Sankofa

Published in 2021 by Catapult, Sankofa is the second novel by Nigerian author Chibundu Onuzo. Sankofa tells the story of Anna Bain, the daughter of a white English woman and a Black West African man. In her 40s, Anna feels adrift after the recent loss of her mother and the dissolution of her marriage. After discovering that her father is the disgraced former prime minister of Bamana, Anna journeys to Bamana to confront him and seek answers about her identity. Along the way, Onuzo explores themes of diverse racial heritage and identity, contextual power, and the differences between the theory and practice of politics.

This guide refers to the 2021 digital edition of Sankofa.

Content Warning: Both the source text and this guide contain discussions and depictions of racism, enslavement, and the legacy of colonialism. This study guide quotes and obscures the author’s use of the n-word.

Plot Summary

Anna Bain lives alone in London. Her mother, Bronwen, has recently died, and her adult daughter, Rose, lives away from home. Anna’s 20-year marriage to her husband Robert has recently been thrown into turmoil by his affair with a coworker. Now living on her own for the first time in decades, Anna struggles to reconstitute her identity beyond the boundaries of a marriage.