(reviewed by JD Jung)
“In this concrete jungle, the hunters and herders live on. As do the hunted…”
This summarizes the essence of Nairobi Noir, a collection of fourteen stories released early this year from the Akashic Noir Series.
In addition to themes of crime, these stories highlight various perspectives on history, culture, race, politics, and religion. This is partially because the writers’ ages range from twenty-four to eighty-four. However, a common thread amplifies common noir themes such as political corruption and dirty police. As with the other books in the Noir series, each story is noted by the related district in the city, along with a map of the area.
Characters include diverse populations such as Somalian refugees, European settlers, and Indian immigrants. No matter what the background, each protagonist is multi-dimensional.
Though most of the stories are noteworthy, my favorite is “A Song From a Forgotten Place” by Troy Onyango. He introduces us to Claudette, a homeless, cocaine addicted mother of infant twins. We learn about her life through her perspective as she recounts her unfortunate past filled with sorrow along with her hopes and dreams. Still, the story embodies the noir themes that I described earlier, which is a feat in itself. This chilling story stayed with me for days.
Admittedly I have never visited Nairobi (or anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa, for that matter). This was an experience of a distinct culture along with universal themes shared by most societies.
I recommend Nairobi Noir to readers who not only wish to learn about a region, but also those who appreciate stories that capture a dark, fatalistic, and often helpless mood of a city.
