A novel of ardent loyalty, encroaching modernity, political desire, and personal liberation, Measuring Time is a heart-wrenching history of Nigeria, portrayed through the eyes of a single family.

Helon Habila's vivid, exciting, and heart-wrenching debut opens a window onto a world in some ways familiar-with its sensuously depicted streets, student life, and vibrant local characters-yet ruled by one of the world's most corrupt and oppressive regimes, a scandal that ultimately drives Lomba to take a risk in the name of something greater than himself. Habila captures the energy, sensitivity, despair, and stubborn hope of a new African generation with a combination of gritty realism and poetic beauty. Winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing 2001. Reading group guide included.

In the small Nigerian village of Keti live Mamo and LaMamo, twin sons of a domineering father. When one day the boys try and escape the village, only LaMamo succeeds. Mamo, too sickly to leave, remains in Keti finding solace in the arms of Zara while watch

Lomba is a young journalist living under military regime in Lagos. His mind is full of soul music and girls and the novel he is writing. But his room-mate goes mad and is beaten up by soldiers, and his neighbours are planning a demo which is bound to incite riot and arrests. Lomba must write the truth about this reign of terror.

"Selten war ein Kriminalroman so poetisch und so notwendig." Tobias Gohlis, Die Zeit

In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, regieren die Ölkonzerne. Als die Frau eines hochrangigen Mitarbeiters entführt wird, wittert der Journalist Rufus eine Story. Er reist ins Nigerdelta und betritt eine apokalyptische Welt, in der die Fischer ums Überleben kämpfen. Nur in einem kleinen Dorf scheint die Welt noch in Ordnung - doch die Ruhe trügt.