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Book review: Romance amidst bloodletting – Andrew Eseimokumo Oki’s Bonfires of the Gods

by Echezonachukwu Nduka

bonfire

 

In recent times, African literature and story-telling in particular is witnessing a fruitful harvest of certain crops of voices which tell the African story in unique ways. For me, each time I decide to read any novel, I am left with one out of two options. It is either I am totally engrossed by the story and finish the novel sooner than I had expected. Or, I get very bored and find myself not getting halfway into the whole story altogether. Hence, the novel is abandoned and I quickly find solace in my music and poetry. In my own opinion, no novel sustains a reader’s interest more than one with well developed plot, interesting characters, brilliant use of suspense and profound imagery. This era presents a complete shift from mere telling of stories to showing them in many forms with well defined plot, characters, imagery and suspense which keeps the reader glued to the pages. There is no gainsaying that several powerful stories are coming out of Africa, but apart from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’, I am yet to read a novel from a contemporary African writer which thrums with heartrending war stories intertwined with friendship, passion, love and romance just as Andrew Oki presents in this powerful debut. Considering the setting, development of plot and several characters in the book, one is left with no doubt that the book is well researched.

Set in Warri, Nigeria. Oki tells a daring story about an inter-ethnic clash between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri Communities and skillfully narrates how the sudden chaos and bloodshed affects the lives of his characters. The author starts with a prologue written in the first-person point of view and narrates how John Doe gains consciousness in the hospital bed where he is being attended to by a sexy nurse amidst heavy rain and thunderclaps. He knows his fate is death; he would go to a place called Duwamabou and spend some time before proceeding to heaven or hell. He is wary of his Grandmother who is already in Duwamabou and struggles not to go. At last, he finds his way to the land; it is death.

From the first chapter to the very last, each character is well defined and their engagement makes the reader want to know what would happen next. Andrew Oki must have practiced the art and skill of giving life to his characters as they are evident in his story. As one reads, each chapter brings new people and gradually educates the reader on the primordial cause of the war between the Ijaws and the Itsekiris in Warri at that time.

It is not new that when there’s an inter-ethnic rivalry brewing between two ethnic groups, one of the things it affects most is marriage between them. This happens in so many places where there are wars and unresolved issues even till date. This is evident in Oki’s story as two lovers, Tonye and Laju travels down to Warri to seek Grandmother Oritseghene Dawson’s blessings for their marriage. Being a sophisticated woman who wields a lot of influence in Laju’s entire family and the Itsekiri community, Grandmother’s consent and blessings is considered paramount if the marriage must hold. But then, she finds it rather disgusting and difficult to comprehend why her granddaughter wants to marry an Ijaw young man. She instantly refuses to give her blessings on that basis and their problems begin. In the excerpt here, Oki writes: “Laju my dear, it is just how it is. Heavens, he is an Ijaw boy for crying out loud,” grandmother’s nerves stood on edge as she spoke. Her voice was a little shaky when she resumed. “I mean who knows what they will do to you,” she added. (pg.31)

In all the subsequent chapters, Oki uses several characters to paint imageries and arouse feelings of tension, fear, friendship, love and loyalty. Following the creation of a new local government area in Warri; the issue which would later result to discriminate bloodshed stems from where the headquarters of the local government is to be sited. The Itsekiris believe they reserve the right to have the headquarters in their town and the Ijaws also believe same. This results to fatal war. Jonah receives information from his friend Preye about the invasion of some Ijaw militia in Warri and he decides to flee the city immediately. As this is happening, his two sons, Mogha and Seye are excited to be travelling down to Warri to meet their father after a long break oblivious of the fact that the city is on fire. Here, Oki’s ability to weave a rich tapestry of tension and suspense is outstanding. In this excerpt, he writes: “I’m saying an Ijaw militia could very well be on their way to come and kill me if I don’t leave this town right now. And you tell me my sons are coming here. What am I going to do?” he slumped into the chair next to him clutching the phone receiver to his ears as he felt his legs weaken.” (pg.39)

I have a belief that when a writer is passionate about his/her writing, as one reads, there’s a tendency to move with the author’s emotion and the happenstance that affects the characters in the story. In Bonfires of the gods, Warri which is known for plenty of life, activities and enjoyment is suddenly thrown into utter disarray and chaos. This affects both major and minor characters like Dr. Toritseju and Jolomi, Mogha and Seye, Jonah, Oyinmiebi and Zuokumo, Tonye and Laju, Chief Warebi, Chief Layemo Smith and several others. As one reads, one could feel the plights of these characters presented in distinctive forms. Andrew Oki’s choice of words in painting imageries and describing certain actions and reactions only leaves the reader in deep imagination and chance of following the story passionately. Here, Oki presents a true picture of gun battle and extreme bloodshed. In this excerpt, he writes: “The attack was merciless. Men with bazookas stood from an angle and just pressed the trigger. Whatever was in the direction of the bazooka didn’t stand a chance.” Pg. 166

As one is lost in the pages of the novel, it is rather surprising and most enticing how Oki is able to fuse a very rich romantic sensation amidst flashpoints. Following Grandmother Dawson’s disapproval of Laju’s marriage to Tonye on ethnic grounds, and the war between the two rival ethnic groups, the two lovers still engages in romantic escapades until they lose contact and Laju later marries an Itsekiri. Most laudable is Andrew Oki’s ability to write sex so beautifully without indulging in vulgarism and still presents a clear picture of his intentions. However, it is also salient to note that even with his careful use of words; the tendency to offend any reader depends on the reader’s emotional response to Oki’s powerful imagery. In this excerpt, he writes: “Both naked; both in fiery passion; Tonye gently let himself in and Laju held herself from screaming out in utter passion. He was big, and strong, and hot and she wanted him deeper than ever before. She grabbed his back and pulled him even closer as he rocked her on the old creaky bed.” Pages 78-79

It is one thing to be a writer and another thing to be the readers’ writer. It is not enough to just write. To me, writing without considering the reader is rather selfish and oftentimes, a futile engagement. The readers validate the writer. When I was much younger, I grew up in an environment where the use of library was almost compulsory for every student. Even when reading became very tiring and boring, sometimes one had no option than to open the pages and just stare at them. That way, I grew up first being a reader even before having the urge to start writing. Till today, there is a saying that black people do not read. Well, as it is, my heart goes out to those who still believe in that nasty and hasty generalization. If anyone had seen the mammoth crowd trooping into the Terra Kulture hall when Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie stormed Lagos to launch and read from her newest novel-Americanah, it could be easily ascertained that there are people who still read and embrace literature with open arms. On that note, people who read very often know what tickles them most each time they set out to read any writer’s work and that often become a base or platform by which the writer’s work is appraised. For me, Andrew Oki’s profuse use of what I prefer to call ‘poetic sentences’ and certain figures of speech distinguishes his art and makes him an ardent writer whose use of words attracts a certain crop of readers. While I was reading, I came across this path and caught myself reading it over and over again. Here in this excerpt, Oki writes: “The rain poured on. Loud cracking thunderclaps chased after flashes of lightening like children playing catch-a-thief in the hot-and-cold sand banks of the river in Patani.” Pg.14

In conclusion, Oki’s ‘Bonfires of the gods’ is not only thrilling and informative, it is one of the best war stories ever told in recent times as it beautifully weaves love, friendship, loyalty and intense romance into a heartrending war story. With this debut, Andrew Eseimokumo Oki boldly pens his name in the list of burgeoning contemporary African writers.

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Echezonachukwu Nduka is a Nigerian musicologist, poet, short story writer and occasional essayist.

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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