This was a very interesting book about how the effects of ignorance and lack of compassion can come back to haunt you. In the book Xala a curse is placed on a prestigious figure in African commerce as he neglects the people of his own community. When he is not able to fulfill his duties as a man his curse becomes the centerpiece for all his troubles but by the time he gets it resolved his life has changed dramatically and he has lost everything. The curse succeeds in proving a point to the main character and the oppressed get there revenge.
I thought that this book was very interesting and funny satire about the effects of European governments on post-colonial Africa. I was not quite sure where the story was going up until the last 5 pages, but that was all that was needed to prove the point of the story. In the end, the story proves that traditional customs will prevail over the capitalist system established by the European settlers. Also the neglected people in society is no one to mess with because they will cast some voodoo spell on people to prove a point.
I enjoyed the insult that was put on El Hadij in the end, being spit on by his own people which is about the lowest most disrespectful gesture one can make. So on top of now being broke, losing his wives, losing his money, losing his estates, and losing his reputation as a man, he has just been spit on by a bunch of lepers, cripples and degenerates. I guess that is what happens when you listen to Europeans.
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