The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
2007 – Jump at the Sun/Hyperian Books
Fiction – young adult
The Shadow Speaker is Okorafor’s second novel and the first book I’ve read by her. Although it was written and marketed specifically for young adults, it is an excellent read for adults as well.
Set in West Africa in 2070, The Shadow Speaker tells the story of Ejii, a teenager who bears the burden and blessing of being magical and having a role in saving the five worlds. In Ejii’s time, Earth has changed dramatically, including widespread magical abilities and openings to and migrations between different worlds. As a young girl, Ejii witnesses her tyrannical father beheaded by Jaa the Red Queen, who rules her village and is known for a ruthless pursuit of justice. Despite mixed feelings, Ejii’s communication with the shadows pushes her to follow Jaa towards confrontation with the leader of Ginen, a world vastly different from Earth. Along the way to Ginen, Ejii learns how to use her powers better and meets a new companion, Dikéogu, who is a runaway slave and a rain maker. After arriving in Ginen for what was supposed to be sort of peace conference, Ejii discovers that Jaa had no intention of compromising with the Ginen leader Chief Ette, nor did Chief Ette have any intention of peace. Ejii uses her newfound strengths to stop the beginnings of war and cause a pact to be signed by both sides to ensure cooperation.
The theme of The Shadow Speaker is best summed up after the pact is signed when Ejii tells Dikéogu
A taste for war eventually becomes an appetite.
The need to seek for cooperative and peaceful solutions to the problems that are created by an ever-changing world and mix of different peoples is a valuable lesson. Okorafor succeeds so well in promoting this message because she does not lie that it is easy to do, nor that it is simplistic.
With great detail and imaginative descriptions, Okorafor’s writing is lush, colorful and vivid. The Shadow Speaker is a pleasurable read, even as it causes you to think about the future and your part in creating it.
***
The next review will be of Okorafor’s first adult novel, Who Fears Death. You may also like to check out her first YA novel Zahrah the Windseeker.
