LITERARY SNIPPETS

By Ezenwa-Ohaeto It is heart breaking that the author (biographer) brilliant poet, academic, et al died prematurely; but at least he left behind some brilliant works, none more important than this masterpiece of a biography on Chinua Achebe. Yes, Achebe, regarded by most as the greatest ever novelist to come from Africa. His novel, Things Fall Apart enthralled the world and sold in millions. Achebe, during his lifetime was celebrated and honoured globally. Many would love to read about his life and the author surpasses himself in this book, a real labour of love, intensely satisfying in every respect. We read about Achebe since when he is a child, growing, developing, writing his profound works gradually over the years; the internecine Nigerian civil war is not neglected, and the role Achebe played at this torrid time, and much more. We really get to know Achebe, through his childhood friends, his colleagues at the College and University, western acquaintances and scholars, a gre...

REMEMBERING THE WORDSMITH KALU OKPI Kalu Okpi (1947 – 1993) of Nigeria wrote andpublished some of the most exciting "popular" fiction, or thrillers in Africa over the years. A remarkably imaginative writer of proseand drama, Okpi deserves much more attention even in recent times. Okpi published some ten works of grippingfiction, starting with The Smugglersin the 70s. In many other works, like Onthe Road, Crossfire, Coup!, Love, he created interesting characters,including delectable women. In a novel like TheSouth African Affair, the usualstunning plot, twists and turns, and startling finale make for powerfulreading.  International scholars have recognised Okpi's contributions to interesting African fiction -at least some of them; as witness certain major anthologies and books onAfrican Literature in general.  Such scholars include Wendy Griswold, Oyekan Owomoyela, K.S Ogbonna, V. Coulon, T A Ezeigbo, and H Ehling. But Okpi's work and impact deserve even more at...

OMOSEYE BOLAJI AND HIS TEBOGO MYSTERY I was obsessed with creative writing since I was a - Bolaji Introduction Omoseye Bolaji, a Nigerian writer, is mainly renowned for being the creator and author of the "Tebogo Mystery series" which features the adventures and cases of a South African based private detective, Tebogo Mokoena. Bolaji has also published several other books. Henry Ozogula, who has published a book (study) on some of Bolaji's writings, spoke to him recently... QUESTION. You obviously fell in love with books, reading and even writing from a very young age. Can you cast your mind back to your childhood? BOLAJI: That is very true. My father was a then famous editor and journalist, S. Labanji Bolaji, and of course he instilled the habit of reading in particular into his children. We were kids, but he kept on buying us a medley of comics and general books; he had a fine personal library too which contained so many books, a plethora of fiction for exampl...