There are
two refreshing features published on writer Omoseye Bolaji in the latest
edition of Ebedi Review, a journal which is the publication of the Ebedi International
Writers Residency in Iseyin.
The first feature
is on page 61, titled For Malome (Omoseye Bolaji). It is written by the South
African poet, Tiisetso Thiba. It is a rather long poem, and some of its
trenchant lines might raise a smile:
“Bold black
and tall.
Cavernous
voice.
Mirth and
Beam.
Face always
dressed up.
And with a
meek humanity.
Sole
trends.
Black shades
on your eyes.
Bag stacked with books and papers.
On your
shoulder..."
The second
feature appears on page 85 of Ebedi Review. It is a review of
Bolaji's
book, Cognoscenti (2016) written by Raphael Mokoena, critic
and blogger.
Here is how he reviews the work:
“ Omoseye
Bolaji is a prolific African writer. He has published some 30 works comprising
fiction, poetry, drama, biographies, essays and literary criticism. Cognoscenti
(2016) is his latest work.
Although
Nigerian by birth, Bolaji is more renowned as a writer in South Africa where
most of his books are published; and where he has garnered many accolades for
his proficiency in writing, including Lifetime Achievement Awards, and being
conferred with the Chancellor's Medal by the University of the Free State.
For many
literary pundits, Bolaji is often
associated with interesting fiction -
including novels and short stories. However over the last few years it is discernible that he has been focusing on
the genre of literary appreciation,
criticism, hermeneutics and its ilk.
His
published works over the last few years illustrate this - Miscellaneous
Writings (2011), It Couldn't Matter Less (2013), Kunle Apantaku (2013), Far Up!
Far Out! Far More! (2014). These works largely comprise literary criticism and
appreciation.
Cognoscenti
(2016), Bolaji's very latest work, concentrates totally on literature, largely African literature,
African authors and books. The author makes
sparkling contributions to the continent's corpus of writing here.
Most of the
essays/reviews here are short, couched in interesting fashion in a manner that
brings the pertinent books to life. The
authors straddle the decades, and include E'skia Mphahlele, Mbella Sonne
Dipoko, Ola Rotimi, Peter Abrahams amongst
many others.
In this
work, Bolaji pays a special tribute to
South African writer, Flaxman Qoopane, as he turned 60 in 2015. It is a
flowing, lovely, anecdotal essay that has echoes of Bolaji's fiction.
The longest essay here is on the literary
work of another South African writer,
Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga. Bolaji brings
together lots of analyses of Soqaga's work over the last few years; and this is by far the most
comprehensive focus on Soqaga, a mini-book in itself.
Apparently,
the author does not discriminate between writers renowned for their
"literary style" and the more popular ones. Why should we undermine
or even forget skillful writers like Victor Thorpe, Cyprian Ekwensi or Kalu
Okpi because they appealed more to mainstream readers?
Indeed, at
least one of the reviews here is that of
Cyprian Ekwensi's Jagua Nana's Daughter.
Ekwensi, as an incredibly prolific writer of novels and short stories, deserves a lot of respect.
The author has a zany, unorthodox style which often reflects in even his
serious essays; this can be seen clearly
here in his reviews of the books, The Wanderers (by Es'kia Mphahlele), and The
African Witch (by Joyce Cary)...this witty approach makes such reviews very
interesting and lively.
All in all,
this is a satisfactory work that would whet the appetite of readers and
scholars alike to appreciate African literature over the decades.”
