Also by this author: The Gift
Goodreads
Not many picture books deal with concept of child marriage. Alain Serge Dzotap’s Adi of Boutanga: A Story from Cameroon is a picture book for upper elementary to middle school readers meant to reflect upon the cultural pressures and family dynamics that perpetuate system of misogyny and oppression. Dzotap introduces readers to Adi, a thirteen-year-old girl from the Mbororo community of Cameroon. Adi is a young girl doing young girl things—swimming in rives, making dolls for her sisters, getting an education—when her uncle, the family patriarch, declares that it is time for her to marry.
Dzotap introduces the concept matter-of-factly. He doesn’t directly moralize to the audience or speak of the evils of child marriage. Instead, he lets the narrative do the work. Adi’s parents are very much against such an arrangement, but cultural factors have created a power imbalance where they can’t tell Adi’s uncle no. Instead, to save Adi, they send her to live at a boarding school that offers safety and continued education.
There is no real happy ending here. Adi of Boutanga isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a real-life portrayal of communities caught in transition as they move from old, destructive ways of being to a new, more progressive mentality. It’s a story that is sure to evoke a lot of questions and provoke discussion. At its most positive, this is a story of resilience and the transformative power of education. At its most negative, it is the story of a young girl ripped away from her family because of compelling cultural forces. Dzotap tells his story in a careful and nuanced way, not forcing conclusions upon the reader but allowing them to experience the story and draw their own thoughts and feelings out of it.
Marc Daniau’s illustrations enrich the text, employing warm oil paints to depict the vibrant landscapes of Cameroon and the emotional depth of Adi’s journey. The artwork, combined with patterned backgrounds reminiscent of African textiles, immerses readers in Adi’s world, enhancing the storytelling experience.
Because of the subject matter, I’d recommend this only to pre-teens and young teens who are ready for the difficult conversations that will emerge from this book. Dzotap tells a needed story. One that is complicated and difficult and concerning. If we know about it, if we talk about it, then we can not only celebrate the progress that has been made but continue to push that progress forward.