Born in Zimbabwe, author NoViolet Bulawayo moved to the US as a teenager, and her Man Booker Prize shortlisted novel We Need New Names tells a similar story of a young girl who relocates from Zimbabwe to a new life in America.
We Need New Names is Bulawayo’s debut novel, and is an extension of her short story, “Hitting Budapest”, which won the Caine Prize in 2011.
Told through the eyes of young Darling, We Need New Names juxtaposes the bleak backdrop of Paradise, a perhaps inappropriately named Zimbabwean shantytown, with the warmth that our protagonist and her friends radiate with their bright outlook and youthful energy, in spite of their surroundings. Although she realises her dreams of escaping Zimbabwe for a different paradise, America, Darling soon discovers that no matter where you live, life is rarely without its challenges.
Bulawayo’s artful use of language breathes life into the characters, particularly Darling, whose idiosyncratic narrative voice gives colour and depth to the story throughout. We Need New Names is a thought-provoking social commentary on the state of Africa, America and the lives of immigrants today; poignant and often dark but told with a heart-warming sense of humour.
As the first black African woman and first Zimbabwean to be shortlisted for the Prize, NoViolet Bulawayo is a refreshing addition to the line-up and We Need New Names is certainly a formidable contender for the top spot.
