Ghostroots
“Ghostroots” by ‘Pemi Aguda is a debut short story collection set in Lagos, Nigeria, blending the mundane with the supernatural. The twelve stories explore themes of inheritance, maternal lineage, and haunting legacies, often focusing on women grappling with familial and societal burdens. Aguda’s prose weaves unsettling yet deeply human narratives, where everyday life intersects with spectral presences. Notable stories include “Breastmilk,” which delves into generational trauma. The collection has been praised for its elegant voice and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction, marking Aguda as a significant new voice in contemporary literature.
The Wonders of the World
by Aguda, ‘PemiThe chapter opens with Abisola, a student who joins a school geography trip at the last minute after her mother unexpectedly earns enough money from a sale. Feeling self-conscious about her borrowed sneakers and the pitying looks from the trip coordinator, Mr. Baju, Abisola boards the bus and finds herself seated next to Zeme, a peculiar new boy whose erratic movements and unsettling aura make others uncomfortable. Zeme’s unusual behavior, including his whispered prayers and intuitive understanding of Abisola’s desire for the window seat, leaves her both intrigued and uneasy. Their interaction highlights the tension between curiosity and discomfort, as Abisola grapples with Zeme’s enigmatic presence.
As the bus travels through Lagos, Abisola distracts herself by critiquing the exaggerated billboard advertisements, which she finds insincere and unrelatable. Zeme, meanwhile, reveals that he is praying for the journey ahead and claims his people consider him a prophet. This declaration deepens Abisola’s skepticism, and she withdraws, turning her attention to the passing scenery. The chapter subtly explores themes of perception and identity, as Abisola questions the authenticity of the world around her while Zeme’s mysterious nature challenges her understanding of reality.
During a bathroom stop near Ibadan, the students rush off the bus, but Abisola and Zeme remain behind, both isolated from their peers for different reasons. Abisola’s aloofness stems from rejecting Musa, a popular boy, which has alienated her from her classmates. Zeme, on the other hand, is ostracized for his odd demeanor. Their shared isolation creates a tentative connection, though Abisola remains guarded. The chapter contrasts the social dynamics of the group with the quiet introspection of the two outsiders, emphasizing their marginalization.
The trip’s purpose—to visit the Ikogosi springs, where warm and cold waters meet without mixing—mirrors the chapter’s exploration of duality and coexistence. Abisola’s internal conflict between curiosity and distrust, her observations of societal facades, and Zeme’s prophetic claims all underscore the tension between surface appearances and deeper truths. The chapter ends with Abisola and Zeme poised on the edge of a potential connection, their unresolved dynamic reflecting the uncharted journey ahead.
FAQs
1. How does the author use physical descriptions to characterize Zeme and Abisola, and what do these descriptions reveal about their personalities?
Answer:
The author employs vivid physical descriptions to highlight key personality traits of both characters. Zeme is described with “wriggly and lilting” movements, “bulgy eyes,” and constant motion, creating an image of someone unconventional and unsettling to others. His physicality reflects his spiritual nature (“my people say I’m a prophet”) and social isolation. Abisola is characterized through practical details like her “oversized sneakers” and tendency to lean away from Zeme, revealing her self-consciousness and guarded nature. The contrast between Zeme’s fluid movements and Abisola’s defensive postures underscores their differing approaches to social interaction—Zeme embraces his uniqueness while Abisola seeks to minimize attention.2. Analyze the significance of the billboards in this chapter. What do they represent for Abisola and for Lagos society?
Answer:
The billboards serve as a metaphor for artificiality and unattainable ideals in Lagos society. Abisola critiques their exaggerated smiles (“Did the MTN man… really have to smile so hard?”), seeing them as false representations of happiness that contrast with her lived reality. Yet she also wonders if being “blown up ten times her size” might grant her a new identity, suggesting both disdain for and fascination with societal projections. The pidgin slogan (“taste and see, we go scatter ya brain!”) ironically highlights how consumer culture promises transformation through loss of control. For Lagos, these billboards represent the tension between aspirational marketing and the characters’ authentic experiences.3. What social dynamics are revealed through Abisola’s and Zeme’s shared isolation on the bus?
