When her father dies, Aku-nna and her younger brother have no one to look after them. They are welcomed by their uncle because of Aku-nna's 'bride price' – the money that her future husband will pay for her.
In her new, strange home one man is kind to her and teaches her how to become a woman. Soon they are in love, although everyone says he is not a suitable husband for her. The more the world tries to separate them, the more they are drawn together – until, finally, something has to break.
Utdrag ur boken:
Chike politely told his father that he was not going away to university without Aku-nna. 'What do I want a degree for, anyway?' Chike said. 'It might get me a better job, but will it make me a happier person? I want Aku-nna, Father. There is no other girl in the world for me.'
'If you marry her,' said his father, 'her family will never forgive us. Already they hate us because we are wealthy and successful.'
'Father, I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble. But I dream about this girl every night. We're so happy, every market day, when I've thrown her bananas into the river and we sit and talk ...'
His father smiled. 'And who pays for these bananas that you throw away, my son?'
'I do, Father. They don't cost much – only three shillings. She buys them for one shilling and sixpence, then she has to sell them in the market for three shillings. I buy them, then we throw in the river and we have the rest of the day for ourselves. It's my only chance of talking to her. Her hut is always full of people.'
Nedskrivet av Salamis