The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
This is a book told from multiple perspectives about the death of a young person named Vivek/Nnemdi. Vivek dies on the first page of the book and throughout the book the reader is trying to find out how Vivek died. Vivek/Nnemdi is thought to be a boy by his family but as he grows older he increasingly presents himself as a woman – wearing dresses and growing out her hair.
This is a one of a kind book that deals with the expressions of gender in an African, and specifically a Nigerian context. The book addresses topics of homosexuality, platonic and romatic forms of love. A wonderful novel by an author who has in recent years become a force to reckon with on the literary scene.
