Safe Return Doubtful

translated from the Spanish (Equatorial Guinea) by Lawrence Schimel

Obono’s short, hundred page, novel is the first from and Equatorial Guinea woman to be translated into English. As well as the absorbing story it tells, it provides an insight into the life of the Fang tribe in remote Guinea.

Okomo is an orphan who lives with her grandparents. At the age of 16 she becomes inquisitive to find out who her father is. Her grandparents are intent on her marrying, the only family member she can relate to is her Uncle Marcelo, himself repressed by village life and the demands of Fang culture. He is expected to impregnate a woman, but due to his lengthy hesitation the villagers have started to call him a ‘man-woman’ and soon he is ostracised to the forest as more question his sexuality.

As she matures Okomo develops feelings for a girl of her age. The bond between her and her uncle strengthens.

These are the 2000s, though the story of a young person becoming aware of their sexuality could easily be one from more developed Western countries from years earlier.

Unique as it is in its heritage, this is a stand out piece of LGBT literature that deserves recognition.

My GoodReads score 4 / 5