Segu

This was a long read reminiscent of Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude but not really the same.  Segu by Maryse Conde follows an African clan (thank goodness for the chart illustrating the family tree, as this one was confusing!) and captures the challenges of religion, slavery, and family strife through a few generations.  The remote kingdom of Segu is nestled between Barnako, Bani, and Mourdia.  The story

takes place in the 18^th through the early 19^th century and shows the beginning of the Muslim religion impacting a Christian focused region.  Dousika, the leader of the tribe, has five wives during his lifetime and many offspring.  The book focuses on the male lineage, most notably the sons of his wife #1 Nya (Tiekoro & Naba), wife #3 (an unnamed slave who commits suicide) with an offspring named Siga, and wife #4 Sira (offspring Malobali).  The son’s lives cross throughout the years either in the area of Segu, or when a few leave the territory for religious exploration.  Dousika’s younger brother, future leader of the tribe, Diemogo, also has many offspring, but two, Tiefolo and Kosa, from his second wife, Dousika’s first wife Nya.  Tiefolo is a natural hunter and comes to blows with a few of Dousika’s sons, most notably Tiekoro.  Each of the sons have their own journeys to travel all leading back to Segu and facing the onslaught of the slave trade to the West and religious choice.  The story has many themes, male domination, religious tolerance and acceptance, tribal traditions and holding on to the past, yet feeling the challenge of the day.  Having the family tree on the first page was critical to keeping things straight.  A lot of mixture of this one marrying this one, and this one having this one’s baby.  A good insight into the life of African tribal cultures though it did drone on a bit.  The picture painted was vivid of the day, the author did a great deal of research on the family tree, a real family!  The reader needs to stay focused on the names and issues for each family member.  Women had a diminished role, certainly subservient to the male leadership.  On the fence on this one.  Liked it, but could have been a bit less repetitive.   Certainly a culture influenced book for this RA.  Everything has its reason for happening, just a bit too much to this tale. Not on my top ten list!