There is much to enjoy and relish in this book, as the author
provides his usual glimpses into life and society even in non fiction like
this. Generally the background here is west Africa, with some
interesting/intriguing real-life situations; which many times gives the
impression if fiction, mainly short stories.
The unexpected twists in some of the stories are compelling,
but for me the "chapter" titled OLOOLU is by far the most gripping.
It can be like a case study of how Bolaji manages to pull off interesting
writing, a sort of microcosm. Let us look at this very short piece in some
detail.
Firstly, what is Oloolu? Why are women in particular
terrified of the very word? "Oloolu is on its way!!!" as we are told,
as "people scattered, running helter skelter! Even animals like goats and
hens scurried for cover...". Why, "some people were already closing
their shops".
So what is Oloolu? The author/narrator initially states
blandly: "...ancestral masquerades...Egungun. Stated to be the masked
spirits of the ancestors...". And Oloolu, a masquerade , "must not
see females, else unspeakably bad things would happen to them!". And
assorted women were already running for dear life now...
A cultured woman who obviously does not know what is going on
alights from a taxi and asks the narrator (author) what Oloolu is, and he
obliges her. The reaction of the "cultured" woman is as dramatic, as
it is unnerving: "The lady flinched. She seemed to shrivel, suddenly
lapsing into pidgin...'I know di kin' bad masquerade, dey no fit see woman!...I
no go anywhere again-o; driver, make we go back-o! I no wan die now!".
We might note here, does the narrator share the belief, even
now in very modern times, that Oloolu can still be a threat to society? Does he
really believe in the ambience of menace? Does he believe in "masked
spirits of the ancestors"? Remarkably he remains almost neutral,
essentially just describing what is happening. He does not indicate any fear,
but then again, Oloolu is not supposed to be a real threat to men.
The conclusion of the piece is brilliant: "...suddenly,
a seemingly malevolent, swirling wind was blowing. A coincidence? People were
still making a din, and running...now the evocative, stirring drums could be
heard from the horizon...Oloolu was coming..." What dread!!
-
- Buruji Mark
An interesting piece. Bolaji in microcosm, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteBolaji at his best…minimalist narrative which still packs a punch. Incredible that this particular story comprises just two pages in the whole book!
ReplyDelete'Oloolu' belongs to the pantheon of Yoruba masquerades, I think
ReplyDelete'Oloolu' belongs to the pantheon of Yoruba masquerades, I think
ReplyDeleteFiction? Or non-fiction? Can be either, though it is probably non-fiction. Like Gerald Durrell, Bolaji would re-create certain events in real life, in a way that make such events more interesting than they should be.
ReplyDeleteMasquerades are quite important in some African societies, and in many places in Nigeria. The importance of course has been whittled down in modern times, but I think for most ordinary people on the ground, there is still a mixture of reverence and spectacle when the “ancestral spirits” deign to come out!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting book indeed by Mr Bolaji. I still enjoying the book even today.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to read a book like this and sort of get into the mind of the author, who will appear sort of enigmatic to many women. I am not really thinking of the Oloolu piece here, but the chapter in this book where a woman accuses the author of being a sad gloomy person, even without knowing him at all. 'Something terrible must have happened to him' she insists. This is women's insight at its best. The woman is more or less illiterate; or at best semi-literate, but she can sense strong sadness from the author. It is easy to condemn the woman for being 'rude' or 'insensitive' or being a busybody; but she comes out trumps as she defiantly asks in the end, whether he is a happy man? And our author is honest enough to admit that no, he is not. Is this a sort of burden of writers?
ReplyDeleteSo the impression is that Mr Bolaji is a sad, gloomy man? Come on! He can not be that negative or sad to have published dozens of books containing lively characters always joking or smiling. Which is not to say that that woman did not have a point – people strike us in different ways according to the occasion. That the author seemingly goes along with the assessment of the woman who is a stranger to him does not really mean anything considering the twists and turns that characterize his writings. As for the ‘Oloolu’ story focused on here, it is very interesting. One sometimes hears that so and so masquerade must not see women etc, but I have never heard in recent times of any woman being harmed, never mind killed by a masquerade. I suppose I’d run away from Oloolu too!
ReplyDeleteNice one beautifully written
ReplyDeleteVery interesting comment by Mme Madolyn here. I think it's Mr Bolaji's poor health that makes him look "sad",if that is the word. He is certainly not a gloomy person.
ReplyDelete