ESSAYS ON FREE STATE BLACK LITERATURE. By Pule Lechesa

Pule Lechesa, a South African writer, has made his name as a literary critic, a man of letters who has published extensively on books, authors, their work and literature generally. His major works over the years attest to this - Four Free State Authors, Essays on Free State Black Literature, A Penny for Lechesa's Thoughts; and two full-length literary study books on writers Omoseye Bolaji and KPD Maphalla. Lechesa has a reputation for being a "tough/ruthless critic", which brings to mind famous African literary critics like Taban Lo Liyong, Lewis Nkosi, and Chinweizu. In this book, Lechesa puts together many essays on the writings of Free State writers (The Free State is a "province" or "state" in South Africa). Lechesa discusses poetry, prose, fiction, etc in this book; and of course he comes across as controversial every now and then. But despite his often robust comments, it is clear from this work that the author cares a lot for good writing, and world literature in general.

 - Leke Giwa

YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN. By James Hadley Chase

 

'I almost always enjoy reading a James Hadley Chase novel, but I do not like this one. Not that the work is not exciting in its own way; but I am dissatisfied with the way it unravels and ends. I hate it when the baddies win, no matter how rich and powerful they are, and the ruthless baddies take it all here. Mrs Harriet and Durrant, evil people. They use and dispose of the likes of Charles Duvine, Larry Edwards, Loretta, and Jerry Stevens, the hapless (first person) narrator of this story. And quite a number of loose ends are not tied up - relating to many of the characters; eg is Mazzo really a killer, and is he also impotent? The work seems to be a celebration of the forces of darkness - pardon my being grouchy!'

THE TRIALS OF BROTHER JERO. By Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka - the very first African to win the Nobel Award for Literature; one of the greatest playwrights the world has ever seen, a fecund, tantalising writer. This early play of his already showcases the profound talent and ingenuity of Soyinka...a piece of drama that teems with wry humour, self-deprecation (of the protagonist, "Brother  Jero") and multifarious absurdity rooted in his native country (Nigeria). What type of man (alleged "man of God") is our brother Jero? Some readers might bluntly call him names like "unscrupulous", "opportunistic", "canny", even "dishonest" - but he is simply a creature of his own society. Trying to survive as a man of God whilst in this world. Negotiating the daily minefield of strictures, frustrations and challenges. He does all he can to hold his "flock", such as it is, together. Chume, a farcical character is one of those frequenting the "brother/prophet", and there are comical ripples also involving his wife - and other women. Indeed Jero himself confesses early on that he faces many trials from women, including lascivious temptations. Brother Jero is presented as a tarnished man, cunning and resourceful...his own words rather condemn him intermittently and he does not take himself too serious. Hence we see him exactly the way he is - "a man of God" trying to survive in a world fraught with sundry challenges. His creator (Soyinka) unleashes and unravels a gamut of wry situations and comments, and one can imagine the young Soyinka chuckling aloud! (Like he must have done when creating another early superb play, The lion and the jewel). Apart from the touch of comic around Jero, there is also the patina of rascality...but Soyinka's vision is of course much wider, and one gets the impression of the gullibility and haplessness of society (the people) at large. At the end of the play, Brother Jero gets his way and even somewhat moves up notches, spiritually! (There is another hilarious sequel to this play, titled Jero's Metamorphosis)

-       by O Bolaji

THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA. By Chinua Achebe

Whilst world famous for his novels in particular, Achebe has also published brilliant essays in works like Morning Yet on Creation Day, and this "little book" which is very thought-provoking, showcasing many of Achebe's personal beliefs and theories about his mother country. That Nigeria has countless problems cannot be disputed. Achebe posits that (lack of quality) leadership is the real problem and points out what he perceives as personal flaws in early great men like Awolowo and Azikiwe. Yet millions till date would never accept that Awolowo in particular had serious flaws as a leader, considering his legendary status till date in western Nigeria, mainly. Achebe is hard on both men, and others even when he admits that in a country with so many tribes and languages like Nigeria, compromises just have to be made. He is not too impressed with things like the national anthem and national pledge either, and believes a large number of people continue to view the Igbos (Achebe was an Igbo) with suspicion. There is no point over-flogging this aspect, but Achebe does make a lot of sense with many of his comments, especially alleged lack of discipline bedevilling the nation at large; and the extraordinary cacophony and misplaced reverence that goes with things like official cars for leaders, despatch riders and their sirens. He points out that the hero-worship/egotism associated with the leaders, including governors, can be sickening and counter-productive. But nowadays, would most pundits believe that Achebe was essentially right to claim that a lack of leadership continues to bring the country down? Probably...now we are told that fighting corruption is probably the way to go, but we must still note that it is the "leaders", top party functionaries, those in strategic positions et al who have plundered the wealth of the country in horrific fashion...hence cleansing the augean stables here is commensurate with cleansing the leadership...hmmm

- O Bolaji