Imbolo Mbue's 'How Beautiful We Were' unfolds within the confines of the fictional African village of Kosawa, detailing the poignant tale of its inhabitants as they endure the catastrophic consequences of environmental neglect by a foreign oil company. Amidst the tainted landscapes and the relentless suffering, a young girl named Thula grows, her destiny intertwined with her people's struggle for justice and sovereignty. Through a narrative woven across generations, Mbue presents a stirring discourse on the legacies of colonialism, corporate greed, and the indomitable human spirit.