The Fishermen (Obioma novel)

The Fishermen is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma, published in 2015. The novel follows four brothers in a quiet neighbourhood of a Nigerian town, who are given a violent prophecy which shakes their family to the core. It is set in the 1990s, during the rule of Sani Abacha.[1]

The Fishermen
AuthorChigozie Obioma
LanguageEnglish
PublisherLittle, Brown and Company
Publication date
April, 2015
Media typePrint
ISBN978-0-316-33837-0

It was shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize.[2][3][4] The novel received a number of accolades, and positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Four brothers, Ikenna, Boja, Obembe, and Benjamin, begin to fish at the Omi-Ala river near their home in a quiet neighbourhood of the city of Akure in Nigeria, despite being forbidden from doing so by their parents, as the river is heavily polluted. On one of their fishing trips, they encounter a local madman, Abulu, who follows them shouting the name of Ikenna, the oldest brother. The other children flee, but the four brothers stop to listen, as Abulu shouts a series of prophecies: that Ikenna will become blind, mute, crippled. He finishes by prophesying that Ikenna will be killed by a fisherman. Ikenna thinks this means that one of his brothers will kill him, and he gradually turns against them. The prophecy undoes the family and the expectations the brothers' parents have for them.

Development and writing

Obioma has seven brothers and four sisters, and wrote the novel as a tribute to his siblings.[5] Two of Obioma's brothers fought violently when they were children, and Obioma was inspired by what he imagined was the worst possible outcome of those fights.[5]

Reception and criticism

The novel has garnered comparisons to Things Fall Apart in part due to the central role prophecy has in each novel.[6] However, some critics disputed the validity of the comparisons.[7] It also references the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, and has been referred to as a "retelling" of the story.[6][8]

Multiple critics referred to the novel as a bildungsroman given that it is told from the perspective of one brother, and charts his youth.[9][10]

References
  1. Fiammetta, Rocco (14 April 2015). "'The Fishermen,' by Chigozie Obioma". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  2. "Pulitzer winner makes Booker Prize shortlist". BBC News. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  3. Sharp, Naomi (8 October 2015). "Man Booker Shortlist 2015: The Fishermen". The Atlantic. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  4. Martin, Tim (24 September 2015). "The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma, review: 'full-force'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  5. Curtin, Amanda (23 February 2015). "2, 2 and 2: Chigozie Obioma talks about The Fishermen". looking up/looking down. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  6. Tsouderos, Trine (14 April 2015). "Review: 'The Fishermen' by Chigozie Obioma". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  7. Morosetti, Tiziana (9 October 2015). "Review: The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma". The Conversation. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  8. Twidle, Hedley (15 September 2015). "Making myths: Chigozie Obioma's The Fishermen". The New Statestman. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  9. "Fathers and sons". The Economist. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  10. Habila, Helon (13 March 2015). "The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma review – four brothers and a terrible prophecy". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
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