The Road to the Salt Sea - Samuel Kóláwole

“The Road to the Salt Sea” by Samuel Kóláwole is an impressive new work of contemporary fiction, taking us on one man's migratory journey from sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. It is a story of classism, of racism, of the exploitative nature of humanity in a corruptive environment, and then some.

Able God, the protagonist, lives the life of an upstanding but economically disadvantaged citizen in Nigeria, trying to build a better life for himself. What stands out is that he does so in proper, law-abiding ways, much in contrast to the doings of many of his contemporaries.

We soon learn that even a forthright and honest character like Able God is not immune to trouble when an environment of corruption and classism reigns over society. In a moment of humanity, he tries to help a woman who is similarly at the mercy of their classist hierarchy and unexpectedly involves himself in tragedy.

This turn of events prompts him to leave the country as part of a sketchy smuggling operation, and he embarks on a long journey to Europe encountering incident after incident, descending into circumstances increasingly degrading by the hour. Able God silently bemoans the fact that his intention has never been to run after the empty promises that lure other migrants. On the contrary, he has always intended to make it in his own country as a reputable citizen, and yet, he finds himself facing just that same destiny due to bigger forces controlling the region as a whole.

The book reads like a thriller, suspenseful from the outset to the end. If not for its tragic reality, I'd almost describe it as an adventure story - in the worst sense imaginable.

I really liked that the book starts out with one of the key moments that prompt Able God's departure, allowing the reader to dive right into the story, immediately immersed into its gripping realities.

The descriptions are so vivid that I felt deeply invested and along for the ride. I knew it was a good read when I ended up exhausted because it was a bit like I was on this harrowing journey myself.

I savored the descriptions of the harsh environment and how it made the protagonist feel. In particular, the Saharan crossing stood out.

“He could feel every part of his body itch as his skin crackled in the dry air. […] He exhaled hot air, his throat scorching with every breath.”

The emotional toll was extremely realistic and expressive, evoking trauma-related stress and so much more.

“At first, when the lost boy screamed, the echoes in the hollows of the dunes answered him, but eventually, the distance and the engine’s revving drowned out his voice.”

There were a couple of minor distractions from the main story arc - one of them was the drug theme. An entire chapter along the journey was devoted to finding and consuming them, in addition to many shorter descriptions throughout the book. I can see that drugs are part of the many difficulties Nigeria faces, but it felt like the theme wasn't really anchored within the story itself. A similar, though less distracting, thought came up for the repeated mention of soccer. It nevertheless appears to be a good way to describe the hopes and dreams of a young person in Nigeria.

The writing almost reminded me of a young adult novel - the subject matter precludes that category to some degree though. I think it does make the text accessible to many people, which is a huge positive.

The ending felt a little abrupt on first impression, but I soon relished it instead because it's also really powerful. It causes readers to ask themselves questions, and it leads to envisioning Able God's ultimate fate. It forces the reader to face the gruesome reality that many of today's migrants suffer.

I was fascinated by this novel. It's different. It's important. There's really not much out there in terms of literature describing the life and socioeconomic situation of the average Nigerian or sub-Saharan citizen, so this was a highly interesting read that I would love to see much more of.

As a privileged European and American, I'm usually only exposed to the perspective of the countries who absorb the waves of migrants. It means so much to read about the alternative viewpoint because I've been craving it.

Thank you Dr. Kóláwole for this beautiful work of literature.

Thank you Netgalley, Amistad Books, and Harper Collins for the advance reader's copy and the opportunity to write this review. It means the world!

Out July 2, 2024.