Author Ben Okri writes about the incorporation of the spiritual component into a small community in Africa in his novel The Famished Road. The people of young Azaro's village are trapped in dangerous, subsistent, and spiritually starved lives, constantly suspicious of one another. Born a spirit-child, Azaro sees and interacts with spirits constantly, often having to fight off forces which try to drag him into their spiritual realm. He learns to control this connection and to use it to anticipate trouble, helping his family and community. Although not everyone understands Azaro -- like his family's misanthropic landlord, -- he earns the respect of his father by helping him to battle supernatural spirits as his dad trains to become a boxer. After a lot of work and some freaky dreams, his dad becomes a champion for his village by defeating a rival who turns out to be a ghost.
This novel focuses on the relationships of the people among the community, or lack thereof. With his weird gift, Azaro becomes an easily recognizable figure in the village. He works to harness his powers for the benefit of the people around him, saving people from unknown evil spirits. Basically his literal relationship to matters of the spirit challenges his village to face their own lack of spiritual observance. Living subsistent lives, the villagers have no time, energy, or desire to engage in spiritual wellness, but Azaro's presence demonstrates to them the necessity for spiritual warfare. He brings a new dimension into their lives, culminating in his father's last boxing match. Now the people have someone to believe in, an inspirational and authoritative force which rivals even the political influence of the upper class.
