Episode 178 with Stephen Buoro, Master Craftsman of Satire, Humor, Mathematics, Philosophy Merging in His Instant Classic, The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa

Episode 178 Notes and Links to Stephen Buoro’s Work

 

    On Episode 178 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Stephen Buoro, and the two discuss, among other things, his early relationship with math, as well as the written and spoken word, particularly through his connection to, and education with, The Catholic Church, his early reading and love of Kafka and Richard Wright and other standouts, his book’s satirical/humorous components, his inspiration for the book’s opening and beyond, and important themes and motifs of Ani/Afrofuturism, traumas both personal and societal, permutation theory, colonialism and its legacies, fetishization of West and East, and pessimism and optimism.   

 

Stephen Buoro was born in Nigeria in 1993. He has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia where he received the Booker Prize Foundation Scholarship. He lives in Norwich, United Kingdom. The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa is his first novel.

 

 

Buy The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa from Bloomsbury Publishing

 

Stephen Buoro's Website

 

From The Guardian: “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro review – astute story of self-discovery”

 

From The Economist: "Wit and wisdom in 'The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa' " 

 

At about 6:30, Stephen describes how “surreal” it is in the week or so leading up to his book’s publication date

 

At about 7:50, Stephen describes Ian Rankin’s and Max Porter’s sterling blurbs for his book

 

At about 8:40, Stephen responds to Pete’s question about how he sees his book as of the moment and also existing timelessly

 

At about 12:50, Pete asks Stephen about his reading background, and his relationships with the world; Stephen describes how he became a voracious reader of Irish lit, encyclopedias, and so much more

 

At about 19:45, Stephen highlights Richard Wright’s Black Boy as pivotal in his reading and his path towards becoming a writer himself, including how the book was both “depressing” and “uplifting”

 

At about 21:40, Stephen 

 

At about 22:15, Pete points out some connections between Andy from the book and Stephen’s reading of Kafka and Joyce, and Stephen reflects on meanings for him for the book

 

At about 24:30, Pete confesses his not all-encompassing love (gasp!) for The Metamorphosis

 

At about 25:20, Stephen reflects on moments that led to him becoming a writer 

 

At about 29:55, Stephen talks about the moments and experiences that guided his love of and fascination for words, and he and Pete discuss the allegories and performances and wonder that religion brought with it

 

At about 33:25, Pete asks Stephen about perspective, and how moving to the UK allowed him to write differently about Nigeria

 

At about 35:45, Stephen summarizes the book’s first chapter and describes the genesis of the book in 2018

 

At about 39:20, Pete and Stephen highlight the legendary Blackberry!

 

At about 39:45, Pete and Stephen reflect on the powerful and funny opening scene of the book, and Stephen talks about some ignorance of the book being funny

 

At about 42:00, Pete outlines the book’s five sections, based on the Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Jesus’ last days, and Stephen responds to Pete wondering about permutations 

 

At about 45:35, The book’s exposition is set, with descriptions of the coming party for the parish priest’s niece, and Andy’s mother and Andy’s deceased brother and his role as “Ydna”

 

At about 49:50, Stephen discusses duality and the character of Andy as representative of other ideas and groups of people

 

At about 52:30, Stephen talks about “HXVX” and its implications and connections to Andy and his friends’ superhero storyline

 

At about 53:40, The two discuss Zara’s role in the book, ideas of “Anifuturism,” and pessimism and optimism in the book

 

At about 58:20, The friends (“the droogs”) of Andy are described and characterized 

 

At about 1:00:55, Slim and his homosexuality are put into the context of the book and its friend group and societal expectations/pressures 

 

At about 1:02:05, Pete notes the inclusion of Oga Oliver and his connection to those who have emigrated and want to emigrate from Nigeria 

 

At about 1:02:50, The party of all parties is described, with Eileen’s appearance 

 

At about 1:04:10, Andy responds to Pete’s musings and questions about Eileen and her role in the book and what/who she represents 

 

At about 1:07:30, Pete compliments the “skillful” final scene of the book and the book’s “timeless” and specific greatness, while avoiding plot spoilers (!)

 

At about 1:09:40, Stephen discusses exciting future projects

 

At about 

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  Please tune in for Episode 179 with Eli Cranor, whose critically acclaimed debut novel, Don't Know Tough, won the Peter Lovesey First Crime Novel Contest and was named one of the "Best Books of the Year" by USA Today and one of the "Best Crime Novels" of 2022 by the New York Times; his highly-acclaimed Ozark Dogs came out on April 4.

   The episode will air on April 25.