Welcome to Your Study Guide for "When We Were Birds"

Hello! If you are preparing for your 2028 IGCSE Literature exam, you have come to the right place. We are looking at Ayanna Lloyd Banwo’s debut novel, When We Were Birds. This book is part of your Prose: Set novels (2028) section. It is a beautiful, haunting, and rhythmic story set in Trinidad that explores the thin line between the living and the dead.

Don't worry if the book feels a bit "mythical" or different at first. This guide will help you break down the characters, themes, and the writer’s style so you can head into your exam with confidence!

Section 1: Understanding the Plot and Setting

The story takes place in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The setting is almost like a character itself—it is vibrant, noisy, and full of history. The novel follows two main characters whose lives are destined to collide at Fidelis, the city’s ancient and sprawling cemetery.

The Two Parallel Journeys:

1. Darwin’s Journey: Darwin is a young Rastafarian man from the countryside. He needs money to support his mother, so he moves to the city to work as a gravedigger. This is a huge deal because, according to his religious vows, he is not supposed to be near the dead. To take the job, he has to cut his hair and leave his old life behind.

2. Yejide’s Journey: Yejide lives in a house called Morne Marie. She comes from a long line of women who have a mystical connection to death. When her mother dies, Yejide inherits a powerful and scary legacy: the ability to guide the souls of the dead.

Key Takeaway: The novel is about how these two people—one who buries the dead and one who talks to them—find each other in a city where the past is always present.

Section 2: Key Characters to Know

For your Paper 1 Section B exam, you need to know the characters "across the whole text." Here is a breakdown of the main figures:

Darwin

Darwin represents duty and sacrifice. He is a gentle soul who enters a "dark" profession (gravedigging) out of love for his mother.
Think of him as: The outsider trying to survive in a harsh city while keeping his integrity.

Yejide

Yejide represents legacy and transformation. She has a complicated relationship with her mother, Petronella. Yejide struggles with the burden of her family's supernatural "gift."
Think of her as: A woman finding her own strength within a cycle of family trauma and magic.

The Corbeaux (Vultures)

In the novel, these birds are always circling. They are symbols of death, but they also act as messengers or watchers. They remind the reader that death is a natural part of life’s circle.

Quick Tip: In the exam, if a question asks about "relationships," focus on the connection between Darwin and Yejide, or the bond between Yejide and her mother.

Section 3: Major Themes

Exploring themes is essential for AO2 (Understanding meanings). Here are the big ideas Lloyd Banwo wants us to think about:

  • Life and Death: The writer suggests that the dead aren't really "gone." They stay with us through memory, heritage, and the land itself. The cemetery is described not just as a place of sadness, but as a busy "city" of its own.
  • Heritage and Ancestry: Both characters are shaped by their families. Darwin struggles with his religious heritage, while Yejide struggles with her biological/magical heritage.
  • City vs. Country: Port of Spain is depicted as a place of "blood and gold"—wealthy but also dangerous and corrupt. This contrasts with the quiet, spiritual life Darwin leaves behind.
  • Poverty and Survival: Much of the tension in the first half of the book comes from Darwin’s desperate need for work, showing how economic pressure can force people to change who they are.

Key Takeaway: The novel bridges the gap between the "real" world (money, jobs, cities) and the "spiritual" world (ghosts, rituals, destiny).

Section 4: The Writer’s Craft (Language and Structure)

This is where you earn your AO3 marks (Analysis of language, structure, and form). Pay attention to how Lloyd Banwo writes.

1. Trinidadian English (Dialect and Patois)

The writer uses the rhythm and vocabulary of Trinidadian speech. This isn't just for "flavor"; it makes the story feel authentic and gives the characters a unique voice. It turns the prose into something that feels musical and oral, like a story being told out loud.

2. Alternating Perspectives

The novel moves between Darwin’s point of view and Yejide’s point of view. This structure builds suspense because we know they are going to meet long before they actually do. It also allows us to see the two different sides of the "mythology"—the physical side (Darwin) and the spiritual side (Yejide).

3. Magical Realism

This is a style where magical elements (like Yejide’s connection to the birds) are treated as a normal part of a realistic setting. The writer blends the gritty reality of a graveyard with the "magic" of the afterlife seamlessly.

Did you know? The title When We Were Birds refers to a myth within the story about the origins of the souls and their connection to the corbeaux.

Section 5: Preparing for the Exam (2028 Model)

For your Paper 1 (Prose) in 2028, remember these important rules:

  1. Open Text: You can take the novel into the exam! You are allowed to have brief handwritten notes, underlining, and highlighting. However, you cannot have long essays or loose sheets of paper tucked inside.
  2. Two Questions: You will usually have a choice of two essay questions. These will require you to look at the whole text. You won't have a specific passage printed for you in this section.
  3. The "Informed Personal Response" (AO4): The examiners want to know what you think. Don't just repeat study notes; explain how the book made you feel or what you found most striking about the characters' journeys.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
  • Too much plot summary: Don't just retell the story. The examiner knows what happens! Instead, explain why the writer tells the story in that way.
  • Ignoring the setting: Port of Spain and the cemetery are vital. Always try to mention how the environment affects the characters.
  • Forgetting the "Writer": Use phrases like "Lloyd Banwo uses the character of Darwin to explore..." or "The rhythmic language suggests...". This shows you understand the book is a construction.

Quick Review:
- Darwin: Gravedigger, sacrifice, Rastafarian heritage.
- Yejide: Spiritual legacy, Morne Marie, transition.
- Setting: Port of Spain / Fidelis Cemetery.
- Style: Rhythmic prose, Trinidadian dialect, magical realism.

If you'd like to see how this compares to other novels in the 2028 syllabus, you can briefly look at Colm Tóibín’s "Brooklyn", which also deals with leaving home and identity, but in a very different cultural context.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! The more you read the rhythmic sections of the book, the more the "voice" of the story will stay with you. Good luck with your studies!