Review of “Sankofa” by Martin Oehlen in the Frankfurter Rundschau

Thank you for the review of “Sankofa” in the Frankfurter Rundschau!

 

Dogan Akhanli creates a broad panorama in “Sankofa”. Geographically, it extends from Anatolia to the Rhineland, chronologically from the Turkish military dictatorship of the 1980s to the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Historical events appear here and there - the murder of the journalist Hrant Dink as well as the NSU trial.

Yes, Akhanli experienced the political oppression and active solidarity that “Sankofa” is about. Nevertheless, this is neither a documentary novel nor an autofiction. Numerous strong personalities are presented on more than 500 pages and in four large chapters.”

 

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