THE PLAYWRIGHTS

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

The weather was barmy and erratic on this particular day in Bloemfontein city in South Africa as what should have been a rather hot summer day turned out to be quite cold and withering. But life must go on. I was doing a little shopping inside one of South Africa’s major supermarkets.

At the counter, as I was about to pay for items purchased, the lady cashier suddenly smiled, beaming: “Hi Ntate (Mr) Bolaji! Hi!!” she said. I winced a bit, as I could not easily recognise her, one of my bad habits! My first impression was that she had seen my photo in a local newspaper or magazine, or in one of my books.“Don’t you remember me? I am Lerato,” she went on, a bit disappointed.

She explained loudly, to other ladies working in the supermarket. “This is the man who wrote the play, Joo, Letla Shwa- Letla Botswa, which we acted in Ladybrand (town). Ntate Bolaji, the playwright. Remember you once travelled to Ladybrand to watch us on stage?”I nodded. She went on: “Mr Pule Lechesa introduced you to us (the actors) then. You were discussing which version of your play you preferred; the play being acted in English, or in Sesotho (South African) language. But we were then acting the play from the Sesotho translation. I acted the part of Violet, the young lady.”

I remembered now. The name of my play, originally written and published in English, was The Subtle Transgressor. Pule Lechesa (above) was the brilliant South African writer who translated the play into the Sesotho language as Joo, Letla Shwa- Letla Botswa. His translation had been something of a bestseller, and he also ensured that it was on stage in his hometown, Ladybrand.

Now in the supermarket, the young lady, Lerato asked me the last time I had seen Pule Lechesa. I tried to answer her quickly, but I was a bit embarrassed now as a few people were behind me on the small queue who wanted to pay for their goods too. I moved sideways, picked up my big plastic bag containing what I had bought and smiled at the lady. “It’s been nice meeting you again,” I said. Meanwhile, one of the nearby ladies there added in a friendly fashion: “I know you write books, but I did not know you also wrote plays," Lerato said: “He’s a modest man; he’s a great playwright!”

Now I really felt embarrassed. It is a pity really how many people use descriptions sloppily, even flippantly; though ignorance might be a mitigating factor for this. Coming from Nigeria, I would never describe myself as a distinguished playwright, considering the world class playwrights Nigeria has produced over the decades. Illustrious playwrights like JP Clark, Wole Soyinka, Zulu Sofola, Laolu Ogunniyi, Ola Rotimi, to mention but a few.

Over the years, my firm favourite among Nigerian playwrights had always been Ola Rotimi, though. Maybe because at a very tender age we had to study his play Kurunmi in school of which many of us knew many parts of it by heart as kids. I did read many of Wole Soyinka’s plays too; but later on I was to admire the Nigerian female playwright, Zulu Sofola indeed!

And of course, in nearby Ghana, Ama Ata Aidoo and Efua T. Sutherland have been remarkable female playwrights too. Aidoo’s The Dilemma of a Ghost used to fascinate me. The late Efua Sutherland was a genius as regards the theatre, and whilst at school we had to read her funny play, The marriage of Anansewa too.

But I suppose I have to admit that in my own small way, I am a playwright too.

BOOK REVIEW

By PAUL LOTHANE

Book: OMOSEYE BOLAJI
Author: Hector Kunene
Publisher: New Voices Publishing (Cape Town)
Pages: 117
Reviewer: Paul Lothane

This is a beautiful book put together by Mr Hector Kunene; proving once again that he is “a real breath of fresh air in the literary sphere” as Mr Lechesa puts it. This is a book that will really put the Free State on the map!

This new book bears comparison with virtually every major study on key African writers over the years – eg Fraser’s study on Ayi Kwei Armah; Dr Adele King’s study on Camara Laye; Wild’s initial study on Dambudzo Marechera; Mary Ebun Modupe Kolawole's study on the late Zulu Sofola. This is a book that will be treasured by the scholars and lovers of literature for generations to come.

Kunene has gone out of his way to present a most pleasing book – apart from the main body of about 30 articles on Omoseye Bolaji’s works. There is the interesting introduction, revealing interviews late on in the study, an excellent piece by Ishmael Soqaka, and the book concludes with a world class Bibliography at the very end.

The articles, critiques etc themselves cover a wide range. All the books of poetry produced by Bolaji are reviewed. The most visible aspect of his writings; the fiction, is also extensively covered. Contributors like Peter Moroe, Pule Lechesa, Aryan Kaganof, Raphael Mokoena, yours truly, Hector himself – all have their say.

Such an excellent work challenges the critic who is in danger of becoming a “praise singer” as Lechesa puts it in one of his books. But of course this new work is not free of a few blemishes – happily such weaknesses are confined mainly to the Introduction to this book.

