A long way from Douala

Important issues of violence, terrorism, homosexuality and migration feature in ‘Far From Douala’ , the first publication in English of a work by Max Lob, an important new voice in African writing. On the trail of Roger, a brother who has gone north in search of football fame in Europe, Choupi, the narrator, takes with him the older Simon, a neighbourhood friend. The bus trip north nearly ends in disaster when, at a pit stop, Simon goes wandering in search of grilled caterpillars. At the police station in Yaound, the local cop tells them that a feckless boza who wants to go to Europe is not worth police effort and their mother should go and fuck the police chief if she wants help! Through a series of joyful sparky vignettes, Cameroon life is revealed in all its ups and downs. Issues of life and death are raised but the tone remains light and edgy.