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Mohammed Ali
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The Prophet of Zongo Street: Stories Kindle Edition

by Mohammed Naseehu Ali (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

A dazzling collection of stories, The Prophet of Zongo Street takes readers to a world that seamlessly blends African folklore and myths with modernity. Set primarily on Zongo Street, a fictitious community in West Africa, the stories -- which are reminiscent of the works of Ben Okri and Amos Tutuola -- introduce us to wonderfully quirky characters and the most uproarious, poignant, and rawest moments of life. There's Kumi, the enigmatic title character who teaches a young boy to finally ask questions of his traditions. And as Ali moves his characters to America we meet Felix, who struggles with America's love of the exotic in "Rachmaninov."

The Prophet of Zongo Street heralds a new voice and showcases Mohammed Naseehu Ali's extraordinary ability to craft stories that are both allegorical and unforgettable.

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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0061977046
  2. Publisher
    HarperCollins e-books
  3. Publication date
    January 23, 2009
  4. Language
    English
  5. File size
    3.5 MB
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Vivid images of African life and familiar snippets of expatriate life infuse this debut collection by a Ghana-born writer and musician. On the fictional Zongo Street in Accra, young children gather around their grandmother to hear a creation story from "the time of our ancestors' ancestors' ancestors" in "The Story of Day and Night." In "Mallam Sille," a weak, 46-year-old virgin tea seller finds soulful strength in marriage to a dominant village woman. Other stories take place in and around New York City, depicting immigrants struggling with American culture and values. A Ghanaian caregiver vows not to "grow old in this country" in "Live-In," while in "The True Aryan," an African musician and an Armenian cabbie competitively compare tragic cultural histories on the ride from Manhattan to Brooklyn, achieving humanist understanding as they reach Park Slope: "I looked into his eyes, and with a sudden deep respect said to the man, 'I'll take your pain, too.' " Several stories close in a similarly magical, almost folkloric epiphany, as when sleep becomes an attempt "to bring calm to the pulsing heart of Man" in "The Manhood Test." Ali speaks melodiously but not always provocatively in these tales of transition and emigration. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The first story in Ali's debut collection lovingly portrays the matron of a fictional Ghanaian community, Zongo Street, as she tells a tale to the rapt children at her feet. Ali wants to play that same role for his readers in each subsequent story, and does a fine job of telling straightforward, memorable tales. Himself an emigre from Ghana, Ali enjoys straddling the ocean between Africa and Brooklyn, varying from folkloric tales of life in Islamic Ghana to stories of immigrants not quite at home in crowded, secular New York. From students, to live-in caretakers, to artists, his American residents read as two-dimensional compared to their more complex counterparts in Africa, who include a town prankster, a stoic tea merchant, and a husband and wife whose sex life is common knowledge on Zongo Street. But in the end, it is the community Ali imagines that gives this collection its weight. And although his narrative style creates too much distance from his characters, Ali has created a fascinating world well worth visiting. Annie Tully
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001QIGZO0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books (January 23, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 23, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 221 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

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Mohammed Ali

Mohammed Ali

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
12 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • ybga
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ali uses wonderfully vivid language that paints Zongo Street in the minds ...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Ali uses wonderfully vivid language that paints Zongo Street in the minds of his readers. I recommend this read to everyone who is a fan of storytelling-fiction. Ali also has great work published on BOMB magazine. Check it out!
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  • A. A. Shabazz
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Delicious Diversion
    Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A Interesting and bit intriguing collection of short stories set in an African city/village. The stories are mixed with folk as well as intellectual philosophies. Not the usual contemporary witticisms but a delicious blend of folk, urban and historical prophecies. A cure for the predictable and mundane contemporary literature. An enjoyable diversion.
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  • Ben Mack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Capivating in words as he is in spirit
    Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2005
    Mohammed Naseehu Ali's gift is to be captivating. I have walked Zongo Street. Mo, thank you for guiding me there. I knew you as a wizard of the drum, I have found you to be a magician of the pen. Your pen dishes out phenomenal images with which I have never before been infused. Your talents continue to astound and impress me. Your real gift is the gift of yourself that you share so candidly. The Prophet of Zongo Street is delicious. Thank you.

    Now, where can I hear you play again? Will you be drumming at your book signings?
    5 people found this helpful
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  • 1PrettySmile
    3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting series of short stories
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    This is an interesting collection of short stories combined with African folklore. I bought the book to give as a gift along with the movie "The Visitor."
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  • JCP3DC
    3.0 out of 5 stars DC Harvard Alums Book Club recommends The Prophet of Zongo Street
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2008
    This pleasant collection of short stories has something for everyone, especially those who might like to imagine everyday life in West Africa and immigrant experiences in the United States. (The book club average was actually 3.5 stars, but Amazon cannot accommodate half measures.) As other reviews have noted, the best stories take place on Zongo Street, where Ali weaves a vivid tapestry. Many club members felt that the stories based in the US didn't seem as touching. There was almost complete agreement that the story "Rachmaninov" was the least favorite, with some members suggesting the plot line seems derived from the movie "Pulp Fiction". The club was divided on "Live In", some members wishing this story was either longer, or expanded into a complete novel.
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