OMOSEYE BOLAJI'S LATEST BOOK (2011)

OMOSEYE BOLAJI'S LATEST BOOK (2011)

Review by Paul Lothane



So Omoseye Bolaji’s 2011 book is out, and those of us who love his brand of writing are enthused again. After all, his last book came out in very early 2010. The new book is titled Miscellaneous Writings.

Some might be disappointed that the new work is NOT fiction. But as I always say, we can always re-read Bolaji’s many works of fiction anyway. This latest work comprises short essays, articles, reviews etc, written by the author.

As the blurb of the book tells us: “This book contains a selection of (Bolaji’s) miscellaneous writing: brief, informative, sparkling, introspective; often humorous and dazzling. Not surprisingly, the author touches on many aspects of the world of literature…”

This book is written in various styles, so to speak. I suppose the author wrote each piece the manner in which he felt they should be written. Bolaji’s essays on writers D.H Lawrence, NMM Duman, and (largely) Lewis Nkosi are essentially formal, with a rather disciplined format.

Yet there are idiosyncratic pieces included in this new work too, as one would expect from Bolaji. The write-up on “facebook” will probably fall under this framework; as would the one titled “The vagaries of poverty”, and “Guitarists with brio”. Read them and see whether you agree with me!

A few of the essays in this new book clearly show Bolaji’s passion for sports, especially football. The one on “Segun Odegbami” a former great African soccer player, is filled with child-like fascination and hero-worship, for example. Odegbami was at his best when the author was still quite young.

Yet by the time the 2010 World Cup finals came around, Bolaji, as a grown-up, exhibits the same passion for football, but is much more philosophical and serious about it all. Hence the three or so special articles pertaining to the unforgettable South Africa 2010 in this book, reaching a peak with the one titled “The allure of the stadium”

It is no surprise – since Bolaji is such a fine writer of fiction – that some of the essays here seem almost as if we are reading short stories. Examples in this wise here are “Gem of an artist”, “The burgeoning wordsmith”, “Stumped”, “The pungent illustrators", and “Murder in the temple”

Bolaji is also famed for the twists and turns of his fiction, the unexpected conclusions. We see traces of this here in some of these short essays, especially “Stumped”. Can a leopard change its spots?

In the very last segment of this new book, some recent essays on Bolaji’s literary work are published. The piece on his short stories (The Guillotine), is excellent; as are essays written by Deon Simphiwe Skade and Raphael Mokoena. I agree with Pule Lechesa, who wrote the Introduction to this book, that all lovers of literature in particular must get a copy of Omoseye Bolaji’s “Miscellaneous Writings”.

Those interested in getting a copy of this new book can email barbara@newvoices.co.za