KURUNMI. By Ola Rotimi

This play, Kurumi, is one of the excellent plays written by Ola Rotimi. This work is based on historical accuracy. This much can be ascertained by reading the classic, HISTORY OF THE YORUBAS by Samuel Johnson. Kurunmi  is a tragic story. Very tragic really. Ijaiye town is destroyed, and all the sons of Kurunmi the supreme warlord (Aare Ona Kakanfo) killed in the process as war unfolds. So much blood spilled in horrific fashion. Yet one wonders what would have happened if the Ose river had not been crossed... Kurunmi, and the plight of Aare Ona kankafos. Even in very modern times, Chief Akintola and Chief Abiola (both Are Ona Kankanfos) were beleaguered enough…

Symbolism in Bolaji’s Tebogo and Uriah Heep

By Raphael Mokoena

Perhaps we do not ordinarily acknowledge symbolic devices as integral to Chief O Bolaji's writing; or perhaps this is my own impression of this new Mystery book. No matter. Here it seems the author is sending trenchant messages intermittently, starting from the first chapter, Bra Uriah. 

At least here is a familiar message in Bolaji's works; the reference to copious literary allusions, books etc. Hence it is no surprise to see the haunted, beleaguered Bra Uriah delivering a short "homily" on books, reeling off works written by the likes of George Eliot, Gabriel Okara, and Hadley Chase. 

And what about the motif of "mamugari" (handcuffs) late on in the narrative? The culprit is rendered immobile, harmless and hapless once the bracelets he never reckoned with are clamped on him! Hence the killer of the young lady in question here is at last apprehended, thanks to Tebogo. 

And in the very last chapter, what do we make of the inclusion of the "Mannequin Challenge"? Indeed it is rather strangely and awkwardly brought in. Note that the "Challenge", with its frozen, statuesque implications, presages all the action in this work also abruptly drawing to a close.

Tebogo the sleuth has triumphed - but there is no triumphalism here...(reminds one of a bit of the much earlier  Tebogo Fails ). We feel at the end here - coerced as it were - a combination of weariness, languor and ennui, which might be symptomatic of the author himself.
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* This book is published by Eselby Jnr Publications of South Africa. The work is dedicated to Richard "Skietreker", and Obafemi Fasanmi.

THE BURNING STAR OF NDUTU. By Shanwa

This is one of the books that fomented one’s love for reading, appreciating books from a very young age. This was recommended text in early days in secondary school. Even now, one recollects strongly that this was an absorbing read, inducing excitement and fear, tapering to a breath-taking conclusion. The mystery of the “burning star”, one realized at the end, was some sort of trick, capable of a simple explanation. But it was the atmosphere of youthful zest, excitement and adventure that lingered. Are modern youth of today still weaned on such books, gripping reading, that encourages one to relish reading? Has social media worsened things, or made them better? Do the youth still treasure authentic reading of books? I wonder.

-         Ben Ode

WANT TO STAY ALIVE? By James Hadley Chase

This is one of Chase's most popular works, in Africa - over the decades as senior citizens here tell us! What a trio of young crooks we have here- the evil unconscionable Poke Toholo who goes on a killing spree, Chuck, amoral and cruel but not in the Toholo class, and Meg, essentially hapless but who has to go along with the two other men. Toholo not only has a grievance against the rich, but has a scheme to make money, capitalising on their fears - at least it was a lot of money when this book was published decades ago. Toholo the Indian with his slight figure with rippling muscles spreads incredible panic as he is not coy to kill with ruthless frenzy. Apparently the police can not even protect potential witnesses as Toholo wipes humans out without any sense of remorse. Tom Lepski the tough cop is on his trail, helped a bit by a woman 'seer', not that Lepski is anything but sceptical and single minded himself. At last Toholo and Chuck meet their end, though Meg's travails seem to go on...

- Paul Lothane

SO LONG A LETTER. By Mariama Ba

What price the lot of African women under what has been patent patriarchal domination for years on end? Or specifically the plight of Moslem women in the continent? Of course this work excellently deals with this, and has rightly been considered something of a masterpiece for decades now. The author- now late- knew the subject matter inside out, and her 'long letter ' here to a female friend lays everything bare. How does a woman feel after being shoved aside by her husband for a very young woman, one who could easily have been her own daughter in age? What can a woman do? How does she bear the comprehensive humiliation? How does she survive? How does she hold onto her own children - no longer kids - and still endeavour to bring them up the right way? This magnificent work illuminates all this with monumental empathy and pathos in its stride. 

The author is a superb writer, and introspective and quite blunt to boot. She is aware of her status as an African woman who has had 12 children! But she is still very much a woman. As she writes later on in this work, "...I said it teasingly, rolling my eyes round. Eternal woman, even in mourning, you want to make a strike, you want to seduce, arouse interest" . Her excellent narrative certainly arouses our interest, which include the vagaries of her own brood. We share her shock as she suddenly discovers one of her own daughter smoking: "... A woman's mouth exhaling the acrid smell of tobacco instead of being fragrant.  A woman's teeth blackened with tobacco instead of sparkling with whiteness' Despite her apparent broad-mindedness and stoic approach, one cannot but wish our narrator all the best...