FS ROMANCE CLASSIC OUT AGAIN

One of the most outstanding works of fiction in the pantheon of Free State Black Literature has been re-published. A brand new edition of Impossible Love, a remarkable romance novel, written by Omoseye Bolaji is out.   

Confirming this at the weekend, a spokesperson for Mbali Press, the publishers of the work, said: "We are starting a new series wherefore old classics penned by our black authors are being re-issued. We are kicking off with Impossible Love, which many believe is something of a masterpiece,".   

Already, literary pundits are drooling over this development. Mr Pule Lechesa, renowned author and critic said: "Many of us were enamoured in awesome fashion just by being introduced to the novel (Impossible Love) many years ago, and reading it over and over again with elan. What a work! Smashing, coruscating and marmoreal. It would be a crime if new generations cannot get to read the novel...".       

Raphael Mokoena, who has published many essays and critiques on Bolaji's work over the years, also purred: "I think Impossible Love might well be regarded as a monument of Bolaji's fictional works. It is one of those books that make one tingle with excitement and pride, like Achebe's Things fall apart. I am delighted a new edition of the novel is out again,".

Award winning novelist, George Rampai, said: "I already have my own copy of the new edition of Impossible Love! Probably the work is magnum opus for Bolaji, though he has published dozens of books. Undoubtedly though, we can say that Impossible Love is superb, a work of art, Bolaji at his very best,".     

Ishmael Soqaga, another pundit who has reviewed many of Bolaji's works said: "I found myself shaking with excitement when I learned that Impossible Love has been re-published. Actually Bolaji once told me that People of the Townships is his favourite amongst his works of fiction, but I think most people will plump for Impossible Love as his masterpiece,”

From the blurb of the latest edition:

When Impossible Love was first published (2000) the pundits unanimously hailed it as an irresistible, charming, gripping love story "with a stunning twist in the tale". The unexpected denouement drew gasps of disbelief yet interspersed with dollops of delectation. Mbali Press is proud to bring out this new edition of the work for the titillation of a new generation of readers.

The author, Omoseye Bolaji, has now published over 30 books stocked in many libraries across the world. Amongst many awards, he has been conferred with the Chancellor's Medal by the University of the Free State. He has played a pivotal, phenomenal role in the startling growth and proliferation of Free State Black Literature - a feat which has sparked off the publication of sundry disparate studies world-wide.

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Mr Omoseye Bolaji originally wrote Impossible Love almost 20 years ago, and it was first published by Drufoma. The book became a hit, and has been digitised by American universities via Google Books.  

Mr Rampai added: "The story behind the fruition of the book, Impossible Love, is remarkable in itself...that is why I find the Introduction in this new edition - which harps on the conception of the work - as gratifying, and a bonus. I commend the publishers for bringing out this classic again!"

STEPHEN KESHI: A Minuscule Tribute

By Omoseye Bolaji

Yes, it still seems incredible, but the fact is Stephen Keshi has departed this world after indelible, glittering contributions to Nigerian and African football. And more.

The footballing world  these days knows much more about Keshi the Coach, not the player. And  those of us who have fond memories of Keshi strutting his stuff on the field of play - amidst other glimpses of this scintillating personality - feel that we should reminisce un peu about the past.

Keshi, always charming and confident, always had greatness thrust upon him. How else do we explain that some of his erstwhile colleagues on the field of play - like his fellow central defender, the superb Sunday Eboigbe - have been forgotten, whilst Keshi's stature remains evergreen and lustrous?    

Hark back to Keshi decades ago holding the fort for Nigeria at the back, directing, organising; even lubricating the attack intermittently...as he did so splendidly during the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 1984 when Nigeria garnered the silver medal so unexpectedly...what a fine young team that was!!

Keshi and some other Nigerian stars however were thereafter banned by the powers that be, and he in particular found himself moving onto Ivory Coast to ply his trade. That was over 30 years ago. It was the making of the Keshi the world knows and mourns now, as he became more cosmopolitan, learned other languages and went on to do very well in Belgium as a prized footballer.  

