Stories From the Tenants Downstairs

Stories From the Tenants Downstairs tells the stories of the tenants of Banneker Terrace, a rundown Harlem apartment block. Each tenant is given a distinct voice in this meticulously constructed collection, often written in a vernacular which sings out from the page so that you can almost hear it. Sidik Fofana explores racism, ageism, poverty, inequality and the assumption of white superiority in stories which are often as funny as they're poignant. Each of the tenants’ backstories are satisfyingly fleshed out, many of them with ambitions and plans thwarted by happenstance or sometimes each other. For all of them, the urgency of making enough money to get by is a constant, made all the more so by the eviction notices served by a company intent on making a hefty profit from the sale of apartments some tenants have lived in all their lives. It’s an impressive collection, so confident and assured it’s hard to credit that it’s Fofana’s first.

The talented Sidik Fofana totally nails the short story format with this, his powerful debut collection of 8 interconnected stories, set in a Harlem low income high rise, Banneker Terrace, with residents struggling to survive, move on from their pasts, often working more than one job with their hopes for the future. Life brings additional challenges in the form of gentrification with rent rises and the threat of evictions hanging over them. Astute and perceptive, beautifully written, in different narrative styles and tone, each character has a distinctive voice as we learn of their particular issues and background, trying to do their best facing the universality of the themes so often associated with poverty, inequality and injustice.

You get a real feel of the wide range of human experiences of living in a flawed world and of lives lived under pressure, featuring their relationships, the heartbreak, pain, love and joy, and of being part of this particular community. Their circumstances include bringing up a child, the problems that come when welcoming a friend back from prison, the insights and tales of schoolchildren, the personal losses, burdens of guilt and stress, and where playing chess can bring harrassment. These superb stories are profound, moving, vibrant, and thought provoking and which I highly recommend, prepare to meet a memorable and authentic set of characters that make an emotional impact, such as Mimi, Swan, Najee and Mr Murray. I look forward with great anticipation to whatever the author writes next! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.