Afterlives
Tanzania

Afterlives

by Abdulrazak Gurnah

War & Conflict Historical Fiction 2023

Summary

Set in German-occupied East Africa during the early twentieth century, Afterlives follows several characters whose lives are shaped by colonialism, war, and the struggle for independence. When young Ilyas returns to his village after being taken away by German colonial forces, he discovers that his family has been torn apart. His sister Afiya faces hardship and neglect before finding a new home, while Hamza, a former soldier in the German colonial army, attempts to build a peaceful life after experiencing the brutality of war. As their stories gradually intersect, Gurnah explores the lasting consequences of colonial violence and the ways historical trauma shapes individuals and communities across generations.

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About the author
Abdulrazak Gurnah
Abdulrazak Gurnah

Abdulrazak Gurnah is a Tanzanian-born novelist and academic who grew up in Zanzibar and later moved to Britain. He is the author of novels including Paradise, By the Sea, and Afterlives, and was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature for his writing on colonialism, displacement, and the experience of refugees.

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Details
Published
2023
Author
Abdulrazak Gurnah