Answer:
Their isolation exposes multiple layers of teenage social hierarchy. Abisola is ostracized after rejecting popular Musa—a consequence that reveals how peer groups punish nonconformity (“the girls were affronted that she would reject someone they pined for”). Zeme’s isolation stems from his eccentric behavior that “made people uncomfortable,” showing how difference breeds exclusion. Their parallel situations create an uneasy bond: both recognize their outsider status but resist full connection (Abisola leans away; Zeme remains cryptic). The scene also critiques Mr. Baju’s forced camaraderie (“No distractions, talk to each other!”), highlighting the irony that genuine interaction can’t be mandated.4. How does the chapter use the impending trip to Ikogosi as a symbolic backdrop for the characters’ experiences?
Answer:
The “warm spring meeting the cold spring but not mixing” parallels the characters’ emotional states. Like the springs, Abisola and Zeme are forced into proximity but remain psychologically separate—Abisola resists Zeme’s attempts at connection, while Zeme’s prophetic claims create distance. This natural phenomenon also mirrors societal divisions: the billboards’ artificial joy vs. Abisola’s skepticism, or the students’ cliques vs. isolated individuals. The excursion’s purpose as a “wonder of the world” contrasts with the characters’ internal struggles, suggesting that human complexities outweigh geographical marvels. The unconsummated journey becomes a metaphor for their unresolved tensions.5. Evaluate how economic class influences Abisola’s behavior and self-perception in this chapter.
Answer:
Abisola’s socioeconomic status shapes her actions and mindset throughout the chapter. Her late enrollment (“Her mother was suddenly able to afford the trip”) forces her into unwanted attention, symbolized by the “pitying eyes” directed at her father’s sneakers. This breeds self-protectiveness—she adjusts the shoes to “close the gap” and hides behind window-gazing. Her rejection of Musa may stem from class anxiety (“the fear… he would want to visit her at home”). The Alhaja’s lace purchase underscores how precarious finances dictate opportunities. Unlike her peers who casually interact with hawkers, Abisola’s economic reality makes her hyperaware of social judgments, reinforcing her isolation.
Quotes
1. “She looked away when his pitying eyes slid from the envelope to her, down to the oversized sneakers she’d borrowed from her father.”
This quote captures Abisola’s acute awareness of socioeconomic disparity and her discomfort with being perceived as needy. It establishes the theme of vulnerability and pride that runs through her character.
2. “That something made Abisola feel exposed whenever Zeme looked at her, as if he knew all her secrets and was only keeping them out of a condescending benevolence.”
This reveals the unsettling dynamic between Abisola and Zeme, introducing the supernatural/mystical undercurrent of the story while exploring themes of perception and power in relationships.
3. “At what point had brain scattering become a thing to entice people with, Abisola wanted to know; at what point had having no control over your mind become a desired thing?”
This philosophical reflection on advertising culture doubles as a metaphor for Abisola’s own struggle with control - both of her circumstances and her emerging feelings about Zeme’s prophetic claims.
4. “He began every Tuesday/Thursday class with a cheesy icebreaker, calling the rocks and rivers they studied ‘wonders of the world.’ She thought it was a little sad, a little naïve, how he wore his excitement on his face, in front of teenagers who saw any kind of earnestness as weakness.”
This insight into classroom dynamics reveals the generational tension between authentic enthusiasm and adolescent cynicism, while foreshadowing the literal “wonders” they’ll encounter on their trip.
5. “After she said no to Musa, the other boys began ignoring her in solidarity, and Abisola wondered if the girls were affronted that she would reject someone they pined for, believing this to be an indictment of their tastes, or a show of superiority.”
This quote exposes the complex social hierarchies of adolescence and introduces Abisola’s pattern of self-isolation, which makes her eventual connection with Zeme more significant.
Quotes
1. “She looked away when his pitying eyes slid from the envelope to her, down to the oversized sneakers she’d borrowed from her father.”
This quote captures Abisola’s acute awareness of socioeconomic disparity and her discomfort with being perceived as needy. It establishes the theme of vulnerability and pride that runs through her character.
2. “That something made Abisola feel exposed whenever Zeme looked at her, as if he knew all her secrets and was only keeping them out of a condescending benevolence.”
This reveals the unsettling dynamic between Abisola and Zeme, introducing the supernatural/mystical undercurrent of the story while exploring themes of perception and power in relationships.
3. “At what point had brain scattering become a thing to entice people with, Abisola wanted to know; at what point had having no control over your mind become a desired thing?”
This philosophical reflection on advertising culture doubles as a metaphor for Abisola’s own struggle with control - both of her circumstances and her emerging feelings about Zeme’s prophetic claims.
