The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born By: Ayi kwei Armah Summarised by: Badr Assila The novel tells the story of a man
who commutes between his routine job and his cheerless home. He always notices signs of decay and this is happening only after few years of the Ghanaian independence. The man has no hope to change his life but still he does not accept to promote on the expense of accepting bribes. His wife, Oyo sees this as a foolish act and behaviour. It seems that corruption amongst public officials has become an accepted practice. The life of
luxury is represented in the Atlantic Caprice, a luxury hotel which even the man is attracted to; he feels set apart from society and even from his family. His closest friend is the Teacher who freed himself and lives away alone. In his view, the country’s leaders feel a twisted form of love for the white men they have replaced and as an example the corrupt
minister Koomson, who takes every opportunity to advance his interest. Oyo and her mother admire the way the minister provides for his wife and children. When the coup d’état happened, the big man is now humiliated and at the climax of the novel, the man assists the escape of Koomson, who is, himself a waste product that must be disposed of. The man follows the minister and ensures that he reached the harbour (a bribe for the watchmen is necessary). The man has no excitement at the coup, knowing that the cycle will repeat itself. Confirmation for the view comes in an incident he observes as he returns home. The driver of a small new-looking bus openly bribes his way through a police barrier. His moral victory over Koomson has done nothing to change his life; he will remain a watcher, maintaining a little self-respect through passive resistance, not through action.