Reading books particularly Nigerian books is one of my favorite pastimes.This love of books and the written word was indeed sparked in me by my parents at an early age. As a child growing up In Ile ife and Ilorin i treasured the numerous trips to Various bookstores from the then World class bookshop in the Obafemi Awolowo Campus which was then under the sterling leadership of Chief Wumi Adegbonmire whose wife was also my teacher at school to the streets of Ife and Modakeke then lined with a lot of bookstores there were books galore. These were the days before the Ife Modakeke fratricidal wars of recent memory. There were a few bookstores near the Ooni's palace His royal Highness Oba Adesoji Aderemi who reigned from 1930 to 1980.

We later moved to Ilorin i was not really impressed with the Ilorin University bookshop which was  though fairly reasonably stocked did not have as much choices or places to read like the bookshop in Ife Campus which was bigger than most Barnes and Noble's here in the states.There were however a lot of privately owned bookstores particular on Ibrahim Taiwo the main business area in Ilorin then.This article is however on books and not on bookshops.

Part 2

In the early 80's the pacesetter series came on the scene.These books were quite popular.Some titles include Agbo Areo's Director , Valentine Alily's Black Temple and a host of others.I remember buying virtually all the first 20 of the series till they faded out. Nigeria also had a response to the popular teenage romance series called Mills and Boon's this was championed by Chief Olaiya Fagbamigbe who represented Akure in the House of representatives in the second republic.He however tragically lost his life in the aftermath of the 1983 elections which was marred by violence.These events have been masterfully chronicled by Dare Babarinsa in his book House of War.

There were Children's books and magazines.The Obobo series by Naiwu Osahon come to mind.Also Mabel Segun's books. How dare i forget Dr Anezi Okoro and his book the popular'' Eze goes to School''. Dr Okoro later became Professor of Dermatology in the University of Nsukka Medical school. Also in the early 70's to late 70's we had Nigerian comic books which actually rivaled the Marvel comics and DC comics of the united states and Tintin of Belgium.These were the Pop and Powerman series.Powerman being an actionhero.I remember villains such as Fat Man Lazy bones. Other's include Leo and His Magic shoes,The boxer Blackman Massala and Django the Black sheriff. There was also Lance Spearman.

Other authors of great significance include the pharmacist,administrator,journalist and Novelist Cyprian Ekwensi who was multitasking before it became Cliche.His books that i read include Jagua Nana the manipulative prostitute who climbed up the social ladder. JaguaNana's Daughter.Others are People of the City and Burning Grass.I also read the Late Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa's book on the capitals of the then 12 states of Nigeria.This book is out of print.He included John Peper Clark Bekederemo's poem on Ibadan which goes thus. ''Ibadan Running splash of rust and Gold flung and scattered among seven hills like a broken China in the sun'' .I would like to thank my Teacher Mr Enahoro for introducing me to this poem while his student at Federal Government College Ogbomoso.. Professor Ola Rotimi of blessed memory wrote his masterful rendition of the greek tragedy Oedipus Rex which i also enjoyed.He also wrote ''Our Husband has gone Mad again'' which introduced Nigerians and theater viewers to his character Major Lejoka Brown.Also Ovanramen Nogbaisi which is play of the British invasion of Benin in 1896.How dare i forget Kurunmi the Oyo empire Aare Ona Kakanfo who died in Ijaye.

Another good book written by Peter Enahoro which i read again about 4 years ago is ''How to be a Nigerian''This is packed with anecdotes about life in Nigeria in that distinctly humouros style that is indeed unique to Peter Pan.Peter Enahoro who is the brother of the legendary Chief Anthony Enahoro who moved the motion for Nigeria's independence is indeed alegend in his own right.Another Brother Mike Enahoro used to be a newscaster on NTA in the mid 70's. Peter had a column in the Daily Times in the 60's and early 70's .These was the time of Alade Odunewu,Alhaji Babatunde Jose,Chief Theo Ola, Chief Henry Odukomaya et al.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Reading books particularly Nigerian books is one of my favorite pastimes.This love of books and...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 10.08.2006 23:42

