« Là dove il vento cambia » ( Where the Wind Changes)
by Kossi Komla-Ebri, Cosmo Iannone Editore https://www.cosmoiannone.it/edizioni/kossi-komla-ebrila-dove-il-vento-cambia/
is a novel that captures the complexities of healthcare cooperation in Africa, set in the missionary hospital La Providence in Togo.
– Main Plot –
The book weaves together the stories of European missionary doctors, Italian volunteers, and Togolese staff, exploring cross-cultural encounters marked by historical and personal asymmetries. Characters such as Luciana Tosetti, a nurse seeking redemption, the surgeon Giorgio Gabrielli, and Dr. Edem Kuevi reveal illusions, ambitions, and everyday adaptations within a context of poverty and tradition. The hospital becomes a microcosm of tensions between the West and Africa, shaped by dynamics of power, love, and illness.
– Style and Themes –
Komla-Ebri, a Togolese physician trained in Italy, writes in Italian with clinical precision and narrative sensitivity, avoiding colonial or romantic stereotypes. Themes emerge such as medical syncretism (Western pharmaceuticals and traditional remedies), implicit racial hierarchies, and the fragility of good intentions, as highlighted in the preface by Chiara Piaggio, which contextualizes missionary hospitals.
– Strengths –
The novel’s strength lies in its realistic portrayals: Luciana’s arrival in Lomé, with its smells and chaos, immerses the reader; episodes such as improvised blood transfusions or outpatient visits highlight urgent ethical dilemmas. The novel offers a balanced critique, showing how all protagonists “change course” when confronted with African reality.
– Overall Assessment –
A mature work that combines the author’s implicit autobiography with anthropological reflection, ideal for readers who appreciate diasporic African literature. Recommended for its multifaceted perspective on reverse migration and global health, despite a few descriptive digressions. Highly recommended for fans of Komla-Ebri.
