SLIVERS OF HOBHOUSE AND SLESSOR

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

(Right) Emily Hobhouse

The questions were coming in thick and fast, and I could hardly cope. And to think many would dub this small South African town, Hobhouse, a “backwater"!

"This is a pleasant surprise Mr Bolaji, you say this is your first visit to Hobhouse. Do you know we are a proud agricultural town?" A resident of the town enthused.I had been invited to Hobhouse by a group of writers who told me they would be “honoured "if I could visit them, and happily enough, I managed to do so.

It was a small, multicultural ensemble comprising blacks, “coloureds," and a couple of whites. The love for literature united them all, here at Hobhouse. The workshop had been interesting, and now it was time for me to be grilled! Yes, the questions were coming in thick and fast.

Another: “Mr Bolaji, we’ve read so much about how you’ve been sick over the last few years, yet you look so fresh, even big. Are you back to form? Have you overcome your health problems? Then why have you not written any major fiction for almost two years now?"

Another question: “We understand a few years ago you visited another small town, Ladybrand, and you were inspired to write your brilliant work of fiction, ‘Tebogo and the Haka’ which is based on Ladybrand. Will your visit here inspire you to write a mystery story based on Hobhouse?"

Yet another..."Do you know why this town is called Hobhouse? Do you know who it is named after?" “Of course he does," one of them answered for me. “Who does not know about the famed Emily Hobhouse?"

Indeed I knew about her; Emily Hobhouse, the British lady who had selflessly campaigned to improve the horrific lot of Boer women and children, during the Boer war in South Africa over a hundred years ago. Hobhouse had written and campaigned so lucidly and graphically in favour of the hapless victims, and somewhat precipitated changes. She has since remained a celebrated hero in South Africa, especially with the Afrikaaner (Boer/white) people.

I said a few words about Emily Hobhouse to them, expressed how much I admired her integrity, humaneness, empathy and resilience. Then I added: “Actually that’s one of the main reasons I came here. Hobhouse is some sort of vicarious kindred spirit to me as a Nigerian. She always reminds me of Mary Slessor,"

“Mary Slessor?" they queried. Apparently, nobody knew her here. The irony of world history! A personality might be celebrated in one area, but virtually unknown elsewhere. Like Hobhouse, Slessor was a British lady who travelled to Nigeria over a hundred years ago, campaigned against the killing of twins among the Efik. She is generally regarded as “an angel of mercy" (like Hobhouse) because she precipitated many positive things.

So I told them about Mary Slessor and her deeds in Nigeria over a hundred years ago. I did not forget to tell them that one of her major legacies was being a major catalyst behind the establishment of the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Nigeria, a magnificent institution which at its peak was the best in West Africa.

“Hmm...We certainly must do our research on Mary Slessor," some of them said. “So Slessor, another lady from Britain – was like our Hobhouse. Both did a lot for African communities, and the people on ground. Their legacies are still living on,"

And so it does. Both of them are celebrated by millions of Africans; in Nigeria and West Africa, for example, millions of youngsters learn about the exploits of Mary Slessor from a very young age in schools.

As the question-and-answer session petered to an end, it struck me that indeed certain people have made their indelible mark on the world. Here I was at Hobhouse, a town named after a remarkable Englishwoman, Emily Hobhouse. This for me, adumbrated the life and times of Mary Slessor, who has also been immortalised, for example on Scottish stamps. Intriguing.

THE TANTALISING PALATE!

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

We take the culinary delights we are used to back at home (in our countries), for granted. But of course when we live far away from home, we have to get used to other types of meals, though we do miss certain items that titillate the palate, so to speak!

On my own part for example, intermittently I have a pang when I realise I cannot (easily) eat delicacies like dodo (fried plantains); akara (bean cakes); moin-moin, dundun (West African chips). The simple fact is that it is almost impossible to get such delicacies in South Africa.

Yet, the situation could have been worse. At least, thanks to the intrepid and innovative zest of some Nigerians, Nigerian foods are replicated to a certain extent in special restaurants in major cities of South Africa.

