Africa, Late Nineteenth Century

This novel takes place in the late 1800s in precolonial Africa. The political climate is complex, as various kingdoms are plagued by both internal infighting among royal families, with European powers approaching local chiefs with promises of alliance and protection. This is known historically as the Scramble for Africa, a time when European nations vied for control of the continent and eventually divvied up the kingdoms among themselves. In this time, in Europe, slavery has been abolished, but it is still a local practice in Africa, and royal families such as Wurche’s are complicit in the indigenous slave trade. Specifically, this novel takes place in the Kingdom of Gonja, which is present-day Ghana.

Salaga-Kpembe

The main setting of this novel is Salaga, a bustling metropolitan town in modern-day northern Ghana. It is one half of the twin towns of Salaga-Kpembe that Wurche’s father...