, authority, and history itself.
[Abstract]
Author’s website - Patrice Nganang: https://nganang.com/writing-for-change/
The sequence for the trilogy that this book is a part of, is as follows:
Mount Pleasant (2016)
When the Plums Are Ripe (2019)
A Trail of Crab Tracks (2023)
As we explored this book, we also watched and discussed the following videos:
The forgotten role of Africans fighting in the Second World War from DW News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcIFhN1z03o
The Story Nobody Expects: Patrice Nganang on African Narratives (Part 1) presented by the Story-Warrior - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d1iEYKibOY
The Story Nobody Expects: Patrice Nganang on African Narratives (Part 2) presented by the Story-Warrior - https://youtu.be/sndUm0bIpYE?si=mP99iJJrJn1WhNM_
Patrice Nganang - The African Scholar Who Refused to Let the West Write His Story presented by Marc Lamont Hill - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRkjbNcxNnw
Professor Patrice Nganang Speaks Revolution of Ambazonia - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VZMIH-sqQY
Highlights from our gatherings discussing the book:
One member noted that this book does a good job at putting a light on issues in society. Now being in the middle of the part of the book, you can see the dark side of humanity and how some people are so vulnerable and how others take advantage of it.
Many members they are in a nice rhythm with the book and enjoying the author’s writing style and are looking forward to reading the other books that are in this trilogy.
Some members felt that it takes the author awhile to get to the point where the characters are in the midst of the war and thought that the book was focused on Africans in the war so there should be more of that earlier in the book. On the other side, there were many who enjoyed the writing approach as-is. This led to the group having a really nice discussion about whether the war is the focal point of the story versus the characters and life of the villagers and Pouka’s overall story and interactions and relationships and the war is not a main character necessarily but almost like a background character.
Some members noted that this book brought to light that it is important to tell your own story. We hear so many stories of World War II and never hear about Africa’s involvement. And this brought up the discussion that if you do not tell your story then someone else will tell it and wont tell it right. And also brought up the discussion how african immigrants and the world are told how lazy african American are and you come to realize this is just another lie.
Some members noted that they really like the theme of community and relationships. And pointed out the strength of the women in the community and how they came together. On the other hand, other members noted that they also noticed instances of not trusting, self doubting and how it prevented the people from successfully coming together for the good of the whole.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All the members agreed that they would recommend the book. It is educational, thought provoking and well-written. And yes while we recommend this book for Africans and the diaspora, this is also for every nationality and country and should be read by all in the same manner that every nationality is aware of historical and historical fiction books by Europeans and Caucasians.
All the members agreed the author is a good story-teller and good at bringing in the nuances of how day to day life forms the character and contributes to the story.
Some members noted that the author is a very good storyteller and writer and does a good job at putting the african people as the focal point independent of the Europeans and westerners. Yes they are part of the story but not in a way that overshadows the african characters.