Stephen Buoro’s The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa is a vibrant and ambitious debut novel that introduces readers to Andrew Aziza, a 15-year-old Nigerian navigating the complexities of identity, adolescence, and a fractured world. Andrew, nicknamed “Andy Africa” by his enthusiastic maths teacher Zahrah, despises the label as much as the continent he longs to escape. Yet Zahrah, who sees Africa as the cradle of future greatness, believes Andy could be its savior—a sentiment he struggles to reconcile with his own dreams and insecurities.
Buoro, a former maths teacher and current PhD candidate in creative-critical writing, crafts a narrative shaped by the structure of the Five Sorrowful Mysteries, a set of Catholic prayers reflecting on Christ’s suffering and death. This framework cleverly propels Andy’s story through a tumultuous period that reshapes his life. The novel opens with “The Agony in the Garden” and concludes with “The Crucifixion,” creating a thematic resonance that mirrors the trials of its young protagonist.
The strength of the novel lies in Buoro’s vivid prose, which captures the immediacy of Andy’s world with striking imagery and dynamic scenes. Everyday moments, like sitting on a worn-out sofa or feeling the heat of the sun, pulse with life, drawing readers into the heart of Nigeria. Through Andy’s eyes, we see not only his personal struggles but also the larger tensions of a nation divided by religion, poverty, and unfulfilled promise.
This is as much Andy’s story as it is a portrait of his tight-knit circle of friends—Morocco, a brash aspiring rapper grappling with fatherhood at 16, and Slim, a talented artist haunted by the risks of being openly gay in a conservative society. Alongside them, Andy wrestles with questions of identity, longing, and escape. His obsession with white women, epitomized by Eileen, the blonde niece of a visiting British priest, underscores both his internalized frustrations and his yearning for something unattainable.
The novel deftly incorporates themes of Afrofuturism, animism, and the influence of Western culture. Zahrah’s concept of “Anifuturism” merges Africa’s animist roots with futuristic aspirations, offering an intriguing backdrop to Andy’s internal debates. These intellectual digressions, while rich, occasionally meander, slowing the narrative’s pace. Yet, this does not overshadow the novel’s poignant moments or its bold ambition.
Buoro juxtaposes Andy’s youthful bravado and wit with a poignant awareness of Nigeria’s struggles. His poetic musings, intertwined with conversations with his stillborn brother Ydna, reveal a teenager torn between frustration and hope, bluster and vulnerability. Through Andy’s eyes, the reader experiences the tension between a desire for escape and an unspoken connection to a “cursed land.”
While the novel’s pacing falters in some places, its charm and originality shine through. Andy’s voice is both authentic and magnetic, carrying the weight of the story with humor, pathos, and unflinching honesty. By the end, as Zahrah encourages Andy to embrace the potential of his life, it feels as if she’s also speaking to Buoro himself—a writer whose bold debut is a call to dream big and rewrite the narratives of identity and belonging. The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa is a captivating exploration of youth, faith, and the resilience of the human spirit, leaving readers eager for what Buoro will deliver next.
Learn more about the Stephen Buoro here.