Admittedly, often it is some sort of hybrid, but the main thing is the savoury “peppery” dishes! Hybrid? Yes. What I mean is that all Nigerians, like other foreigners, have very much gotten used to the fact that the staple food in South Africa – beloved by virtually everybody here – is good old pap. Hence, in many special Nigerian restaurants, what we often refer to as “Nigerian food” here, is a combination of pap and wonderful Nigerian stews, meat including isi ewu on occasions!

For those wondering what pap is, what it looks like, or tastes like – just imagine food like semovita or eba (gari). Pap is along these lines. It is everybody’s food here – for the strong and weak; male and female, young and old!Naturally Nigerians (and there are so many of us in South African cities now) congregate to these (alas, few) Nigerian restaurants.

The clever ones (business people) build a whole “entertainment centre” for Nigerians around these restaurants – a place where Nigerians can meet, listen to music, chat, essentially let their hair down, drink and the likes. But the mammoth focal interest is the food!

For the cynics (even “critics”) out there, who might be thinking that this smirks of fragmentation, Nigerians forming “cliques”, it must be pointed out that more and more South Africans are relishing the food served at Nigerian restaurants. To cut to the chase, generally, once a South African can get over the “exceeding pepper” in our stews, they just cannot stop frequenting these restaurants!

How often have I heard them saying: “Eish you guys know how to prepare fantastic meals, especially your stews. I love eating pap or rice served with your wonderful stew,” So do we all! Incidentally, the other day, I saw two whites enjoying Nigerian food at such a place.

One South African who loves Nigerian meals so much, is the well known black author, critic and editor, Pule Lechesa. One of the highlights of the day for him is tucking into, at least, one meal at a Nigerian restaurant. Virtually every day he goes to such places to eat; sometimes we go together.

Mr. Lechesa intriguingly is getting to sound like a Nigerian more and more, thanks to his being a “regular customer” at such restaurants. Phrases like “Oga” “Igwe” “Ese” and a plethora of pidgin English reel off his tongue easily. But the one he often machine-guns out is: “Oga, I wan chop!” – meaning he’s hungry and he would be rushing to a Nigerian restaurant!

WATCHING THE PLAY: "IHOBE THE FREEDOM SONG"

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

There is no running away from the fact – South Africa has had a chequered past, a horrific past really; with millions of blacks suppressed, oppressed and butchered during apartheid.

This, however, had the effect of producing so many gallant, intrepid heroes over the decades.A number of books, documentaries, and the occasional drama have been churned out in South Africa to celebrate certain pertinent events, or heroes of the struggle. The other week I was a guest at one of the most recent of such dramas commemorating the struggle; titled:“Mangaung Students Revolt: Ihobe the Freedom Song”.

The event was held at the Assemblies of God Church in Mangaung.It was a great moment for one of the heroes of the struggle, Fikile Qithi, the gentleman of whom the riveting play is essentially weaved around, his face was creased with smiles, even tears, as the play honouring him unfolded. I found myself reminiscing on the times I had visited the great man in his house while he simply and modestly prepared meals for us.

Fikile Qithi, famously a former student leader of Ihobe Secondary School, and former political prisoner at Robben Island said: “the event commemorates of Mangaung Students Outburst. We are all indebted to younger students in Mangaung who were inspired by the Soweto uprisings of June 1976, who also took part in the struggle against Afrikaans as the medium for education.”The gentleman also paid tribute to young black students from the schools in the days of yore who displayed exemplary courage.

Such schools included: Ihobe Secondary School, and Marang Primary School, Sehunelo High School, Lereko High School, St Bernard Roman Catholic School. History reveals that these institutions rejected the imposition of Afrikaans. Their heroes included: Mpho Diba, Pinkie Litheko, and Fikile Qithi.

Zingile Dingani, the former Ihobe Secondary School student and now secretary of parliament from Cape Town said: “I’m a former learner at Ihobe Primary School. In the past, we learned Geography and Mathematics in Afrikaans. That helped us to raise our consciousness though, we were young. We knew it was a terrible thing for us to be oppressed so much in our own country, and we fought the system.”

The occasion came at a propitious time, with the mammoth ANC getting ready to celebrate the centenary of the formation of the liberation movement. As illustrious poet, Raselebeli Khotseng explained at the occasion: “It is good that this play has been organised in Mangaung, we are going to have the ANC Centenary in the Free State next year. The people of this province must participate in the centenary celebrations.”