Fjord  Villager

# 2 Dr. Ogunremi: interesting notes; thanks for sharing. Things fall apart is a classic and should be in every home and library And this is deserving. The essential Everyman's Library list (see: http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/classics/set_list.php?id=0) shows Achebe's immortal classic sitting firmly. He is about the only living author on that list. The introduction to the list reads "The Everyman's Library 100 Essentials brings together a selection of 100 of the best-selling titles from the most distinctive collectible library of the world's greatest works." Indeed. There are no words to describe this work. There had been a TV series of Things Fall Apart from many years ago; that itself is a classic (this is opinion), and yet doesn't come anywhere close to the magic of the book. However, you wrote: It has been translated into 140 languages worldwide. The book is certainly one of the most translated books, but estimates that one's come across range from 45, to 60, and the highest being about 70. Do you have some source for the 140 figure? May I also add the following: Wole Soyinka's third(?) autobiography is Isara: A Voyage around Essay (yeah, I know one is splitting hairs here; yet, there's been credible information that the correct rendering should be "`Isarà"; I'm not sure that's how the book gives it); also we have "Ibadan: The Penkelemes years". I am yet to read "You must set forth at Dawn". Any good perfomance of 'Death and the King's Horseman' is usually gripping. I'd been priviledged to see a performance at the University of Ibadan Arts Theatre (it wasn't disappointing after risking life and limb on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway just to go see this play on an evening). As you've read "Ibadan: the Penkelemes Years", would you consider it "faction" too? . Posted by Fjord| 11.08.2006 04:30

Citizen O  Villager

# 3 Thank you to Dr. Ogunremi for recommending these works. While I am familiar with Mr. Achebe and Mr. Soyinka (along with contemporary heirs like Ben Okri), this is the first I am hearing of writers like Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike. I wanted to let Villagers know that many of these works are available through sites like Alibris.com, if you don't mind buying used copies. I assume that most, if not all, of the lesser-known writers are out-of-print. Anyway--thanks again for the recommendations and please feel free to add more. Posted by Citizen O| 11.08.2006 10:49

Akanimo Uwan Akpan

# 4 Two of my favorite classics are So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba and The African Child by Camara Laye. Ther former is about the survival tactics of a well educated woman, Ramatoulaye, whose husband abandons her for a younger woman. The literary qualities in trumps all other novels that I have read. The African child is an autobiography of Camara Laye of Guinea. Nostalgic childhood. Posted by Akanimo Uwan Akpan| 11.08.2006 15:40

Soul Sista  Villager

# 5 Dr. Ogunremi, Thanks for this nice article. It reminds me of a number of books by Nigerian and African authors that I have read over the years. To your list, I must add "A Mouth Sweeter than Salt" by Prof. Toyin Falola. It is one of the best books I have ever read. Like Achebe in Things Fall Apart and Soyinka, to a certain extent, in Ake, Falola transports you to the rich culture and tradition of Ibadan. His language is superb; his descriptions very easy to imagine and visualize. The funny thing is that Falola is a historian, better known for writing history books. This book is his biography up to the age of 11. I cannot wait to read the sequel. Unfortunately, I have not read Soyinka's Ibadan. I ordered it from Amazon a couple of weeks ago but it is not expected to arrive until later in the month. My sibblings and I must have read almost all the books in Heinnemann's African Writers Series while we were growing up. Is it Ama Ata Aidoo's The Girl who Can, Mongo Beti's Mission to Kala, Ayi Kwei Armah's The Beautyful Ones are not yet Born, Isidore Okpewho's The Victims, Ousmane Sembene's God's Bits of Wood, or Ngugi wa Thiongo's Weep Not Child? Who wants to say that Africans have no literature? We need to celebrate these people. Abeg, don't get me started. A number of younger African writers are also writing some fantastic books and short stories. There is Chimamanda Adichie, Sefi Atta (who is my personal favorite in her generation), Tsitsi Dangarembga, Muthoni Garland, Chris Abani (who I think is receiving more rave than his talent currently deserves), and one-book wonder, Uzodinma Iweala. There is much hope that there are those who will step into the shoes of the masters. I must confess that, although I love my African writers any day any time, my best writer is Columbian Nobel laureate, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, author of such master pieces as Love in the Time of Cholera and A Hundred Years of Solitude. No one can beat my Marquez (yes, I call him my Marquez :-).) at his game of magical realism, no one! Ben Okri comes a close second on the magical realism scale with The Famished Road but he does not surpass the master in my opinion. One thing that never ceases to amaze me about Marquez is that he writes in Spanish and is translated to English by Edith Grossman. Nevertheless, the language is still so beautiful, the imagery so rich, the story lines sometimes so incredible and the talent just leaps off the pages and grabs you. He is fresh. I also like Indian and Pakistani writers and there was a period when I was really into anything Indian or Pakistani: Vikram Seth (A Suitable Boy), Rohinton Mistry (who wrote the tear jerker about the lives of the downtrodden in India, A Fine Balance), Shashi Tharoor (now a contender for UN Secretary-General and author of Show Business), and of course, my gals, Jhumpur Lahiri (The Namesake) and Arundahti Roy (The God of Small Things). I hate that I love Vidal Naipaul (A House for Mr. Biswas) as well as his friend turned arch enemy, Paul Therroux. You really got my started on something I really, really like, reading. I am currently reading Marquez's autobiography, Living to Tell the Tale and Ali Mazurui's The Trial of Christopher Okigbo. Thanks again for a beautiful piece and encore, please!!! Soul Sista BTW, Sebi you are you the village doctor? There is one question regarding menopause waiting for your attention in the doctor's section o. Don't mind me, ITK like me, abi? But, abeg answer for the benefit of all of us. Also, any chance that you can help us to find a Nigerian, female gyne willing to hang out with the gals in the W-2-W Section? If so, please send me a PM, pretty, pretty please :-). Thanks. Posted by Soul Sista| 11.08.2006 21:00

