By Kgang Abel Motheane
This piece is intended as a sort of introduction to Omoseye Bolaji’s ever increasing literary output. Many people can not reconcile his prodigious contributions to journalism - eg the fact that Bolaji has written for, and edited many South African publications- but in this article we are focusing on most of his books.
Impossible Love (2000) is perhaps Bolaji’s most famous novel, a hit with readers, male and female, and a popular read at libraries across the country. The stunning story of a gentleman who somehow found himself later falling in love with his own daughter (!) is one that will always fascinate.
After the publication of The Ghostly Adversary (2001) Bolaji’s reputation as a skilled, fascinating African novelist was arguably assured, whether he published other works or not. In this highly readable book that "no true reader would be able to put down" we are cleverly guided through a series of well planned, sustained violence and mystery with the pivotal “Mr. Tortoise” an enigmatic person till the end of the book.
The "Tebogo mystery" series of books was born in 2000 when Bolaji published Tebogo Investigates in which he introduces the "detective" Tebogo Mokoena. The first book, now in retrospect, does not look as impressive as it once was, but the initial party scene in that first adventure is still etched in the mind.
Tebogo’s spot of bother (2001), the second of the series, was a real triumph with a double or triple gripping twist at the end of the book that would bring any reader of the book out in sweat. This was also the time when Bolaji began to write the detective series in the first person, bringing Tebogo closer to our hearts
Tebogo Fails (2003) maintained the puzzling nature of the Tebogo novelettes. In this story set in Botshabelo, the thing that strikes one most is that Tebogo goes on to fall in love! "the type of romantic love in Impossible love on a minuscule scale " as Flaxman Qoopane commented. Yet Tebogo still solves the baffling mystery in the third adventure in the end.
Ask Tebogo (2004) is the longest, and reveals what seemed like Bolaji’s pessimistic approach to his then writings (a follow up to People of the Townships). He introduces essays into the story,(mystery) in the latest of the Tebogo series.
Strangely enough within the last few years Omoseye Bolaji has seemed to re-discover a somewhat rich vein of creative form, especially as regards churning out new adventures of Tebogo Mokoena the detective. In 2008 he published the celebrated Tebogo and the Haka which inter alia adumbrates the intriguing dramatic performance of the Haka by the New Zealand Rugby squad.
Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009) and Tebogo and the pantophagist (2010) soon followed by the author. Both works are rather different from the others as there is really no blood-shed or violence. The stories are more like “fun-filled fiction” despite the twists and turns. Tebogo himself becomes more cerebral and conciliatory. Ever more articles have been published on the exploits of the Free State based sleuth in recent times.
The year 2012 opened on a good note for Bolaji, and especially followers of the Tebogo Mystery series. The eighth book in the series came out, titled Tebogo and the Bacchae. This new adventure is NOT written in the first person like the preceding six books in the series were. No doubt as time goes on, the literary commentators and reviewers will have more to say about this new work.
But some years ago by the time Bolaji published People of The Townships (2003) the reading public had come to expect the invariable startling conclusion to his books, and he did not disappoint. People of the Townships attracted the Community Publishing Project grant from Cape Town. The book, and its denouement, reminds one in particular of the skill employed in Agatha Christie’s mystery books. But we must also note the social commentary, "moral" exhortations, in the work.
As for Bolaji’s short stories, You never know with women (2002) and The Quack of Qwaqwa (2003) are too slim for any analysis even in an article of this nature. In his book, The Guillotine (10 short stories by Bolaji) most of the stories grip us, none more so than The narrow escape.
But Bolaji has not written and published fiction only. In Fillets of Plaice (1999) Bolaji gives us glimpses into the world of journalism essentially. In Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002) - his own contribution to literary essays - we see how well-read Bolaji himself is, with a somewhat comprehensive taste. The Story of Collins Mokhoto (2000) is biographical, but NOT as regards Bolaji himself.
It was only in My life and literature (2007) that Omoseye Bolaji comes closest to writing an autobiography; but still it is far from the real thing. The work mainly celebrates two major awards the author garnered that same year: A lifetime Achievement Award, and the Chancellor’s Medal from the University of the Free State. The book however has some interesting analysis of books.
A year earlier (2006) had seen the publication of Bolaji’s only play, The subtle transgressor. The drama also has a startling finale and has been put on stage a number of times. The Sesotho translation of the play by Pule Lechesa was also very successful.
Snippets (1998, 2002, 2004, 2006 editions) contains Bolaji’s poems, and if they are not as simple as we would want them to be, perhaps it is no surprise that he is hardly regarded as a popular poet. Meanwhile Omoseye has added two more works of poetry – Reverie (2006) and Poems from Mauritius (2007). The literary allusions in Reverie probably make it an important work; whilst Poems from Mauritius might be perceived as self-indulgent.
In 2005 Bolaji published My Opinion, a collection of some of his popular columns in Free State News - "Opinion" Some years later (2010) he wrote another regular international column “Letter from South Africa” which will be issued out in book form in 2011.
*Originally published in MAFUBE NEWS, Feb 2005 edition. Updated in April 2010
WORKS BY OMOSEYE BOLAJI
Fiction
Impossible Love (2000)
Tebogo Investigates (2000)
The ghostly adversary (2001)
Tebogo’s spot of bother (2001)
People of the Townships (2003)
Tebogo Fails (2003)
Ask Tebogo (2004)
Tebogo and the haka (2008)
Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009)
Tebogo and the pantophagist (2010)
Tebogo and the Bacchae (2012)
Short stories
They Never Say When (1994)
The Guillotine (2001)
The quack of Qwaqwa (2003)
Poetry
Snippets (1998)
Reverie (2006)
Poems from Mauritius (2007)
Collected Poems (2013) - Mbali Press. Sponsored by NAC of South Africa
Literary essays/criticism
Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002)
Molebogeng Alitta Mokhuoa (2004)
Miscellaneous Writings (2011)
Cognoscenti (2016)
Sorry You've Been Troubled (forthcoming)
Biographies
The story of Collins Mokhotho (2000)
Gilbert Modise: the man and the myth (2001)
My life and literature (2007)
Drama
The subtle transgressor (2006)
General
Eagles at USA 94 (1994)
The golden pen of Eselby (1994)
Fillets of Plaice (2000)
My Opinion (2005)
It Couldn't Matter Less (2013)
KUNLE APANTAKU (2013)
Windmills of the Dames (2014)
Far Up! Far Out! Far More! (2014)
Supplementary
Omoseye Bolaji: Catalyst... By Pule Lebuso. 2001.
Omoseye Bolaji: Perspectives on his literary work. By Flaxman Qoopane. 2003
Omoseye Bolaji: Channelling one s thoughts onto paper. By Charmaine Kolwane. 2005
Omoseye Bolaji... On awards, authors, literature. By Pule Lechesa. 2007
Omoseye Bolaji: Further perspectives. By Julia Mooi. 2009
OMOSEYE BOLAJI. By Hector Kunene. 2010
Interviews with effervescent Writers. Edited by Christine Mautjana. 2012. (pages 20 –39)
OMOSEYE BOLAJI: A voyage around his literary work. By Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga. 2012
BOLAJI IN HIS POMP. By Pule Lechesa. 2013
