Cowries Of Hope By Binwell Sinyangwe

Reading African novels is one way of being inspired by the culture and the socialization of the norms and the values they exhibit. A Cowries of Hope is the recent African novel which I have read for information and entertainment. It is an interesting story written by Binwell Sinyangwe. For him, being a citizen of Zambia, he designates the setting by propounding African values and beauty. It is quite an undisputable fact that the plot of the story is well organized, captivated and its themes are subjects of discussion all day long.

The protagonist Nasula lifespan portrays in the novel reveals that a Cowries of Hope is nothing but a tragic-comedy. The beauty and quality of the whole story connote her constant predicament from her matrimonial home till the stolen off her bag of beans at the market. Until recently my fiancé devoted her time to read the 149 pages of the book than she credited me for being specific in my book review.

Binwell has been so objective in choosing Nasula , the leading character whose life has been so dejected throughout the legend. One can just imagine such a beautiful girl who got married to a good looking young man Winebo which, for not too long, were blessed with a nice baby girl Sula. Nasula was happy with the birth of the first female child and anticipates how brilliant she must become in the near future. She just prospects the end of her plight by the time her first daughter Sula is well educated and gainfully employed. But how best has this dream been materialized?

The tragedy happens a few years later when Winelo, her dear good looking concerned husband was gunned down by police. It is described in the novel that Winelo was suspected to have been involved in theft case for which he is chased and shot dead together with some other three men.

Nasula's predicament begins and rises to its highest climax by the time her dear husband breathes his last. Though he writes a will in favor of Sula with respect to money and property, his family members consider it not. She is rather accused of being responsible for her husband's death. It is quite unfortunate people of Zambia still exhibit this heinous crime against innocent women. Misery and anguish have extremely embraced Nasula's life in such a magnitude that her good days are nothing but hell.

I really appreciate the way Nasula considers her daughter's education a serious one. Despite the fact that Nasula suffers for quite fortnight after the death of her husband, she still has a fervent hope for her daughter's success in senior high school. Nobody ever empathizes nor consoles her after the death of her husband except one benevolent woman Nalukwi. Nalukwi has been so nice to her since the birth of Sula. She loves her very much and she dare not live one day without letting Sula sit on her lap. Nasula has self-esteemed so as one can vividly describe her as one of the industrious and courageous women in Zambia community as portrayed by Binwell in the novel.

The setting, Zambia, gives us a clear description of the lifestyle exhibited by the people living in the sub-Sahara of Africa. Binwell verifies the socio-economic and cultural life of the people living in Zambia. We got to know the major crops grown in that part the globe which is beans. Binwell describes Nasula as a woman whose destiny lies solely on pitiable achievement. She never rests till the last minute of her predicament

Perhaps, the most interesting part of the whole story is that people use physical appearance to deceive the less endowed people in public. I am amazed when I discovered the fictitious act of Gode Silavwe at the market. He deliberately dupes Nasula of that bag of beans, which was giving to her by Nalukwi with the view to supporting her daughter's education at the senior high school. Hardly does one witness someone like Nasula, tiptoeing the whole market in search of an unscrupulous man who hoodwinks her of a bag of beans, which is the only asset she possesses for hope. Her role played has been highly recommended in the African community.

Gode Silavwe whose aim is to lure poor market women of the little beans they carry for sale in order for them to take care of their family is one of the unfortunate characters established by Binwell. Criminals are rarely identified. Gode always dresses decently, eats at the latest restaurant, sleeps in classic hotels and has prominent people as a companion.

There is great moral lesson reading this novel than mere entertaining. Nasula never gets frustrated. Though many people, with an excessive description of Gode's nefarious behaviour as regards ploy and arrogant, she has never been dispirited to continue searching for him till his arrested and detained by the inspector of police.

Binwell criticizes the society, not only the people of Zambia but Africa as a continent. We always notice people in public service displaying the act of corruption in various offices which are well discussed in this novel.

I am informed by Binwell that a police officer was, on numerous occasions victimized by Gode's bribe at the police station. This, on many attempts, failed to bring Gode, the culprit to book. How long should the public continue enduring this unscrupulous act of criminals at the expense of bribing?

The inspector of police, Samson Luhila discourages the differences that happened on the part of his subordinate and promise to probe into those activities critically before the situation becomes ingrain. Nonetheless, Nasula was relieved of tension, since she was reimbursed of the swindle bag of beans imposed by the inspector of police.

No sooner did you read a Cowrie of Hope written by Binwell Sinyangwe and follow the plot of the tale step by step than you would be certain of Nasula's real adventure and success.