Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

After I read A Girl Is a Body of Water, I knew I had to read all the other books authored by her, and I sure wasn’t disappointed.

I’m sure I have 1000 pictures of this book❤️>>>

“How many people would I beat up, Dad?
Yesterday a Caribbean boy beat a white boy for calling him African. Then there was this boy from Year Seven who apologised to me for calling me African. I said, “Dude, I am African.”’ Luzinda looked at his father with a what do you do with that? expression. When his dad did not respond he added, ‘And by the way, when we first arrived, Lisa said right to my face, “I may not be white but at least I’m not African.”’
“But Lisa is your best friend!”
“Exactly; now tell me who I should beat”

Similar to how A Girl Is a Body of Water had another title (The First Woman), Manchester Happened was also published as Let’s Tell This Story Properly.

After I read A Girl Is a Body of Water, I knew I had to read all the other books authored by her, and I sure wasn’t disappointed. This review has been a long time coming. Makumbi has her way with words; she is really good.

Manchester Happened was a gift for my birthday last year (get you beautiful friends). So it was extra special, and then getting into the novel itself… My oh my, it was so good!

Manchester Happened is a collection of 12 short stories about immigrant Ugandans who left their country for Manchester in search of a better life. The book is divided into two parts: Departing and Returning.

Each story represented a different kind of emotion and human life. Although different, each carried a tint of familiarity due to the fact that they were all Ugandans. My favorite stories were

• Let’s Tell the Story Properly
• Manchester Happened
• Memoirs of Namaaso

Manchester Happened is a book I will continue to read forever. Have you read it? Tell me what you think.