All this would rub off positively on the national team, and the increasing number of young Nigerian footballers who regarded Keshi as the icon he already was even then, and who would also have the confidence to try their luck in European football. And Nigerian football continued to be enriched, thanks to The Big Boss.   

Keshi was now at his peak as a footballer, in the late 80s and early 90s, scoring more and more fantastic goals for the Super Eagles with blistering shots; as he did against Angola in 1989 during the World Cup qualifying games.  

And against Cameroon that same year (same qualifying campaign) Keshi repeated the trick, hitting a superb shot and goal. I was inside the stadium that day in Ibadan (then Adamasingba stadium) and saw a thrilling Eagles side, brimming with the talents of the likes of Etim Esin, Siasia, Owubokiri...and Keshi of course held it all together. Tragic that such a fine team did not make it to the 1990 World Cup finals.

But at least Keshi - though aging by 1994 - would realise a life ambition of making it to a World Cup finals. He was still skipper, captain, motivator and leader, even if he did not play much in America that year. By this time, he had inspired so many African players to move onto professional European football that even before he became a Coach, his contributions were already carved in gold.

Keshi was always a born leader, as Coaches from Adegboye Onigbinde to Clemens Westerhof were quick to perceive, utilize and benefit from. He was also a born winner who nevertheless was never a "ruffian" on the field of play. He was exemplary, charismatic, ebullient and strikingly fluent on the field.   

And talking of fluency, Keshi was so proficient with languages. Many years ago I was surprised when he spoke Yoruba with me in Lagos (at an event); then of course he was so dexterous in French that you wondered whether it was his Mother tongue! What a man!    

His feats as a Coach are well known - for Togo (who could ever have imagined Togo qualifying for World Cup finals!?); for Mali, and for Nigeria. Yes we all know he won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player/captain; and then as Coach later on. But Keshi was much more than this. A quintessential legend. R.I.P, Big Boss.

'COGNOSCENTI'. By Omoseye Bolaji

'Cognoscenti', the new book written by Omoseye Bolaji, will be formally published and launched in January 2016, publishers have confirmed.  

Although Bolaji is largely acknowledged as a profound writer of fiction, this new work focuses on appreciation of African literature in general. As part of the blurb states, "here Bolaji further focuses on highlighting more African writers and their literary work".  

A breakdown of the book is as follows:

- Introduction by Henry Ozogula.  

- Flaxman Qoopane at 60. 

- Review of Tell Freedom (by Peter Abrahams).

- Review of Adventures of Souza (by Kola Onadipe). 

- Review of The Instrument (by Victor Thorpe).   

- Review of Kurunmi (by Ola Rotimi).  

- Review of The Wanderers (by Es'kia Mphahlele).

- Review of The African Witch (by Joyce Cary).  

- Review of Onitsha Market Literature. 

-  Review of Jagua Nana's Daughter (by Cyprian Ekwensi).

- Review of Because of Women (by Mbella Sonne Dipoko).

- Review of The Voice (by Gabriel Okara).

-  Review of Afrika my Music (by Es'kia Mphahlele).       

- Review of Why are we so Blest? (By Ayi Kwei Armah)  

- Literary profiles of Mandla Langa, Chukwuemeka Ike, and Gomolemo Mokae. 

- "Oiling the wheels of literary fecundity".    

- Introduction to the work, Let's Take a Walk, Mama. 

- The literary work of Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga (an overview)

GLIMPSES INTO AFRICAN LITERATURE (2015)

Book: Glimpses into African Literature
Edited by Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga
Published by Eselby Jnr Publications (South Africa)
Reviewer: Henry Ozogula

 

Let us admit it: this book is a very fine introduction to African literature in general; with a title that is both apt and concise.

