The paradox of plenty: tenure insecurity and grassroots resistance in How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

This article examines Imbolo Mbue’s How Beautiful We Were through the lens of Ulrich Beck’s Risk Society theory and the concept of ecological grief, illustrating how oil extraction leads to environmental devastation, tenure insecurity, community resistance, and psychological harm. Set in the fictional African village of Kosawa, Mbue’s novel critiques the roles of governments and corporate companies in perpetuating a risk society, inequality, and environmental injustice. Grounded in Beck’s theory of Risk Society, this study critically analyses the risks created by modern industrial and political systems. Furthermore, the analysis reveals how these manufactured risks contribute to inequalities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Through its narrative, the novel captures the dynamics of a risk society, showing how natural resource exploitation fosters grassroots activism and challenges hegemonic authority. In addition, the concept of ecological grief was employed to analyze the affective consequences of environmental destruction. Through a comprehensive examination of characters and narrative structures, this study explores how the community suffers from industrial expansion while also resisting corporate exploitation. In conclusion, this study contributes to African environmental literature by revealing how extractive practices in ‘resource-curse’ regions mirror the real-world problems of inequality, displacement, and the prioritization of economic gain over human welfare.