OMOSEYE BOLAJI AND EBEDI REVIEW

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.”