April and May 2013 Academic & Specialist Indiana University Press

Global African Voices

Cruel City Mongo Beti, translated by Francis Pim Higginson

Global African Voices

Cruel City
Mongo Beti, translated by Francis Pim Higginson


Cruel City tells the story of a young man’s attempt to cope with capitalism and the rapid urbanization of his country. Banda, the protagonist, sets off to sell the year’s cocoa harvest to earn the bride price for the woman he has chosen to wed. Due to a series of misfortunes, Banda loses both his crop and his bride to be. Making his way to the city, Banda is witness to a changing Africa.