Go Tell the Crocodiles: Chasing Prosperity in Mozambique

by Rowan Moore Gerety

In the tradition of Katherine Boo's Behind the Beautiful Forevers , an unforgettable exploration of the trials of daily life in Mozambique, long heralded as Africa's "rising star" Over the past twenty-five years, Mozambique has charted a path of dizzying economic growth nearly as steep as China's, making it among the fastest-growing economies on the planet. But most Mozambicans have little to show for the long boom; to travel in Mozambique is to see much of the promise of development as a mirage. And in the fall of 2016, a debt crisis unraveled layers of corruption that reverberated across Europe, heralding what many in the financial world feared might be the beginning of a "global financial shockwave" ( The Guardian ). Go Tell the Crocodiles explores the efforts of ordinary people to provide for themselves where foreign aid, the formal economy, and the government have fallen short. Author Rowan Moore Gerety tells the story of contemporary Mozambique through the heartbreaking and fascinating lives of real people, from a street kid who flouts Mozambique's child labor laws to make his living selling muffins, to a riverside community that has lost dozens of people to crocodile attacks. Moore Gerety introduces us to a nation still coming to grips with a long civil war and the legacy of colonialism even as it wrestles with the toll of infectious disease and a wave of refugees, weaving stories together into a stunning account of the challenges facing countries across Africa.

Genres: Africa, Mozambique, Nonfiction, Travel, Anthropology, Economics

320 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2018

Reviews

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to find much non-fiction writing about Mozambique that focuses on post-colonial history, so I'm thankful for Rowan Moore Gerety's careful and curious reporting on the country. For those who don't have specific interest in Mozambique, I'd still wholeheartedly recommend the book. It forcefully illustrates the chasm between development statistics and real change, and shows how government corruption and inefficiency actually impact people's daily routines.

That said, what I most appreciate about this book is that it devotes most of the pages to regular Mozambicans -- kids, government workers, farmers, migrants -- not wonks and reps and analysts.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mozambique has been the recent darling of development experts who have touted its emergence from civil war and its economic growth as a "model" for other African states. It seems it's always some African country's turn to be held up as the evidence that Africa would be fine if people just pulled themselves together and worked at it. This book, while presenting stories of the "hustle" for life and the wrangles over land ownership and government control that generally end with the poor getting less than ever, manages to be both entertaining and enlightening. There is nothing here that will shock long time followers of developments on the African continent but there is plenty that will shock anyone who believes the cheery narratives that are spun on a regular basis of various countries being the "good kid in a bad neighborhood." A good corrective well researched and enough grasp of good storytelling to keep the reader's interest.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet individual people living in Mozambique's cities, towns, and countryside and learn a lot about the whole country. Politics (Frelimo v Renamo), economics (Marxism v capitalism), health issues (Cholera), wildlife (Nile crocodiles), history mainly since independence (including a long civil war), contemporary migration issues (asylum seekers) are reflected in the lives of people mainly living "in the margins" by coping in what economists call the 'informal economy.' Solidly researched, journalistically written, heartily felt. Recommended to anyone with a smidgeon of interest in this multicultural, southeastern Africa Lusophone nation.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well written and insightful story about Mozambique.

[Ari Rickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book brought back so many sights, smells, and feelings of Mozambique. The author does a good job of sharing intimate details and considering the positive and negative aspects of his subjects' stories without exoticizing them.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of the individual stories were interesting - even intriguing - to read but overall the book failed to connect these to an overarching view of Mozambique. It feels too much an article of its specific time. Calling it the impressions of a glorified tourist would be far too cruel but neither did I feel I benefitted from a wealth of deep insights either, especially down the stretch. In regards to "documentaries" produced by Netflix, I've often commented to friends that a series of interviews with first-hand witness to an event is cannot be the start and end of a thorough investigation of the event leading to an improved understanding of its causes and systemic implications. That's kind of how I felt about this book too. Also, I was surprised that external efforts to assist development in Mozambique receive scant coverage despite that being one of the issues I most wanted to learn about that caused me to pick up the book in the first place.

[Jennifer Chappell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The amount of information with this book was about four stars The people who storied it shared were so endearing and you love them and ache for the hardships they face. But the book was a little bit dry and they had to really focus to make myself want to keep finishing. It was very specific information about a few very niche things. It ended very abruptly and it was discouraging because there never seemed to be a promise of resolution to any of the struggles, which is a very accurate representation for many of the people who live there So that's not a fault of the author just frustration at the reality of their life.

[Mike Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite is being a little unbalanced.

I know urban Mozambique well, but not the northern area at all, other than a vacation that I had there.

Mozambique is not a bleak place at all. It's a very beautiful country, wonderful people and has enormous opportunity and potential. Whilst what the author has set out in the book is quite clearly true, I do not think it's balanced. There are really good things happening there as well.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars: It was very informative and I liked the author's approach of telling the recent history of Mozambique through mini-biographies/vignettes. I think my main criticism is that he didn't provide an explanation for the economic boom that was supposed to have been taking place (was it all foreign market speculation?), and the book ends really abruptly. I was expecting an afterword or some other summarizing chapter/paragraph to help tie things up.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing stories about life in Mozambique. Not trying to promote a single story, but rather, allows the reader to travel through the country through many stories of hustling and history and humanity. Very helpful travel companion to Mozambique. I wish there was a 2025 update.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A smart, insightful and well-written look at Mozambique. Recommended!

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly interesting, sometimes paddedwith repetition. Enjoyed the last chapter set in Maputo, very informative & insightful.

[Sidik Fofana · Rating 5 out of 5]

SIX WORD REVIEW: Frelimo and Branco and Bento and Nampula.