Burning Grass

Description

Burning Grass is a classic Nigerian novel by Cyprian Ekwensi, first published in 1962. Set in northern Nigeria, it follows the life of Mai Sunsaye, a respected Fulani herdsman who is afflicted with “wandering sickness”, a mysterious compulsion that forces him to constantly move from place to place.

As Mai Sunsaye journeys across the savannah, his path intersects with the lives of various people — his family, local villagers, bandits, and colonial administrators — revealing a rich portrait of Fulani culture, pastoral life, and the tension between tradition and change in a rapidly modernizing world.

The novel is praised for its vivid storytelling, lyrical descriptions of the landscape, and its depiction of nomadic life. It also subtly critiques colonialism, class divisions, and the clash between indigenous values and modern influences.