Akanimo Uwan

# 6 I have also read Mistry's book, "A fine balance". The novel was about four young men who shared an apartment in a lady's quarters. That novel was really touching, and I was moved by it, until the end when the author inserted a blasphemous statement. That just turned me off. I was impressed with his writing also, perhaps, the 2nd best writer after Mariama Ba, but that blasphemous statement of his just nullified my respect for him. Another great read is "The beggars strike" by Aminata Sow Fall. The novel showcases the importance of beggars in the Islamic community. They are kicked out of the community because some opportunist interested in a higher position, feels that these beggars are a threat to orderliness of the Senegalese society. When the time comes for him to donate to the less unfortunate, his gifts are turned down by the beggars and he loses the governmental position. I have also read Xala by Sembene Ousmane. I dont know, I just developed an interest in Francophone literature after reading So Long a Letter. I have read Camara Laye, and was stunned that some prominent African writers took a swipe at the novel, for neglecting to tackle on the ills of colonialism. I have also read "A Dakar childhood", just the autobiography of a lady (she is late) growing up in Senegal. Nice book. Have read some of Achebe's novels and some other Nigerian novels. Ghana also has some fine writers like Amu Djoletto. His novel, "The strange man" is hillarious by turns. Achebe is regarded the best African writer, but for the female writers, Mariama Ba, in my opinion stood head and shoulders above them. Her novel, So Long a Letter is a masterpiece. Check it out, and you will be impressed by the story line and the grammar. Posted by Akanimo Uwan| 11.08.2006 22:09

Fjord  Villager

# 7 It appears the doctor is on call :-) Soul Sista: interesting notes. What's it with authors writing their autobiographies up to the age of 11?! Wole Soyinka had "promised" not to write/publish his beyond this age; of course, he broke himself against his "promise"; he'd called it the end of the age of innocence (words to that effect); first I'm reading of Prof. Toyin Falola (and amazon shows he's written lots!). Marquez: I recall being gripped as I turned the pages of his "Leaf Storm", which in many ways was "restrained". There's that uncanny ability to delve into stories no one dares to touch; his rendering of "News of a Kidnapping" was masterful; I'd wondered what it'd've been to have read him in Spanish. For some reason, one never completed "Love in the Time of Cholera... a tiny note: my copy of Chronicle of a Death Foretold was translated by Gregory Rabassa. Will Rushdie qualify as an Indian/Pakistani writer? I'd thought he was robbed of the Nobel garb to the advantage of Naipaul, but eh, one doesn't sit on the Nobel panel. How's the Mazrui book doing? Only got to hear about Mazrui during the Rushdie affair; there's no opinion formed of his work. J.M. Coetzee is another favourite author. . Posted by Fjord| 12.08.2006 00:38

