Nigeria Books Written by Nigerian Authors Who Live in Nigeria

The book renaissance has begun. It is trudging faster and faster amidst an audience almost disappearing but refuses to disappear. 

In this time of unprecedented and unpredictable sea change in book options, reading formats, book explosion, indie and vanity publishing, the need to have an authentic voice narrate authentic stories to an easily distracted audience requires a new set of skills in storytelling, book title, cover page, book formats, and story content.

My wish is to see that Nigeria books by Nigerian authors who live in Nigeria conquer their space too: audience, reach, frequency, sales and rich stories that resonates with them so posterity can look back and say "Once upon a time...these books documented who we are. You want to know how life was in so and so year?" And with that the speaker stretches her hand and gives the young man and woman two books written by Nigeria authors: Fine boys by Imasuen and Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar.

And the young man asks, can you tell me the summary of the book? The speaker raises her eyebrows in mock challenge but the young man presses on, "Do tell please. I promise to read it. Cross my heart." The young woman too nods in agreement. Then the speaker goes on to say:

The bright red novel with a dash of orange and gold hues is written by Eghosa Imasuen - who is also a qualified medical doctor. In this his second novel FINE BOYS, he documents Nigeria as it was from 1993 to 1995 using the first person narrative with satirical flashbacks to the 90s and 1988, the year I considered pivotal to Nigeria's downward spiral (the infamous SAP - Structural Adjustment Programme - that sapped Nigeria dry!).

I find the stories rich and familiar. Set in Warri, It is a novel that will be an eye-opener for any youth under the pressure to "blend", "belong", "fit in" or desires to succumb to peer pressure, especially from cultist parading campuses recruiting unwilling prospects. In Fine Boys, Imasuen demystified what is behind the true life, and source of wealth of these cultists through the eyes of Ewaen (the protagonist), Tambo, Wilhelm (half oyinbo, half Nigerian), and Toju (TJ). This makes this book a must read for every Nigerian student in the tertiary institutions.

FINE BOYS also captures that period in Nigeria where strikes and closedown of universities for months unending with the worst case that lasted for two years was the norm in Nigeria. After reading this book I'm sure youth in tertiary institutions will realise that they haven't yet drawn up a most strategic method to clampdown on lecturers' excesses (buying useless handouts, lecturers not showing up for their classes, abuse of exam scores, intimidation and gross moral turpitude).

This is the kind of book-whipping renaissance we need in Nigeria: Writing our stories to create the kind of civilisation we want.

FINE BOYS is a good novel to grab and add to your collection. Your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews will thank you for it. The speaker winks. 

Excitedly the young lady begs the speaker, "Do give us a glimpse into the second book" she smiles, her vivaciousness infectious. 

OK, says the speaker. In SEASON of CRIMSON BLOSSOMS, I read a fantastic story less often narrated in Nigeria stories and literature - that of an older 'liberated' woman going against societal shackles. Gosh! You've got to read it to know it.

When a Northern Muslim Nigerian widow, Hajiya Binta decides that at 55 she's not shy about her sexuality, I knew Abubakar Adam Ibrahim in his book SEASON of CRIMSON BLOSSOMS, has done my Nigeria sensibility a lot of justice! 

Ibrahim greatest skill is his characterisation. His characters are so real and very authentic: Reza with his mannerism, always adding "You understand" after every sentence; Fa'iza who will always respond to your questions with key words from your question with a question or series of questions before responding; a sign of her haunted personality. Mallam Haruna who utterly refused to accept that a woman when she says "No" to his proposal actually means it but refuses to accept that a woman CAN 'reject him'. If you've never lived in the north and often wondered how they live, talk, relate to one another and their belief systems, SEASON of CRIMSON BLOSSOMS takes you on that ride with flashbacks from 1956 to 2011.

Above all, the after effects and trauma of the Jos Riots and Religious Killings gives you an insight why nobody should ever get carried away killing in the name of religion - a very sad case that includes both Muslims, Christians and others.

SEASON of CRIMSON BLOSSOMS also exposes the underworld of the underdogs' life - something relatable to every civilization - a case where politicians use and dumb "area boys" and "imps" to achieve their political goals, neutralise their political enemies, mastermind politically driven kidnappings which ensnares the urchins to begin to see this as a lucrative business spurning a society of criminal minded youth.

In the end, never fight someone else's battle for them. You end up losing or paying with your life as did Reza and then Munkaila who took it upon himself to 'fight for his "mother's honour"', who by the way didn't ask him to!

Read your Season of Crimson Blossoms today (go get one. high-5!)