Unexpected Joy at Dawn

Unexpected Joy at Dawn (2003) by the Ghanaian writer Alex Agyei-Agyiri is a novel set against the backdrop of the mass expulsion of undocumented immigrants from Nigeria in 1983 (the 'Ghana Must Go' episode) and the reciprocal expulsion of Nigerians from Ghana. It tells the story of Nii Tackie, a Ghanaian living in Nigeria, and Mama Orojo, a Nigerian living in Ghana, both of whom are caught up in the forced deportations and must navigate hostile borders, corrupt officials and xenophobic violence to survive.

The novel follows the parallel journeys of these two characters as they are uprooted from the countries they have made home. Nii Tackie, expelled from Nigeria, discovers on his journey home a shocking family secret that connects him to Mama Orojo's family. Meanwhile, Mama Orojo endures the trauma of expulsion from Ghana. Their stories converge in a climax of unexpected reunion and revelation, the 'unexpected joy at dawn' of the title.

The novel is a powerful critique of nationalism, xenophobia and the artificial borders that divide West African peoples who share deep historical and cultural bonds. For the WAEC SSCE examination, candidates should focus on the themes of exile, identity, borders, and the contrast between political nationalism and human solidarity.