Cazembe Aruwali

To Whom Much Is Given Cazembe Aruwali

The novel delves deep into African American historical roots in the Southern United States and correlates that experience with Nigeria's own distinctive tribal connectedness. In the story, the Ames family experienced racial injustice, tension, tragedy, and embarrassment. They struggled with economic freedom, infidelity, and love. But in the end, that family continued to grow and prosper. When granddaughter Sonora Francine Ames Zaid appeared in the story, she is thrust between maintaining and developing Native American and African American traditions and heritage, which she adopted from her mother and grandmother to reinforcing, protecting, and re-establishing the sanctity of her Yoruba and Hausa tribal connections. Before long, Sonora learns that her different ethnic and cultural differences are bonded through one important and special connection-spiritual guidance by God. Through the biblical teachings, reminders, and reinforcements from Sonora's African American / Native American grandmother Jasmine and her Nigerian grandmother Damilala, she learns to keep the promises laid by her murdered mother and father to acquire an education, to take social judicial responsibility for the improvement and enhancement of human life, and to use money as a benefit to all according to biblical practice, not selfish gain or greed.