Paradise By Abdulrazak Gurnah

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Duration

15 minutes

14 minutes

Genre

Drama

Station

Radio 4

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20220110	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 'Uncle Aziz' comes to visit 12-year-old Yusuf and his family. A change is about to come. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
02	20220111	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Khalil begins to tutor Yusuf in the ways of the shop owned by Uncle Aziz'. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
03	20220112	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Yusuf begins stays with Hamid and Maimuna, where he has to act as their boy-servant. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
04	20220113	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 It is discovered that Yusuf has never learned to read the Koran properly. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
05	20220114	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Uncle Aziz returns and wants Yusuf to go on his next big trading expedition. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
06	20220117	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 One sultan after another demands goods from the caravan in return for safe passage. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
07	20220118	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 The sultan Chatu is in no mood to let the caravan pass. He believes he has been exploited. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
08	20220119	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 A European arrives and challenges Chatu's authority. Escape may be possible. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
09	20220120	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Yusuf has attracted the attentions of the mistress of the compound. Khalil is worried. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
10	20220121	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Amid rumours of war, Yusuf attempts to stay away from the mistress while loving Amina. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20220110	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 'Uncle Aziz' comes to visit 12-year-old Yusuf and his family. A change is about to come. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
02	20220111	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Khalil begins to tutor Yusuf in the ways of the shop owned by Uncle Aziz'. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
03	20220112	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Yusuf begins stays with Hamid and Maimuna, where he has to act as their boy-servant. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
04	20220113	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 It is discovered that Yusuf has never learned to read the Koran properly. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
05	20220114	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming of age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Uncle Aziz returns and wants Yusuf to go on his next big trading expedition. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
06	20220117	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 One sultan after another demands goods from the caravan in return for safe passage. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
07	20220118	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 The sultan Chatu is in no mood to let the caravan pass. He believes he has been exploited. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
08	20220119	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 A European arrives and challenges Chatu's authority. Escape may be possible. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
09	20220120	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Yusuf has attracted the attentions of the mistress of the compound. Khalil is worried. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.
10	20220121	Paradise is a historical novel by UK Zanzibar-born writer Abdulrazak Gurnah, first published in 1994. The novel was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Prize for Fiction and, this year, Gurnah was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents." The novel follows the story of Yusuf, a boy born in the fictional town of Kawa in Tanzania at the turn of the 20th century. Yusuf's father is a hotelier and is in debt to a rich and powerful Arab merchant named Aziz. Early in the story, Yusuf is pawned in exchange for his father's debt to Aziz and must work as an unpaid servant for the merchant. Yusuf joins Aziz's caravan as they travel into parts of Central Africa and the Congo Basin that have not been traded with for many generations. Here, Aziz's caravan of traders meets hostility from local tribes, wild animals and difficult terrain. It's both a coming-of-age story and a poetic and powerful portrait set against the backdrop of an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence. Abridged by Florence Bedell Read by Paterson Joseph Produced by Clive Brill A Brill production for BBC Radio 4 Amid rumours of war, Yusuf attempts to stay away from the mistress while loving Amina. Coming of age story set in an Africa increasingly corrupted by colonialism and violence.