Stephen Atalebe

Cowboy Stephen Atalebe

The novel, set in Northern Ghana and specifically within the Frafra area, centres on the subculture of cowboys capturing adventure, romance, moralities, lived realities, and dreams. The life of the protagonist, Bia, the de facto leader of the group of five cowboys, is revealing of an often taken for granted group in Ghanaian society. It allows entry into the livelihoods of many Northern Ghanaian society, rural communities and disadvantaged groups, especially with regard to cultural restrictions and incapacitations but also of opportunities and possibilities. Livestock keeping, an age-old tradition and occupation of many Northern Ghanaian groups, has been the source of wealth and prosperity. Yet, the boys, who keep the cows, sheep and donkeys, are often taken for granted. Their labour and capability restrictions are often ignored. In Cowboy: The Genesis, Atalebe raises very critical questions on gender, generation, class and space with deep implications on human rights, education and well-being. The many conversations among the cowboys centre on the restrictions that they face regarding their inability to access formal education, benefit from wealth generated from their toil and live "meaningful" lives. The gender question is reflected in the denial of education to boys who serve as cowboys. While Bia longed to go to school, the sex roles and expectations as a male child denied him entry. He had to depend on more advantaged sisters to learn some book knowledge. The life of Mmaa, the pregnant school girl, who is in love with a cowboy and distant cousin, the ostracism she faces and the exploits of Naba Tarato Songa, presents another gender challenge. The Cowboy series in its entirety is one of the books you will not like to put down once you start reading it..