Indeed, many distinguished people turned out to enjoy the didactic, powerful play. They included the celebrated female poet, Nthabiseng Jah Rose Jafta, Flaxman Qoopane, Hector Kunene, Raselebedi Khotseng, and performance poet, Imbongi Sibongile Potelwa.The applause for the well orchestrated play was deafening.

Afterwards, well known South African struggle stalwart, Mpikeleni Duma told me: “this play is the culmination of a dream I have had to honour one of the heroes of our struggle. We blacks must learn to celebrate, and learn from the steamy marsh of our history,”

For the records, here is the cast of the play:

Hector Kunene
Mungisi Tshobeka
Morena Hamilton Berries
Zola, Mzayiya Thabang
Lenko Nomthandazo
James Nthabiseng Diphoko.

THE EFFERVESCENCE OF THE NOBEL AWARD

BY OMOSEYE BOLAJI




Soyinka

Wole Soyinka has always been a writer I have admired for decades, infact, ever since I was a kid. There are so many endearing and charismatic factors that form the warp and weft of him and his sublime writing – his incredible writing career, his mien and demeanour (never forgetting the luxuriant beard!), his integrity, his theatrical approach to life, his baritone voice, etc.

Of course his extraordinary literary career has propelled him to the very top – the first black man to be awarded the Nobel Award in Literature. His fecundity of works is also amazing – he has averaged more than a book a year for about half a decade now! In fact, the records show that his first published books came out in 1963 – before people like me were born!

I grew up surrounded by books written by the likes of Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Chukwuemeka Ike, John Munonye, Ola Rotimi, etc. Of course, we youngsters then agreed with all the adults that the most difficult writer was always Wole Soyinka! I recall that when he garnered the Nobel Award, the great Achebe congratulated him, noting that his (Soyinka’s) prolificacy was staggering.

Indeed it was, and still is. How can one forget his early works like The Jero Plays, Idanre, The Interpreters, Kongi’s Harvest, and Season of Anomie? Then there were many others like the man Died, Requiem For a Futurologist (whatever this means!), Isara :a voyage around essay, The Beatification of Area Boy. In recent years, he has added works like The Burden of Memory: – the Muse of Forgiveness, King Baabu, and You Must Set Forth At Dawn.

Winning the Nobel Award catapulted Soyinka into an international superstar, a world icon. After all, he still remains Nigeria’s only Nobel laureate. Nobel Laureates are few and far between, in Africa anyway; although in the genre of Literature, most would agree that Achebe surely more than deserves the award too.

Hence (by African standards) South Africa has performed wonders in producing many Nobel laureates (almost 10). Of course because of the blighting scourge of apartheid, many heroes emerged in the country and a few of them garnered the Nobel Prize for Peace. The most famous of them is of course, Nelson Mandela, but other illustrious recipients here are FW De Klerk, Desmond Tutu and Albert Luthuli.

South Africa has also produced Nobel laureates in the field of science, or medicine. In 1951, Max Theiler got the ultimate accolade for his contributions to medicine. Again in 2002, Sydney Brenner also became a Nobel laureate thanks to his great innovations in medicine. He was also a South African.

The first part of this column today is about Wole Soyinka; hence we can touch on the genre of literature again. Two South Africans – both white – have received the Nobel Award for Literature; Nadine Gordimer in 1991, and JM Coetzee in 2003. Coetzee remains a very reclusive figure. An associate of his for 10 years, for example, has famously said he only saw the great man smile twice during such a long period!

It is a rare occasion indeed when any African country receives a Nobel award, especially the veritably black ones. Nigeria has one Nobel laureate (Soyinka), Ghana has one (Kofi Anan) and Kenya has one too (Wangari Maathai) Contrast this with the United States of America (one country) which has over 200 Nobel laureates!! Nigeria has produced so many great people in diverse fields, and the country certainly needs more Nobel laureates …

THE EERIE SALUTATION

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI


My latest book, titled Miscellaneous Writings (2011) was launched in South Africa recently. Unlike similar occasions in the past, the book was launched in a small way this time around, as regards the formal occasion itself.

I garnered some flak for the quiet launch, especially from many other writers and literary activists who believed that it had been an oversight, or even a slight not to make the occasion even more memorable. But on my own part, I was quite satisfied; to be honest, the understated launch was quite deliberate.

