From the back: "The night Namaga's hut was burnt down all the inhabitants of the thirty villages of Wudma were asleep." Who is the culprit? The men set about finding out by means of the ancient institution of the Afersata, the traditional Ethiopian way of investigating crimes. Although various sessions are held and many witnesses are examined nobody is found guilty. This story centers round the Afersata and vividly shows the interaction of characters in such circumstances. There are the petty government officials who authorise the holding of the Afersata meetings, the elders who conduct the Afersata ceremony, members of the submerged class who see a recognition of their civic rights in being allowed to sit at the meetings and young civil servants who advocate reforms. The all help to bring this African village to life.

The novel disintegrates in two clearly distinct parts. One really deals with the village, the local structures and customs and the rhythm of seasons and feasts shaping the life of the villagers. Although told in a plain language this was quite interesting. The second chapter was an insertion somewhat out of place as Sellassie lets two government officials from the capital Addis Abeba quarrel on the nature and significance of land reform and who should to profit from it to which extent. This seemed a bit overly socially critical and artificial in language even if the aim of this discussion and the ideas (obviously those of the author as well) are legitimate. But the incorporation in the novel definitely is a failure.

Arrived, thanks!