Guest Post: Tips on writing a city as a character by Onyeka Nwelue (Author, The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai)
A city is very much an entity and a complex one at that. It assumes for itself the life of any character(s) that identify with those of its elements given prime recognition. For instance, if the underbelly of a city is given prominence in a book, then the city gets to be seen as a villain. Where beaches, parks, gardens and serene parts of a city are central to the setting and plot of a story, then the city becomes romantic. In any book, the city assumes an entity in its own right. And even when this is not spelt out, but the reader knows. They always know. And if they don’t, there are some others who take note, and these ones end up wondering why their city is represented in a pleasing or displeasing manner; and then they contemplate whether to despise the author, or the book, or both.
My novel, ‘The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai’, is the first book in The Nigerian Mafia series. It tells the story of a struggling Nigerian actor who traveled to India, to break into Bollywood. But, frustrated, he gets involved with an immigrant community of drug dealers and criminals in Mumbai.
Mumbai comes alive in ‘The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai’ as a city bustling with activity. It sustains and accommodates its residents and gets fed by their demands, hopes, aspirations and fears. Mumbai assumes an entity. This can be said of other of my books and of any author’s that comes to mind. And there are tips for writing about a city as a character.
- A city is a practical reflection of its main residents. This means that it is impractical to write about a destitute in a suburb, except of course a police car would be coming along to whisk them away immediately because they simply do not belong there.
- Personification is highly recommended especially with chapter openings. “It is that time of the morning shortly before Mumbai comes awake with roadside hawkers and commuters …” sounds captivating and makes your narrative come alive in ways that appeal to the reader’s sense of descriptive action.
- In describing action amongst characters, it is advisable to deflect momentary attention to the ambient surroundings. For instance, in the midst of a dialogue or action, you can describe an old man cycling by, the distant sound of a train chugging along, or a piece of polythene bag being blown about in the afternoon breeze. However, the trick lies with being very brief with this distraction so as not to kill the narrative flow of the main action in the book.
In summary, a city is very much alive and is an integral part of any story. Depending on choice and skill, the writer can decide whether or not to give prominent attention to a city. Yet, however it pans out, a reader always notices the breath and activity of the city in which the story is set – if they pay more than cursory attention.
About the Book
Nollywood actor, Uche Mbadiegwu leaves his Surulere neighborhood in Lagos, to Bandra in Mumbai to join Bollywood, so he could make it big, hoping to play exceptional roles.
Like a flash, Periwinkle appears in his life and changes everything. Tired of living in a pigsty, Efemena wants to live a life of independence, but there is more to being a Nigerian in Mumbai - a constant escape from the Indian police and narcotics agents.
This novel is a tale of violence, drugs, human trafficking, murder, and sex.
Buy the Book
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Praise for the book
“Onyeka Nwelue is Africa’s literary boy-wonder.”- Nury Vittachi, Author of Goodbye Hong Kong, Hello Xianggang
“An unusual noir thriller and worth a look for those interested in seeking crime tales based in other countries.” -Run Along The Shelves
“The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai, was an interesting portrait of an expat group of Nigerians abroad!” - Annabel
About the Author
Onyeka Nwelue, born in 1988, is a Nigerian scholar who has had esteemed positions in academia in African studies at two of the world’s most prestigious universities, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.
His crime fiction, “The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai,” is the first installment in a 10-book series, which has gone on to be longlisted for the 2023 Chinua Achebe Prize and shortlisted for the 2023 ANA Prose Prize. It’s being developed for film by Indian filmmaker, Ramesh Raparthy.