Hector, in his introduction shows what some critics refer to as a “butterfly mind” which is not necessarily a bad thing; but he also puts together many contradictory and illogical statements. Let’s take two of them here:

“I even asked him (Bolaji) how he expects to be well known if he was so private and distant and he would simply smile and shy away...”
(Page 17)

Also:

“Bolaji does not strike as a public figure; I continue to question myself how he has managed to survive in this industry that is dominant in competition whilst keeping a low profile. Can it be perhaps that he manages to keep up with the pressure...?”
(Page 14)

Yet, from the beginning and throughout his introduction the author keeps on stressing how much he wanted to meet the “great” Bolaji, the “legend” Bolaji - he repeats this many a time. Hector himself goes out of his way to track Bolaji down. This clearly shows that Bolaji’s fame already preceded him in the literary world despite his low profile. Hector ironically confirms this himself in the following passage which again contradicts what he is claiming:

“Whilst Bolaji and I were journeying the streets of Bloemfontein (people) would raise their fists in the air when greeting him, and in return he raises his fist back at them, smiling...I even feel like I am walking with David Beckham or a Will Smith”
(Page 15)

We should also note that the “competition” and “pressure” (in writing) Hector refers to is largely a creation of his own imagination, or his own approach to life. Distinguished writers like Bolaji who have amassed top quality awards and accolades for writing have a large corpus of published works and complementary studies which already speak for themselves; they do not need to be childishly running up and down “competing” or seeking cheap publicity.

But these are just minor blemishes in what is a stunning, superb work put together by Hector Kunene.

* At the insistence of the reviewer, Mr Lothane, this article has been placed here as the latest “Letter from South Africa” normally written by Omoseye Bolaji

Free State Stadium - Top notch!

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI


On Sunday October 10, 2010, I was at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein City, South Africa to witness the Macufe Cup football clash between two key clubs, Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic.

My mind briefly wandered to the days I was an avid football follower in Nigeria, then, a regular at the Stadia like Liberty Stadium, Adamasingba, Sportscity, Surulere, Onikan stadia. I was (still) a sucker for the extravagantly skillful football player – the likes of Etim Essien, Samson Siasia, Kayode Balogun among others

How well I remember the 1989 national team of Nigeria which should have gone on to qualify for the World Cup finals and rock the world like Cameroon did in 1990. With talents like Stephen Keshi, Siasia, Etim Essien, Wole Odegbami, Richard Owubokiri etc, that was a skillful team indeed. But it was not to be, and Nigeria very narrowly missed out on qualification.

Now as I was ensconced at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, my mind again went back to the days I came here regularly to cover games for South African national publications like Sowetan and Sapa; days of mixing with the crème de la crème of South African football writers, white and black – Sy Lerman, Mark Glesson, Teboho Setena, Mpikeleni Duma, etc.

The Free State Stadium was of course one of the venues that hosted the World Cup games some months ago when South Africa proudly hosted the world. A number of key matches were played there including the England vs Germany clash, and South Africa vs France. But from the Nigerian perspective, the Greece vs Nigeria World Cup match was eagerly awaited at that time at this stadium.

How well I remember that ill-starred game! It was a very cold day in Bloemfontein, but at least the game took place in the afternoon. Nigerians flocked to the stadium so sure that the Super Eagles would win – happily recollecting the 2-0 World Cup win over Greece in 1994.But it was not to be.

Although the Eagles took an early lead, they were to throw everything away as the match petered out. 1- 0 in favour of Nigeria became a depressing 2-1 loss and many Nigerians were incensed and none too happy with the loss by the Eagles side which was reduced to ten men. It was dispiriting stuff.

Of course the international focus was extraordinary when Germany played England during the World Cup at the Free State Stadium. It was again uncanny how the English fans managed to make their way to Bloemfontein in many thousands to support their team. A few days earlier, I had been in Johannesburg and met a number of English fans with ‘Barmy Army’ inscribed on their shirts, as they prepared to travel in droves to Bloemfontein city for the big game. Some went by luxury bus, some via trains, others decided to fly.

What a shock for the English in Bloemfontein city as their team crashed 4-1 to the German side that had too much youthful zest and fizz! How well I remember the utter dejection of the English fans around the stadium after the game ended; even those at the nearby Tourist Centre had disbelief and shock etched on their faces.

The Free State Stadium is also the famed home for the Free State Cheetahs, a powerful Rugby outfit that has used the Stadium for years; before football got in on the act. In the Macufe Cup, Bloemfontein Celtic won the game against Chiefs, thanks to penalties!