What would probably impress the reader most is that the literature - or literatures - described here covers the whole continent. The editor is a South African, and we do have essays on South African writers like Njabulo Ndebele, Pule Lebuso, Don Mattera, Mbulelo Mzamane, Peter Abrahams, Flaxman Qoopane among others. 

But there are many other essays covering writers/and/or their books from east Africa (Grace Ogot and Okot p'bitek). From central Africa Mbella Sonne Dipoko is featured; the late Assia Djebar from north Africa is profiled in this work too.  

West Africa has always been vibrant in literature, and here we have essays on the likes of Ola Rotimi and Amos Tutuola,(both Nigerians) Asare Konadu,(Ghana), Camara Laye (Guinea); and there is an interesting essay on Omoseye Bolaji written by Tiisetso Thiba.

Omoseye Bolaji himself contributes four essays to this work. He writes about the late Mbulelo Mzamane in nostalgic fashion; and his book review brings Asare Konadu's well-known novel, A Woman in her prime, to life.

Bolaji also writes about the astonishing pioneering South African writer, Peter Abrahams, who has inspired many African writers over the decades; and in a clever cosmopolitan essay, Bolaji takes a look at criticism in general, with some focus on the early African literary critic, Eustace Palmer of Sierra Leone.            

The essays in this work are generally short and very readable. And informative. It is astounding how even the shortest essays here introduce and encourage us to read other works. The essay on Mbella Sonne Dipoko (Cameroonian writer) for example makes references to other writers like Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Wole Soyinka, and Naiwu Osahon.

Mr Ishmael Soqaga the editor of this work contributes six essays (plus the Introduction) - he continues to showcase his love for African literature. This book is certainly a must for anybody interested in African writing over the decades.

                                                    EDITOR.... Soqaga (above)

                                                         

FAR UP! FAR OUT! FAR MORE!

By Omoseye Bolaji

Very interesting comments here. It would appear that there is nothing else to say. But what about the new book itself which I initially read in electronic form?     

I would like to approach the book in apparent sections, though there is no such formal distinction in the work itself; so my approach is personal. For those who have come to expect the unexpected, or a measure of twists and turns in Bolaji's writing, the following chapters would stand out: The Termagant, The Shocker, Lucy, The Library. 

Some humour runs through a great deal of the short pieces here, probably moreso in the following: Keeping abreast of things, The bizarre episode, What is this, The Taxi, and The Termagant.       

As regards sports, at least two of the chapters focus on this: The fervour of the hordes; and Reminiscences of a sportsman. The latter obviously contains an account from an ex-footballer of some substance who touches on some aspects of the game that would not occur to the ordinary fan.  

The chapter or story, Oloolu, stands out for its sustained tension and suspense. It is dramatic, terse, vivid, and I dare say frightening. It involves the old ancestral masquerades of west Africa, which Bolaji incidentally touched on in his book, Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002)

One would expect occasional solid references to literature in this work, though in the main it is actually limited. The author's tribute to the magnificent writer, Wole Soyinka is the major article in this wise; though there are many other literary allusions in chapters like, A Man of the People, The Man Died, The Library, and even in Oloolu.

       

The scholar, Achal Prabhala has contended that in real life there are glimpses of the "Misanthrope" in Bolaji himself. (He correlates this with his impressions of the novel, People of the Townships - by Bolaji). As this new work is clearly very personal by the author, any traces of this alleged misanthrophy?   *Above, artist s impression of Bolaji.
  

It appears so - especially in the chapter titled The lugubrious one which is apparently wrapped in gloom and negativity. We are not really prepared for the presentation of the protagonist as a "very sad person" especially as he confirms this himself in the narrative!

Yet I suspect that this might well be another example of the author's occasional feigned naivete - which is hinted at again in chapters like The Shocker, and Merry Xmas a la Shoprite. 

I commend Mr Bolaji for this new trolley of his never-ending creativity. There is a lot to learn from this work, with a few chuckles along the way.

* Review by Raphael Mokoena 
Reproduced by kind permission of kagablog great art daily