The Gendered Nuances of Wealth in Francis B. Nyamnjoh’s “A Nose for Money”

By Ecoma Bassey Alaga

The book, “A Nose for Money” depicts the trajectory of life, particularly for Africans living in the West and Central region of the continent. The struggle from grass to grace and its concomitant travails is well demonstrated in this fictional piece on Prospere whose quest for wealth is something that is non-negotiable and a ‘must- have’. The underlying thread and currency for purchasing power, influence and recognition as the book illustrates is wealth –physical financial and material wealth. You are somebody only if you are prosperous in material terms and nobody otherwise.

The trend in our cultural and traditional practices (e.g. obtaining chieftaincy titles), politics and economics in West and Central Africa speak to this. Wealth is the ‘be all’ and key to all doors and gates. The reason for the mad crave for wealth today. In our present-day reality in Africa, wealth not only comes with power and influence; but it also covers up for inadequacies. Consequently, modern day focus and interest is simply on the acquisition of wealth. Rarely is any special attention given to how this wealth comes about. Yes, many still seek to acquire an education, but not for the public or communal good. It is about me, my and self. For instance, young West and Central Africans are increasingly seeking to gain a university education for the mere reason that it is a ticket to improved livelihoods (wealth) and the attainment of a sense of belonging to the privileged class. Given that education has now become a ‘wealth-key’ many would also resort to all kinds of strategies to acquire the ‘wealth-key-certificate’, including bribing and/or buying expensive gifts for lecturers. For others who regard the number of years it takes to get an education as too long, the idea is shelved in the hope that when they become wealthy, they can buy off a degree from any University willing to honor them because of their wealth. These categories go ahead to get a job (menial, technical or white-collar) or seek alternative hook and crook means –robbery, abduction of expatriates, prostitution, bribery and corruption, etc. For them the primary goal is to begin to make ‘money’ (wealth). 

The journey to wealth through the vehicle of corruption is one that is prevalent in contemporary times. Infact it has become a norm and those who struggle to maintain their credibility in the light of such practices are stereotyped. From family units to the presidency corruption, today, is so widespread and examples like Prospere and his journey from the pit to a villa is not uncommon. Where wealth is concerned in West and Central Africa like the book depicts, there are only two poles –affluence against abject poverty. The middle class is completely lost and the every day dream of those at the poverty pole is centered on how to cross over to the affluence pole.  Like Prosper, they begin by criticizing or judging traders who want to sell their wares for so much, to praying and hoping for a miracle that by some luck they would stumble on money or be ‘blessed’ by some Samaritan, to faking a personality and mixing with the high and mighty. As shown in the book, once such ‘prayers’ are answered, they resort to ‘juju’ and occult to protect and/or sustain themselves and in order not to get caught.

A sad, but yet true aspect of the book is its portrayal of women. While a good number of women in West and Central Africa strive to make a living for themselves and amass whatever they can in terms of wealth, the mindset of the ordinary West or Central African women is that she cannot do this without the support of some man. For many this has meant living and/or staying on in a marriage that is a sham, like Rose. Rose was not particularly happy that Prospere was never around, but being the traditional Mimbolander woman, pretense and faked happiness was the game here. For many women in West and Central Africa, the issue of leaving Prospere, like for Rose, would never have been an option. They would rather stay on and seek alternative means of getting their physical and sexual needs satisfied because for them marriage is ‘wealth’. Moreover, who knows? Things may suddenly work out, Prospere would become rich and automatically they are made. The likes of Charlotte, Marie-Claire and Chantal are numerous and are found in the increasing numbers of “society-ladies”. These women never truly care for anyone but themselves. They idolize their bodies and would do anything to ensure that they stay beautiful, charming and sophisticated. Naturally, rich and wealthy men are their preys and the interest here is only in their ‘fat wallets’. Again, because marriage is ultimately seen as wealth for the West and Central African woman, she would keep a boyfriend on the side, whom they hope they will eventually settle with. Many like Lizette have had to suffer heart breaks as these ‘service-boys’ have played a smart one on them as well. Another reality demonstrated in the book is what happens when true love comes along in a midst of deceit, mistrust and disloyalty. True-love is questioned and sacrificed (just as Monique) but ultimately because it is true, reveals the truth. A truth that leads to the end of deceit and pretense: the death of Prospere.

Comments

[KWANGA CORNELIUS]

The works reads like a master piece that exposes societal realities. I can't but admire Nyamnjoh style and his courage to talk about real things. His Disillusion Africa remains fresh in mind.

Congratulations to Nyamnjoh.

[Takor Kahjum Nixon]

" A nose for money" has a peculiarity in that besides
its recreational intention,it has gone an extra mile
to scan the socio-political landscape of sub Saharan
Africa.If my guess is rightly that of the author,
then,the literary piece show-cases a country somewhere
around the armpit of the continent of Africa.This
location besides being geographical, is equally
sociological, if not biological. Sociological or
biological because the armpit might not be a very
comfortable place because it is a waste reception
unit. No doubt, it can be an eye sore, if not,a
repelling organ especially if poorly kept. This is
squarely the type of picture that Nyamnjoh leaves his
readers to fancy."A Nose for Money" presents a society
where social vices have engulfed moral virtues.A
society where the zest and surge for wealth, status
and power has made bribery, corruption, favouritism,
nepotism, tribalism and promiscuity, rules rather than exceptions. A society where money has usurped and
dry-cleaned all what represents the soft zones of human
conscience.Mimboland, so described by the author can
be seen more or less as a social quarantine whose
re-rehabilitation can only seek redress in a mental
and/or physical revolution.
By Takor Kahjum Nixon
The University of Y,de 1
D,pt. of History

[chia jude kaki. university of buea-english department]

i admire the authur,s braveness in bringing to the lamplight, the realities of socio-political and cultural meaninglessness in sub saharan africa.thank you very much sir,its a red feather to your cap.if others do not believe it,i do and i say your worthy name has been firmly calligrated on the inerasable sands of time.