Corruption ... Corruption ... CORRUPTION
Another fine work of fiction by the late TM Aluko, long famed and respected for his brilliant novels; that the author was also an astute civil servant for years on end complements his forte as it were.
Aluko also condemned corruption in his works, including this one. Incidentally the country here, Equatoria, is very much Nigeria as we can see from the plethora of Yoruba/Nigerian names, together with requisite proverbs and other aphorisms. Anyway, in this country corruption holds sway!
This can be seen everywhere, though the main focus (apart from our narrator-protagonist William) is on a coterie of powerful figures; mainly the just departed politician, Sylvester Domingo, and Abel Abegunde bastion of immorality.
We quickly learn that Sylvester, and of course Abegunde are bywords for corruption and other disgusting practices; "(Sylvester) regularly beat up his wives... moreover he was known to keep a number of mistresses..."
And the dramatic Abegunde: "The one official cord that once bound me to Abel Abegunde had snapped seven years before when Alice Abegunde, my elder sister had died at child birth. Since then he had replaced the dead Alice not with one wife but with three other wives. And indications were that the replacement exercise was going to be a continuing process..."
But our narrator is tainted himself character-wise, despite his constant attempts to distance himself from corruption and other sharp practices. We are surprised to learn e.g, early on that he is lusting after Dora, one of the widows of the late Silvester and sleeping with her. And the lady herself consorts with other powerful men...
At least in the end there is condemnation of sorts of the widespread corrupt practices.
Suggested Reading:
Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria. By S. Labanji Bolaji
The Trouble with Nigeria. By Chinua Achebe
The Beautyful Ones are not yet born. By Ayi Kwei Armah
