(Reviewed by JD Jung)
I have never been to Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria and actually, the largest city in the entire African continent. In fact, I have never been anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. That said, I enjoyed the unique stories in one of the latest in the Akashic Noir Series, Lagos Noir.
Though these thirteen short stories by Nigerian authors are divided into three sections, many stories could cross into multiple sections. Part I “Cops & Robbers“ features stories in which sides are blurred in a city filled with crooked cops. Part II “In A Family Way” characterizes issues of a inter-personal nature, and the shorter Part III “Departures” focuses on travelers and immigrants including Liberian refugees.
I felt it helpful to read the Introduction first to learn the history and a brief feel for the culture of Lagos.
As I finished each story, I couldn’t wait to read the next. My favorite story is in Part II, “What Are You Going to Do?” by Adebola Rayo . This focuses on a young woman sick of her job and being manipulated and feeling mistreated. She seeks revenge to gain a sense of power over multiple adversaries, though it will appear to have no effect on the outcome of her life.
Some readers may not consider this collection as “noir” in the traditional sense. The individual plots feature noir themes such as political corruption and self-destructive characters, while the writing styles are quite different. However Lagos Noir captures a dark, fatalistic and often helpless mood of a city that “makes New York feel like a small town.”
Since I have never visited Lagos I can’t verify how close the stories are to real life. However, I relished the journey to a faraway land with a distinct culture along with universal themes. I think readers will also enjoy this one.
