Oil on Water

Who do the novel’s characters seem more afraid of: the government or the militants? Is there always a clear distinction between the two? What are the similarities and differences between the two warring sides?

Habila uses time jumps throughout the book, taking the reader back and forth in the timeline. What is the effect of these flashbacks? Why do you think Habila chose to tell the story this way?

Early in the book, Zaq tells Rufus that they are not really seeking the woman and the kidnappers, but the greater meaning of the larger story. Does Rufus ever find the real story? What do you think the real story is?

Many characters change throughout Oil on Water, ending up in very different places than they began. Pick two characters other than Rufus and show how they change over the course of the novel.

Disease of various kinds is a recurring motif in Oil on Water. How does it contribute to the novel’s themes?

The fighting between the military and militants often ends with innocent people caught in the crossfire. What are the two sides fighting for? What do they want? Are there any possible solutions?

Isabel Floode came to Nigeria to try to save her marriage to James and ended up kidnapped. Why do you think Habila makes Isabel’s story central to the narrative, and what message do you think she is trying to communicate silently to Rufus before she is taken away?

Rufus looks to Zaq as a role model. Does the novel frame Zaq as deserving his praise? What qualities might make Zaq appear heroic? Do his good qualities outweigh his bad? How do his personality traits contribute to his fate?