Azúcar

by Nii Ayikwei Parkes

Azúcar (sugar) is a novel about belonging in a world where all things are on the move: people, ideas, foods and not least music. Oswald Kole Osabutey Jnr, henceforth Yunior, leaves his family in Accra to travel to the mythical Caribbean island of Fumaz (think tobacco) where the revolutionary philosophy of peopleism just about keeps its flame alive against the forces of an old-style command centre political bureaucracy and a stifling trade blockade from the big imperialist neighbour to the North. Yunior brings the knowledge of the scientist, the skills of a farmer and the heart and invention of a musician to his life in Fumaz. As scientist, he must find some way of rescuing the island’s famed sweet rice industry from collapse; as a farmer, he sees how much of his West African food has journeyed across the Atlantic to make the island’s unique cuisine; as musician he becomes part of the spirit that puts the island on the world stage, out of all proportion to its size. This is a novel of ideas – how much is accidental in the world? How much can be planned? It has much to say about the impact of colonialism on the fragile ecology of the island – but it is the pursuit of love and the tragedy of death, the interweaving of moments of harmony and moments of conflict and the motives of vividly drawn characters that are the drivers of this sometimes zany narrative. And there is always the texture of the language to enjoy in a book whose prose is as flowing, elegant and heartfelt as the music that moves freely back and forth across the seas between Africa and the Caribbean.

Genres: Fiction

172 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2023

Reviews

[Tripfiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novel set in the CARIBBEAN



Azúcar (sugar in Spanish) is the story of life on Fumaz, a fictional Caribbean island. The island had a socialist revolution on 1959, immediately suffered a US trade boycott, fell into the orbit of the USSR, and was then left in severe economic difficulty when the USSR imploded in 1991. We immediately think of Cuba. But Fumaz is not Cuba, as is soon made very clear. It is an imagined country. While Cuba’s main export impacted by the trade boycott was cigars, Fumaz’s was a speciality rice from one particular estate grown in fields impregnated with sugar.

The main character is Oswald Kole Osabutey (known as Yunior). Originally from Ghana, Yunior arrived to Fumaz as a young teenager sent by his parents to further his education. He settles well and soon heads for agricultural university. He has two passions in life – developing sustainable and easy to grow crops to ease the import of food from other countries, and music. He earns money playing in an ever more successful salsa band. He falls in love with a female police officer, and life is pretty near perfect. Until fate intervenes.

The other key character is Emilina. She is from Fumaz, but lives with her mother in Florida. She returns to Fumaz for her grandfather’s funeral, and then on a more permanent basis to take ownership of an estate which he left her – the very estate where the speciality rice was grown. The intense concentration of sugar in the paddy fields had made them infertile, and the rice will no longer sprout, The estate is in considerable disrepair. The Minister of Agriculture believes it important to resurrect the rice growing tradition that has become somehow culturally important to the island. He brings in Yunior to work on the project with Emilina. They get on well together.

Azúcar is a quite simple tale, but it is beautifully written, It is a story of friendships (Yunior and his band members) and of the integration of immigrants. Some descendants of slaves brought from Africa and some, such as Yunior, more recent. All this set against the vibrant background of the salsa loving island. It is a story of finding acceptance and love. Some may find it a little too ‘sugary’, but it worked really well for me.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

In ordinary circumstances, Ghanaian-born, Caribbean-raised musician Yunior and Caribbean-American college student Emelina Santos, heiress of the Soñada dynasty, would never have met, that is, until fate brings them together.

Set on a fictional island in the Caribbean, music, life, love, tragedy and heartbreak bring these two beautiful people together in a lyrical story which looks at the idea of destiny, what it means to be family and of the importance of bringing life back to those who have had hope taken away from them. A short but powerful story I read Azúcar in one sitting and was captured by Yunior's story as he pursues his dream but was also equally invested in Emalina's quest to fulfill her destiny by taking control of her family's sugar-soaked rice plantation.

In Azúcar two quite separate stories converge and both Yunior and Emelina are lively protagonists however, it is their individualism which brings them together and their very differences which make this into such a compelling and beautifully written story about the need to find the place we call 'home'.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made for a very interesting read. There are some beautiful descriptions within and I could quote heaps of them. But I will urge you to read the book instead. It is not a particularly long book but it has an intensity to the prose. There were moments that I found myself re-reading passages as I wanted to enjoy the words again.

Yunior and Emelina come from totally different backgrounds but their lives overlap and come together towards the end of the book. It is a really moving story, peppered with Spanish words. I loved the inclusion of music, food. The characters are warm and kind for the most part.

For me it is definitely a book I would like to re-read to absorb more. I'm also curious to explore the author's other works.

[Hilde Roi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing in this book just sweeps you up and puts you in Fumaz, where you can almost taste the food, smell the sea, feel the wind, and hear the music.
It's the story of Yunior, who arrives in Fumaz as a 13 year old from Ghana, and his journey to becoming an adult, a musician, and a specialist in the field of agriculture.
We also meet Emilina Santos who is part of a world famous Fumazero rice producing family. Her journey explores the relationship with her family abroad and her feeling of belonging.
Although they are both on separate journeys, they have a part to play in each others lives and their search for home.

[Bookread2day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Azúcar by Nii Ayikwei Parkes is published by Peepal Tree Press the UK’s leading publisher of Caribbean and Black writing.

My favourite part of the story on the page 66.

Ernesto walked over with the dark shawl she had left draped behind the old man’s chair. “I’m sorry there are no young people here. They probably stayed away to defy their parents. What young person wants to go to a 99th birthday party?” He chuckled.

[Nicky Crabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set mostly on the fictional island of Fumaz, this rich story charts a families history across generations- marked by politics, colonialism and agriculture- and music! The key character Yunior travels from Ghana to settle here, joining a band studying agriculture and eventually falling in love. But life is not simple. Parker’s language is mesmerising and dense and the story is engaging. Enjoy!

[Akotowaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Azúcar was a beautifully written, quick and engaging read, which left me very satisfied. Full review here: https://akotowaa.wordpress.com/2024/0... !