I Am The Mau

These 11 short stories are set in Kenya based on a range of experiences and complex characters. The best thing about reading this anthology is how much I learnt about African culture. The glossary at the end of this novel is really helpful and informative. I also found I spent a lot of time googling various traditions and places where stories were set.

For me, the most intriguing stories were those based on traditions and culture which are different from my own. The most engaging story for me was ‘A Fire for Mother’. Here I learnt of the customs around marriage between two women. This marriage is an interesting concept when thinking about Africa and their traditional views around marriage between two women. This tradition is called Kilalmat, where a wealthy woman who is childless or has no sons can marry another woman in hopes of getting a male heir which therefore starts her lineage.

I would incorporate this into teaching using the written text My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite and pair this with ‘An Infusion of Masala Tea’ as it discusses the role of men, marriage and expectations of women. It relates to the themes of generational abuse through marriage and you can look at how the characters between the two stories react to this.

Overall, I found the writing provided vivid descriptions that held the attention of the audience. It also helps show ākonga in Aotearoa lives which are different and similar to their own. This can help them build empathy and understanding of other cultures and beliefs.

Note: Some sensitive topics including terrorism, domestic abuse and forced marriage.