Chaucer’s Book Talk and Signing: Afabwaje Kurian

Monday, November 18, 2024 6 PM

Chaucer’s Hosts Afabwaje Kurian for an in-store book talk and signing of her new release Before the Mango Ripens.  Joining the author in conversation is Lisa Stewart.

Description –  Set against the backdrop of 1970s Nigeria teetering between post-colonial dependency and self-rule, Before the Mango Ripens examines the enduring themes of faith, disillusionment, and the search for belonging. Both epic and intimate, Afabwaje Kurian’s debut announces a brilliant new talent for readers of Imbolo Mbue and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

In Rabata, everyone has secrets–especially since the arrival of the white American missionaries.

Twenty-year-old Jummai is a beautiful and unassuming house girl whose dreams of escaping her home life are disrupted when an unexpected pregnancy forces her to hide her lover’s identity. Tebeya, an ambitious Dublin-educated doctor, has left prestigious opportunities abroad to return to the small town of her birth, and discovers a painful betrayal when she strives to take control of the mission clinic. Zanya is a young translator, enticed by promises of progress, who comes to Rabata to escape a bitter past and finds himself embroiled in a fight against the American reverend for the heart of the church and town.

United by their yearning for change, all three must make difficult decisions that threaten the fragile relationships of the Rabata they know. As tensions mount and hypocrisies are unveiled, the people of Rabata are faced with a question that will transform their town forever: Let the Americans stay, or make them go?

 About the Author  – Afabwaje Kurian received her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.  Her short fiction has been published in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Callaloo, Crazyhorse, The Bare Life Review, and Joyland Magazine. She has taught creative writing at the University of Iowa, for the International Writing Program, and for The Writer’s Center.  She has received residencies and fellowships from Ucross, Vermont Studio Center, and Ragdale.Born in Jos, Nigeria, and raised in Maryland and Ohio, Afabwaje now divides her time between Washington D.C. and the Midwest.  Before the Mango Ripens (Dzanc Books) is her debut novel.

About the Interviewer  – Lisa Stewart, a Virginia native, has found her passion in California’s diverse tapestry of culture, nature, and art. With seven years of calling the Golden State home, she has immersed herself in its beauty and vibrancy. A dedicated dancer, Lisa finds joy in the power of movement and expression. Her commitment to fostering inclusivity and belonging drives her work as an administrator at UCSB, where she strives to create a welcoming and equitable community for all.