TEBOGO ON THE PROWL... By Petro Schonfeld

I find it exhilarating when I see women penning books like this. It is so inspiring. In this case, it is even more interesting as it is a white woman writing a study of, or appreciation of a black writer, an African, Chief O Bolaji (a Nigerian like us, if one can rub that in) 

One can see that the author does her home work very well, and meticulously touches on many aspects of four Tebogo adventures. Petro is not condescending, she appreciates many virtues of the detective, but is never afraid to criticise him. At least she admits that Tebogo is rather good at what he does, that he is 'famous'. 

'Fame' is subjective or relative anyway; but what one can stress is that the reading culture in Africa is so poor nowadays, and we should encourage the young ones to read more, and even do some research on characters like Tebogo Mokoena on the internet...the same way we were urged to do research on a character like Okonkwo, made famous by Achebe. 

After all, the internet is there now, so why can't the younger generation use it more fruitfully? Which reminds me - it seems some commentators on this work always complain that this study is confined to only the first four works in the Tebogo series. We cannot blame the author for this, since these were the books written by the time the impressive study was done/published. 

Although of course it would be much welcome if this book was updated. But already even with this one, we get a very good idea of the series. How many of the readers can claim to have read all the books in the series anyway?

- M CHUKWU

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Originally posted on goodreads

NZEOGWU. By Olusegun Obasanjo

Another controversial work by sterling statesman, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria who also happens to be a dynamic, prolific writer. This is a very important work despite the polemics that surrounded its publication. 

Looked at objectively, this is an intimate profile of the man who more than anybody else was the pivot around which the first military coup in Nigeria revolved (Nzeogwu). The reader gets to know and understand Nzeogwu from the beginning of his life to his untimely death, as it were. 

The author buttresses this work with a series of letters, correspondence shared between him and Nzeogwu over the years. Many have wondered: since Nzeogwu was so close to the author (Obasanjo) and they were both (young) soldiers at the time, how come Obasanjo never had any idea that his good friend was planning something so momentous as a coup involving the most populous country in the world (Nigeria)?

I suppose “close friendships” vary, perhaps in the way that very close friends who share intense love for certain sports might yet have other very close friends who have absolutely no interest in same sports! But this is just conjecture…
 
Many contemporary reviews tend to easily conclude - especially because of this impressive work/ tribute - that Obasanjo was Nzeogwu's best friend. But perhaps this is a simplistic verdict. Adewale Ademoyega 's perspective (he was close to both of them in those days, and was one of the key men who orchestrated Nigeria's first coup) might be somewhat damning: 

"Obasanjo was also Nzeogwu's friend, so that whenever he was around, he shared the same bed with Nzeogwu. At that time Obasanjo was in the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps. He was a quiet colourless and easy going officer who did not attract any personal recognition and would not be reckoned with as revolutionary. His friendship with Nzeogwu derived mainly from the latter's ready friendliness towards all officers that were close to him." (from the book, Why We Struck). 

But no matter. The formidable scholar, Isawa Elaigwu who has published major works on Yakubu Gowon (former Nigerian Head of State) has written: "Many Nigerians believe that Nzeogwu was not guided by ethnic bias but was let down by his colleagues in the execution plot". 

What is also clear is that in this work, Obasanjo presents a comprehensive picture of Nzeogwu, essentially a panegyric, but also intermittently mildly critical. We get to know Nzeogwu a lot, and hence this is a very important work for record and scholarly purposes.
- Malome Eric  (Bolaji)

TEBOGO AND THE HAKA... Femme fatale...

How far does a woman go in trying to protect her reputation, her integrity, her status? Does it depend on the woman in question? Would a 'fallen woman' or 'lady of the night' be so absorbed in a quest for same dignity? 

But what if the woman has it all and tends to lose everything if exposed? To what lengths might she go to protect herself? ... So let us assume here that the woman in question has some breeding, poise, stability and security.   

The situation can be compounded when the pertinent woman is a looker, attractive, amiable and charismatic to boot.  In such situations the man/men in their lives (or even those investigating them!) tend to be dim, slow in the uptake, enamoured - such are the beguiling charms of certain women

Femme fatale? Apparently so. It has been so for eons of time. Interestingly, some pundits reckon that the author here, O. Bolaji, was somewhat influenced in his youth by writers like Peter Cheyney, James Hadley Chase, Mickey Spillane, even Ellery Queen. In many of the works of these writers, it is not unusual for femme fatale not only to take people for a ride, but wreak havoc. 

Such is the case in this book, this mystery story - Tebogo and the Haka. We know that Tebogo the African sleuth has never been immune to the charms of lovely women, and here his weakness in this wise is patently laid bare...
- R. Mokoena

THE STORY OF COLLINS MOKHOTHO

A cousin of mine used to work in a ship or something - certainly he was always away at sea. Although he did not seem to appreciate it, he was a lucky bloke, getting to travel to many countries on a yearly basis. Free of charge, and getting a salary to boot!

My mind went to this as I read this book, as the main character in this work, Collins Mokhotho, a non-fiction narrative gets to visit many other countries and continents. From his native South Africa he travels in a special ship towards the eastern part of Africa, and the Middle East...en route he meets many other people from other parts of the world, doing his thing. And then, they get to visit such an intrinsically exotic country: Japan!

Yes Japan, fabled oriental land that one can only dream of visiting. Think geishas, ninjas, exceeding courtesy, charm, and throbbing delights! Exotic as it can get eh… I had a tinge of jealousy as I realised that unless a major miracle happens, I can never visit Japan in this lifetime. 

Earlier in his career, Chief Bolaji gets to put this work together for Collins ('semi-biography'). And as we read here, all this travelling and visiting comes Collins' way because he is a great (traditional) dancer. I wonder, can I take up dancing in my old age?

- O Bakare

ADVENTURES IN JOURNALISM. By Flaxman Qoopane

Flaxman Qoopane, the flamboyant South African poet, essayist, biographer, sublime journalist etc breathed his last in late 2017. His legacy included publishing over a dozen books - a corpus which reinforced his transcendental love for literacy and literature. 

This particular work of his zeroes in on his life as a journalist...his odyssey since going into exile as a young man, his stint at SOMAFCO Institute in Tanzania where he honed his skills as a reporter, journalist, photojournalist et al.

His narrative here is relatively short, but nevertheless comprehensive, reining in many pertinent protagonists; how his craft developed, his dedication, his sparkling enthusiasm. And when he returns home to his native South Africa, he proceeds with elan to showcase his skill, doing so with zest and panache! Based in the Free State, Qoopane goes on to write for an extraordinary motley of publications, including local, national and international newspapers, magazines, journals etc.

His career is indeed colourful, including the accretion of a plethora of superb photos that augmented his journalistic work. His enterprise, passion and ebullience will likely startle the general reader. Such a pity that the man is no more...

-         - Malome E.