Books Black Moses: Longlisted for the International Man Booker Prize 2017  by Alain Mabanckou

Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou is a novel set in 1970s Congo-Brazzaville, following the life of an orphan named Tokumisa Nzambe po Mose yamoyindo—known simply as Moses or Little Pepper. The story begins in a harsh orphanage run by a cruel political stooge during a time of political repression. Moses is oppressed by the orphanage director and fellow orphans but eventually escapes to the port city of Pointe-Noire with the help of his friends, forming a street gang that survives on petty crime.

The novel traces Moses’s journey through the gritty underworld of Pointe-Noire and the socio-political landscape of Congo in that era. Along the way, Moses finds surrogate families, including a brothel madam named Maman Fiat 500, who takes him under her wing. The story mixes humor and tragedy, showing Moses’s struggle to find identity, family, and meaning amid social chaos and political oppression.

Moses’s life is marked by episodes of violence, madness, and loss, including a psychic break after the mayor of Pointe-Noire targets the brothel where he lives, leading to a dramatic and tragic conclusion. The narrative is noted for its vivid portrayal of Congolese society, rich local color, and a tone that balances sharp social critique with elements of magical realism. The book ends with Moses narrating his story from a psychiatric detention center, reflecting on his life and the brutal realities he faced.