4. “He began every Tuesday/Thursday class with a cheesy icebreaker, calling the rocks and rivers they studied ‘wonders of the world.’ She thought it was a little sad, a little naïve, how he wore his excitement on his face, in front of teenagers who saw any kind of earnestness as weakness.”
This insight into classroom dynamics reveals the generational tension between authentic enthusiasm and adolescent cynicism, while foreshadowing the literal “wonders” they’ll encounter on their trip.
5. “After she said no to Musa, the other boys began ignoring her in solidarity, and Abisola wondered if the girls were affronted that she would reject someone they pined for, believing this to be an indictment of their tastes, or a show of superiority.”
This quote exposes the complex social hierarchies of adolescence and introduces Abisola’s pattern of self-isolation, which makes her eventual connection with Zeme more significant.
— Unknown
FAQs
1. How does the author use physical descriptions to characterize Zeme and Abisola, and what do these descriptions reveal about their personalities?
Answer:
The author employs vivid physical descriptions to highlight key personality traits of both characters. Zeme is described with “wriggly and lilting” movements, “bulgy eyes,” and constant motion, creating an image of someone unconventional and unsettling to others. His physicality reflects his spiritual nature (“my people say I’m a prophet”) and social isolation. Abisola is characterized through practical details like her “oversized sneakers” and tendency to lean away from Zeme, revealing her self-consciousness and guarded nature. The contrast between Zeme’s fluid movements and Abisola’s defensive postures underscores their differing approaches to social interaction—Zeme embraces his uniqueness while Abisola seeks to minimize attention.
2. Analyze the significance of the billboards in this chapter. What do they represent for Abisola and for Lagos society?
Answer:
The billboards serve as a metaphor for artificiality and unattainable ideals in Lagos society. Abisola critiques their exaggerated smiles (“Did the MTN man… really have to smile so hard?”), seeing them as false representations of happiness that contrast with her lived reality. Yet she also wonders if being “blown up ten times her size” might grant her a new identity, suggesting both disdain for and fascination with societal projections. The pidgin slogan (“taste and see, we go scatter ya brain!”) ironically highlights how consumer culture promises transformation through loss of control. For Lagos, these billboards represent the tension between aspirational marketing and the characters’ authentic experiences.
3. What social dynamics are revealed through Abisola’s and Zeme’s shared isolation on the bus?
Answer:
Their isolation exposes multiple layers of teenage social hierarchy. Abisola is ostracized after rejecting popular Musa—a consequence that reveals how peer groups punish nonconformity (“the girls were affronted that she would reject someone they pined for”). Zeme’s isolation stems from his eccentric behavior that “made people uncomfortable,” showing how difference breeds exclusion. Their parallel situations create an uneasy bond: both recognize their outsider status but resist full connection (Abisola leans away; Zeme remains cryptic). The scene also critiques Mr. Baju’s forced camaraderie (“No distractions, talk to each other!”), highlighting the irony that genuine interaction can’t be mandated.
4. How does the chapter use the impending trip to Ikogosi as a symbolic backdrop for the characters’ experiences?
Answer:
The “warm spring meeting the cold spring but not mixing” parallels the characters’ emotional states. Like the springs, Abisola and Zeme are forced into proximity but remain psychologically separate—Abisola resists Zeme’s attempts at connection, while Zeme’s prophetic claims create distance. This natural phenomenon also mirrors societal divisions: the billboards’ artificial joy vs. Abisola’s skepticism, or the students’ cliques vs. isolated individuals. The excursion’s purpose as a “wonder of the world” contrasts with the characters’ internal struggles, suggesting that human complexities outweigh geographical marvels. The unconsummated journey becomes a metaphor for their unresolved tensions.
5. Evaluate how economic class influences Abisola’s behavior and self-perception in this chapter.
Answer:
Abisola’s socioeconomic status shapes her actions and mindset throughout the chapter. Her late enrollment (“Her mother was suddenly able to afford the trip”) forces her into unwanted attention, symbolized by the “pitying eyes” directed at her father’s sneakers. This breeds self-protectiveness—she adjusts the shoes to “close the gap” and hides behind window-gazing. Her rejection of Musa may stem from class anxiety (“the fear… he would want to visit her at home”). The Alhaja’s lace purchase underscores how precarious finances dictate opportunities. Unlike her peers who casually interact with hawkers, Abisola’s economic reality makes her hyperaware of social judgments, reinforcing her isolation.
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