Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publications Africa, 2010.

174 pages. Paperback.

Price: $9.

An anthology of 20 contemporary African stories, this book holds the mirror up to the ongoing conflict between traditional African beliefs and an often over-westernised version of Christianity. The title story argues that this century belongs to Africa whose cohorts of graduates from Cape to Cairo are already staking their claim. In “Touch”, Petronilla Kidakwa revisits a time-honoured Luhya marriage custom, sadly forgotten by many urbanized Kenyans, while in contrast, “The Love Potion” seems to celebrate — or lament — a dubious Kamba tradition. Two other contrasting stories are the “Rite to Name” whose hero is Owino Ochieng and “Over the Mountain”, whose ’shero’ is American-educated Dr Maria Macharia in whom there’s not even a shred of religious dualism.

“This book should be in every library” – East African Theologian, Rev Laurenti Magesa.

The book is available by e-mail from distribution@paulinesafrica.org

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