THE ROAD TO THE COUNTRY

Junior Nyong'o's low-key narration is exactly what this mystical story demands. In the 1960s, during the brutal Biafran-Nigerian civil war, Kunle, tormented by guilt over an accident that nearly killed his brother years ago, learns that his brother is now in Biafra. Kunle volunteers with the Red Cross since only they can cross the Nigerian blockade into Biafra. There he is captured by the Biafran army and forced to fight. Nyong'o illuminates both the grim reality of war and the mystical nature of Obioma's lyrical prose, especially when the focus shifts to a seer who has prophesized the horrific events ahead. With incredible care, Nyong'o presents a clear-eyed look at the devastating cost of war for both the combatants and the innocents caught in the maelstrom. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]