Soul Sista  Villager

# 8 Fjord: You are right, Gregory Rabassa was my Marquez' translator for some of his books, including Leaf Storm. I forgot about Rabassa because Marquez has worked with Edith Grossman for so long. Thanks a lot for pointing that out. The Mazrui book is not going so well. It is not an easy read and my in-laws are visiting so I don't have the luxury of soaking it in the way I would like because I am playing hostess. I am likely to re-start it at some point when I have more time to myself. Mazrui is, like Falola, more of an academic writer than a writer in the mould of Soyinka and Achebe so I am not surprised that there is no real critical opinion of his work. Before Rushdie and the Satanic Verses, Mazrui produced a documentary on Africa. I think it was called: Africa, The Triple Heritage or something of the sort. It was shown on TV in Nigeria in the early to mid 80s. Yes, Rushdie will qualify as Indian or Paskistani for my non-scientific categorization. I am not that crazy about his work. For example, I really liked the Moors Last Sigh but I have never been able to finish East West. He does not do those cultures for me the way Rohinton Mistry, for example, does. Akanimo, I hear you on Mariama Ba. I think she is a phenomenal writer. We read So Long a Letter in my all gals book club. I reccomended it as an African book, written by a female author, speaking to issues that affect African women. I don't think we have ever had such a spirited discussion as we did over the book and we have had the club for years and I am the only African amongst us. However, with women like Flora Nwapa, Ama Ata Aidoo, Efua Sutherland, Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer (who is White African), Buchi Emecheta, Fatima Mernissi, Zulu Sofola, Nawal El-Saadawi, and Zainab Alkali, I cannot crown Mariama Ba as Africa's leading female writer. Moreover, Ba died too early. So there is not that meaty volume to her work in English that I can make judgments about. It is a hard decision with so much talent. I have never read anything by Aminata Fall but I hear that she is very good, as you attest. I will add her to my ever lengthening "To Read" list. Has anyone read: "What will my Mother say" by Dympna Ugwu-Oju? If so, what did you think? I was annonyed by and interested in it at the same time. Soul Sista Posted by Soul Sista| 13.08.2006 10:55

Akanimo

# 9 Soul Sista, yeah, Aminata Sow Fall of Senegal is also good. I have read novels written by other leading African female writers. I read the "Marriage of Anansewa" by Sutherland in High school and I think it is a classic. I dont know why the novel has not attained the popularity of other works of African fiction. The subject line on bride price was well portrayed by the novelist. Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo did not exactly titilate me. Another one by Nwapa "One is Enough", though entertaining while living in Nigeria, just did not appeal to me when I read it again. I know there are some good female African writers, like Nafissatou Diallo (she was from Senegal, and died at a young age). I have not read Buchi Emecheta's novels though, so I cant make a sound judgement on her work. I have read some of them all, but we all have choices, none of them can live up to Ba's novel. She was a remarkable writer, her literary style is richer than her female counterparts. Check out her other novel, "The Scarlet Song, that she wrote on her deathbed. Another African Classic that explores the challenges of an interractial relationship. There is a lengthy biography of her in this book, "Coming of age through colonial education by Ralph A. Austen". One of her biographers wrote that her first novel has attracted interest from the International literary field, more than any other female African novelist. Cheers, www.nigerianmemories.blogspot.com Posted by Akanimo| 13.08.2006 18:25

Anike  Bibi ire: Agbe Gboko Rosu

# 10 I have read tons of novels but I shamefully have to say the Nigerian novels have read can be counted on my two hands and I'll still have some fingers standing. I remember reading Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and thinking, what a chauvinist! But then I realized that all he wrote must have happened at some point in a certain village. I particularly did not like the part where Okonkwo had to be sent to his Mother's village because he committed a "female crime" because, in the Umoofia's(?) people's eyes, crimes borne out of cowardice are "female crimes". But I have to say he did a good job of getting the reader to actually visualize everthing. I also remember reading the wizard of law by Zulu Sofola (who, by the way, was my choir ... coordinator or something like that before she passed and we all used to laugh at the way she would do that hand thing... she you get...) and all those pacesetters (or something like that). I started reading "You Must Set Forth At Dawn" like when it came out (shame on me, you know how with Prof now, you need your dictionary while you read) and I still have the first chapter opened on my study table. My favorite authors now are, Sidney Sheldon, Robert Ludlum (to a minimal degree since I have only read like two of his books; the Bourne sequel), John Grisham, Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts (aka J. D. Roberts; I just finished reading Cordina's Royal Family (Bennett and Camilla and Alexander and Gabrielle)), Elizabeth Lowell... The problem I have with John Grisham's novels are that, movie producers come along and turn them into a movie and actually take away from the ingenuity of the book (take The Runaway Jury) as opposed to Bourne Identity that, although there was a slight (very slight) change, I still enjoyed the movie. I never saw Bourne Supremacy though because I thought it was a huge overkill. I'm going to try to read strictly Nigerian written books for a while. How can I forget my James Hardley Chase (Like a hole in the head, Tiger by the tail ...) 'Wonder if the James guy still writes. Posted by Anike| 13.08.2006 19:30

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