Sankofa is described in this book as a mythical bird in Africa who flies forward while looking back, which is not possible in real life but a great analogy and title for this beautiful story. Anna is a 48 year old mixed race British woman who was raised by a single mother. After her mother passes away, she finds a diary written by the father she never knew and decides to search for him in his homeland in West Africa. She discovers that he has quite a legacy beyond being a foreign exchange student boarding in her grandparents' house and goes on a journey of self-discovery as well as getting to know the side of her family she has never met.

Sankofa has a unique pace that is thoughtful and almost meditational in its sensitivity. Chhibundo Onuzo created the perfect atmosphere to take in and experience this beautiful story, which explores issues of race, politics, and personal development with characters so complex and real that I could really feel their struggles and was rooting for them throughout the book.

The audiobook narration by Sara Powell is a perfect example of what audio can add to an already great story! She does a fantastic job of conveying many different accents and personalities in a way that really made them come to life.