ADI OF BOUTANGA

When a 13-year-old Cameroonian Muslim girl faces the prospect of early marriage, her parents find a way to help her continue her education instead.

Adi’s people, the Mbororos, are nomadic herders who move from village to village. Adi loves attending school, swimming in the river, and making dolls for her younger sisters. But her happy existence is threatened when her uncle Amadou announces that Adi is now a woman, and it’s time for her to marry, like the other girls in her village. Her parents object, but per Mbororo custom, the eldest son must be obeyed, so they hatch a plan to sneak Adi out of town. Adi is sad to leave her family, but she knows that she’ll be safer at Mama Ly’s school in Boutanga. There, she becomes accustomed to a new life with other girls. The author’s note and backmatter offer more information about life in Cameroon. Translated from French by the author, the straightforward prose speaks to a young girl’s joys and fears while also giving readers a sense of life in Adi’s village, such as the effects of modernization as people take on new jobs. Adi has a memorable voice, and readers will be heartened to see how her family’s creative problem-solving results in positive change. The text is set against patterned backgrounds, adding visual interest; Daniau’s stylized, richly hued illustrations help the narrative come alive.

A vivid account of Cameroonian village life.