Alas, there was no way I could control the media coverage however; the stories published on the new book itself. The local papers in particular made a song and dance about my latest book, and one of the publications went a bit too far!

In South Africa, unlike in Nigeria, there are many free, “mahala” publications, newspapers and magazines, distributed free of charge to tens of thousands of the people all over the place. Hence an incredible number of people would likely read stories published in such publications.

It so happened that an article on my latest book, plus my photograph was emblazoned on the front page of one of such free publications. This particular publication’s slant was that the new book, Miscellaneous Writings was the 30th I had published. And this deserved a lot of celebration!

The free, popular newspaper catapulted me almost to a “cause celebre” status.People were congratulating me all over the place. “We saw you on the front page! Congrats!” was the order of the day.

Perhaps, the most “bizarre” of such congratulations was when a certain lady, an acquaintance of mine I had not seen for some years, came to me. Smiling broadly, she threw her arms round me, and hugged me in unbridled fashion.“I saw you on the front page of the newspaper,” she said warmly, nigh tremulous with excitement. “So you have now published 30 books! You must be very clever,”

I grinned. “On the contrary,” I said. Before I could go further, she said: “you see now…pity you did not let me have a baby for you in those days…you were scared; afraid…”

I winced. But I managed to rally: “I thought we were just ordinary friends at the time…I never knew you wanted me in that way,”

She said: “Then you are blind! How could a blind man write 30 books?” She shook her head deprecatingly.

THE FLOTSAM AND JETSAM

(Right) Okara's THE VOICE

By Omoseye Bolaji

“The people who have the sweetest insides are the think-nothing people
and we here try to be like them. Like logs in the river we float and
go whither the current commands and nothing enters our insides to turn
the sweetness into bitterness,”

- from Gabriel Okara’s THE VOICE


When Pa Okara published his novel – THE VOICE – decades ago many critics and
reviewers interpreted the work as one exhorting, calling for moral
regeneration in African societies generally.

In the haunting book (The Voice) Okolo, the protagonist is on a
puzzling, nigh esoteric quest for “it” – loosely defined as “meaning
of life”; advising his people and others to ponder about the lives
they are living, their integrity, purpose of existence etc.
Ultimately, Okolo pays the price for his “treachery” and is killed on
the orders of King Izongo.

It is stressed again and again that most people will rather live
“empty” lives, lives without a purpose, and they would not like others
criticising them or calling for more integrity from them. Remarkably,
the book was published over forty years ago; yet its theme still
resonates till date.

Has Africa moved forward since the book was published? Not even an
obtuse optimist would say “yes”; the whole continent has been ravaged
with a plethora of negative things – including extraordinary
corruption, civil wars, maladministration, greed, diseases (not
forgetting the scourge of hiv aids), famine etc.

On an individual level, the type of people referred to as those who
are “like logs in the river we float and go whither the current
commands and nothing enters our insides to turn the sweetness into
bitterness” seem to proliferate in African nations, including in
Nigeria and South Africa. Yet it might well be a cosmetic situation.
But how do they manifest themselves? Do they really do any harm?

Here in South Africa, you see a medley of people milling around
apparently jobless and purposeless, wallowing in the same. Young and
old. You see them hanging around their houses, their neighbourhood,
nearby taverns and shebeens. You see a few of them and you’ve seen
them all…

Yet paradoxically, there is a serenity that surrounds people of this
ilk that indeed gives the impression that “the people with the
sweetest insides....” A friend of mine in South Africa once called
them the “flotsams and jetsam,” During summer, winter – never mind
autumn and spring – they are in profusion; often friendly, waving,
greeting good-natured in their apparent vacuousness.

Do these people have any real ambitions? What do they think about life
itself? Do they have plans to forge ahead in life? What do they do by
way of finding jobs, or furthering their education? These are answers
for the pertinent pundits and experts, perhaps. On a simplistic
level, what is clear enough is that they remind one of Okara’s famous
description.

Nor should we be naïve enough to think that many of these people are
as harmless as they look. From among their ranks the likes of thieves,
rapists, even murderers lurk. Perhaps this is in accordance with the
hoary saying that “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,”

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