“God is not stupid”, a Beninese novel against resignation – Protestant looks

In God is not stupid (1), The Beninese author Destiny Akpo, himself a Catholic priest (diocese of Lokossa), gives us a romantic story halfway between Picaresque novel, spiritual essay, intimate and social satire. For example, It is preceded by a psalm. Consequently, in begins : “I recognize before you the prodigy, the amazing being that I am: amazing are your works, all my soul knows it”, Psalm 138, 14 (p.9). Moreover, Through a free. Consequently, direct writing and often tinged with humor, camped in the rural daily then a city dweller in West Africa, Destiny Akpo brushes with verve a story of a strong woman who never renounces. Consequently, He also dismantles, a way, some clichés around faith, of God and destiny, which haunt our societies. Similarly, With a title that slams like a slap. In addition, Akpo tackles the “god not stupid”, beninese novel big questions about God, life, success and the absurd chaos of an often unfair daily life.

Republic of bones embedded: “working. Therefore, dying” – "god not stupid", beninese novel

This 343 -page book is divided into four parts, each composed of several “items” (chapters). Meanwhile, “Madrenvide” (p.11 to 94), “by Lac-de-la-Mort (p.95-172),” Sebada (p.173-p.256), and “new buds” (p.257-343). Moreover, It works like a key novel. Furthermore, Written in French, it also resonates many echoes and terms from West African languages, which Beninese readers will easily recognize. Moreover, From childhood to fulfillment through breaking. Consequently, the story follows interior journey of a lucid, ambitious and determined narrator, Throughout a story enamelled with tests and discoveries. Moreover,

The heroine is called Klomèvi Nyonukpégo, “daughter of the interior of her mother’s knees”. Similarly, She was born in the Republic of the Valley of the Bone Bones, and grew up in the village. For example, Any resemblance to “god not stupid”, beninese novel existing situations would obviously be fortuitous … Furthermore, The challenges are great. For example, “When fomistics. Furthermore, deception and corruption are established as norms and favoritism and nepotism are established as dogmas at all crossroads of social life, the poor and the evil housed will never be entitled to mature and juicy fruits of the national apple. Similarly, In a Republic where there are fewer qualified doctors. teachers paid in accordance with their diplomas and grades than opulent caciques, joufflus, vent and bundle (…) What can the poor do, if not work or die? (P.98).

After a meritorious school career. Klomèvy finds herself in the big city, “on the shore of Lac-de-la-Mort”, where she suffered the assaults of a sexual predator, Mr Pavé Gentil, who benefits from her dominant position. Klomèvy does not allow himself to be done. Her response led her to prison, where she spent several years. When “god not stupid”, beninese novel she comes out. she is an orphan, but the story has not finished with her and twists and turns in twists and turns, like a feminine Joseph (2), the firmament awaits her …

Enlided by the comments. digressions of the protagonists, this novel also questions the place of God and the meaning in a world mired in injustice, greed, the taste for power, hypocrisy and absurdities. The narrator is raised by Gbèmèdablou. a mother -telling mother, who devotes herself and sacrifices herself, far from an enigmatic, elusive father, absent during most of the novel – but let’s not reveal the end. Klomèvi goes through a thousand and one tribulations from his countryside to the big city, from prison to elevation. Gifted for responsibilities, here it is a student leader, then deputy, attracting the attention of a certain president Adjinakou. How far will it go? We will not reveal the “god not stupid”, beninese novel end. Throughout his adventures. Klomèvi meditates and applies to the end the council one day carried by Madame Jumbo, her teacher: “The son of the poor does not seek a quarrel. He is not allowed to do anything in life. Either he succeeds or he succeeds. Point ”(p.342).

&quot. god not stupid", beninese novel – "god not stupid", beninese novel

“God is not stupid by creating us free and intelligent”

This learning novel mixes personal experiences, philosophical reflections and social observations, in the manner of Candide from Voltaire. It is also a tribute to the youth who does not give up. and a praise of the strength of women. “We don’t control a woman. We love her and we pray that she is faithful. Final point ”(p.137).

Far from rejecting God. the author questions the image of a bounded, autocratic and punitive God, Imposed by religious institutions, to defend the idea “god not stupid”, beninese novel of an intelligent god, living, present in our contradictions, which pushes to personal responsibility and action.

The absurd is thwarted: “God is not stupid. If he brought you here, it is certainly for a given reason ”(p.176). And. through the mouth of Madame Pawa, a call to combine faith and action: “We will win, as a people who believe, to rediscover, at new fresh, the need to draw from prayer intelligence and strength to transform our deserts into green patches and our seas dead into sources of living water” (p.116). With this comment: “God does not need people who only pray. God is not stupid by creating us free and intelligent. He wants to be loved by men and women who pray and who work. ” Further on. through the mouth of Gbèmèdablou, who recorded his voice, for his daughter, before disappearing, the theme returns: “This God is “god not stupid”, beninese novel not stupid. No way. The ancients used to say that with a little perseverance. will, the blacksmith manages to straighten a twisted iron ”(p.286).

The author. Destiny Akpo, knew how to mix, in his work, the art of the storyteller, a twirling style and spiritual reflections, within the framework of a socio-political satire which testifies to the vitality of literary creation in Benin. The Internet portal of “literary rusks”, in which he actively participates, testifies to this creativity (3). “God is not stupid” upsets us. educates us, makes us smile, and invites Catholics, Protestants and beyond think God otherwise – Not as a distant figure, but as a force that accepts human imperfection and calls for a better world. In short. through the novel, it is also A plea for a more free and active spirituality, less fatalistic, Written with audacity from the heart of contemporary Benin.

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(1) Deinnan “god not stupid”, beninese novel calls, God is not stupidCotonou, ed. Savanes of the continent, 2022 (343p).

(2) In the Biblethe figure of Joseph. told in the Genesisillustrates the archetype of social and spiritual redemption: rejected, sold as a slave, then in the jails of Pharaoh, Joseph finally becomes Vizir, Prime Minister.

(3) Beninese literary portal: https://biscotteslitraires.com/2021/. “Africa in general. Benin in particular has an infinite literary wealth and the vast majority of which remains unexploited as a whole”.