Faceless by Amma Darko is one of the recommended high school literature books in Nigeria. The book raises awareness about certain social issues like poverty and violence and how it affects the lives of street children in Accra, Ghana; Faceless brings attention to street children in the country, Ghana. The book is such an excellent read and it is worth picking up today, check out our review below.
About
Street life in the slums of Accra is realistically portrayed in this socially-committed, subtle novel about four educated women who are inspired by the plight of a 14-year old girl, Fofo. As the main characters convert their library center into a practical street initiative, the novel invokes the squalor, health risks, and vicious cycles of poverty and violence that drive children to the streets and women to prostitution; and from which ultimately, no one in the society is free.
Thoughts about the book
It is a story of street children in the slums of Accra which is the capital of Ghana, although it ends with an optimistic resolution for one child; Fofo, the novel leaves an ineradicable impression that there may not be a future for many others. Faceless describes some circumstances that force children to leave their homes to live on the street; Darko aptly describes the strengths, vulnerabilities and how these children navigate through street life.
Faceless begins with a death in a slum cynically christened Sodom and Gomorrah. 14-year old Fofo is forced into the street by her mother to fend for herself while her sister Baby T is sold into prostitution. Fofo narrowly escapes being raped by Poison, a street lord and local thug but when she is hit with the death of her sister, who is murdered and then dumped in another slum. She goes on a quest to seek justice. On her quest, she meets Kabira, a middle-class good- hearted researcher for MUTE, an NGO. Kabria is harassed by her demanding children and a bone-idle husband who expects his wife to wait on him even though she is in full time work as well.
Fofo, Kabria through the help of her NGO and a radio station, the perpetrators were identified and Fofo is given a second chance at life and her dream is actualized. The main character, Fofo is a well written character.
In this heartbreaking novel, Darko gives a very vivid and realistic portrayal of society; the struggles, the survival, the near death experience of living on the streets of Accra, the role of the media , the inefficiency of the police institution, child labor, child trafficking, molestation, irresponsible parenting and superstition. Faceless acts as social commentary on the status of women and children in Ghana.
“Faceless is a wake up call. It is not enough to sow seeds of human life in quick, repeated reckless ecstasy. Beyond the light of tears, the passionate intensity of countless orgasm, the future of our children, our own mortality and ancestry awaits our constant vigilance and careful nurturing. No seed grows into a harvest of joy without the planters’s diligent labor of love”.
Aniyidoho
The writing is simple and the narrative style is brilliant and humorous. Darko touches on complex issues while adding light hearted moments. If you enjoy reading social commentaries then you would love this.
Conclusion
4.5 stars; it’s a good read but there are slight moments of violence and mature activity in the book so tread cautiously. If you want to read Amma Darko, start from Faceless and you would never regret it then pick up her latest novel, Not Without Flowers. For people who are passionate about child delinquency, societal decadence and survival mechanisms, this book is for you.
euphoria 
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