People of the City (Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Cyprian Ekwensi
- First Published: 1954
- Type of Work: Social morality
- Time of Work: The early 1950’s, before Nigerian independence
- Setting: Lagos and eastern Nigeria
- Principal Characters: Amusa Sango, Aina, Aina’s Mother, Lajide, Beatrice the First, Beatrice the Second
- Genres: Long fiction, Social realism
- Subjects: 1950’s, Values, Homelessness or homeless people, Journalism or journalists, Politics, Race, Music or musicians, Ethnic groups, Unemployment or unemployed workers, Nigeria or Nigerians
- Locales: Lagos, Nigeria, Nigeria
The Novel
The story is limited to several months in the life of Amusa Sango, in which he moves from being an up-and-coming journalist and popular musician to being unemployed and homeless, culminating in a surprise marriage into a wealthy family and a departure from Nigeria. Sango’s decline contrasts with his strong ambition for success, and this decline is difficult to ascribe to any specific cause other than the general malaise of city life. When Aina, a young woman of the streets, is arrested, a policeman remarks to Sango: “You see, person who’s not careful, the city...
[The entire page is 1590 words long]
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