Before the Mango Ripens Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Christianity in Nigeria and our BookBrowse Review of Before the Mango Ripens.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. How do Jummai, Tebeya, and Zanya each embody different aspects of Rabata's society? Discuss their personal journeys and the challenges they face.
2. Many of the characters in Rabata have maintained secrets or told half-truths. How do these secrets and half-truths shape the characters' actions and the overall plot? What are the consequences when these secrets are revealed? What are the consequences when the secrets remain undisclosed?
3. How do the American missionaries influence the social and interpersonal dynamics in Rabata? Discuss the effects of their presence on the town and its people, and the impact of the town on the missionaries.

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Dzanc Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.