Ancestor Stones

Ancestor Stones explains the brutalities of life as an African during the age of gaining independence, Aminatta Forna utilizes several different narrators (all female) to convey the many different emotions and experiences felt by all of those affected.

Ancestor Stones begins when Abie (a young African woman) leaves England and to assume control of her family's coffee plantation in Sierra Leone. When Abie reaches her destination, she is met with a small village (much different than her life in England) and her aunts; Asana, Mary, Hawa and Serah. Throughout the novel she learns stories of the past that explain why and how her aunts and their country have chnaged over the years. Oh yeah, did I mention that each aunt was born to a different wife of Abie’s wealthy grandfather? (I can't help but think of these women as Hadji's children from Xala...)

This trip home ultimately proves to be a very enlightening experience for Abie, she is given authentic stories from the past that shed new light on her aunts and Sierra Leone as a whole. The different sections of the book are composed of tales of rivalrous co-wives, life in a patriarchal society, and old religions challenged by Islamic and Christian religions. However, for as many "old stories" they tell and reflect upon, the women also provide modern stories that contain a lot of relevance and explanation of life in the "new africa". The aunts discuss European-owned mining companies, the oppressive (and culturally repressive) nature of mission schools, corrupt elections, and the new genearation of postcolonial Africans. Even though I loved all of these stories and did find relevance within all of their experiences, I did find the text to be a little disjointed at times...it seems like each of the stories could stand alone as I wasnt really picking up on the connection or commonality between them on a familial level.

One scene that stood out to me as truely posessing the essence of the work was during the refugee camp portion. It takes place in a camp where refugees have been waiting a long time for a shipment of food to arrive, but when the crates are opened, it becomes apparent that there has been a mix-up and the box is full of lipsticks. Sections like this are what made me really appreciate Ancestor Stones, and really just the unwaivering strength of Africans over the years, even during the extreme desperation of war these women still attempt to hold onto moments of joy, even if its through the smallest things.