Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi tells the story of two African families, one Asante and the other Fante, starting in eighteenth-century Ghana. Two half-sisters, one from each family, are related, but neither is aware of the other. The novel traces the parallel paths, actions, and happenings of these half-sisters and over 10 different descendants over eight generations and several hundred years, finally ending during the time of the Civil Rights Movement in America. For this reason, the novel isn’t a novel in the traditional sense; rather, it’s an overarching thread being told by little vignettes of each descendant’s life in each chapter. The novel itself expertly illustrates the legacy of slavery; its beginning, middle, and end, and the effects of that institution upon the characters.
Homegoing is an amazing novel. The author has done an excellent job in weaving in important historical events, such as the introduction of cacao as a major crop in Ghana, the Anglo-Asante wars, and slavery, segregation, and civil rights in America. But the book doesn’t just describe them; it integrates them into the vignettes itself, describing them from the viewpoint of an individual person involved in these major events. For example, the introduction of cacao is described as a pivotal event in determining whether a village will survive from the perspective of the inhabitants of the village. This, and other plot elements, make Homegoing an extremely engaging read. I highly recommend it!
Reviewed by Nitin S., 12th
