COLD HARBOUR. By Jack Higgins

As an African literary aficionado and enthusiast one cannot but marvel at the proficiency and prolific nature of Eurocentric writers - not that it stops them from garnering heavy flak from readers and critics!

Like now I have just read one of Jack Higgins almost 100 novels, titled Cold Harbour. Can one conceive of an African author writing even 20 books or novels?? Yes a handful exist- a couple of Kenyan writers like Meja Mwangi, and David Maillu; Kalu Okpi, and Cyprian Ekwensi of Nigeria, Asare Konadu of Ghana...but such writers are thin on the ground.

The literary trajectory of J Higgins is very impressive having been writing international bestsellers and thrillers for over 30 years. He specialises in espionage, war novels and the like, and his books have sold in millions

Okay so it shows that the Eurocentric world has always valued literacy and literature since the days of Charles Dickens for one. But there are so many illustrious writers in Europe and America that one ends up stumped, in essence. But back to Higgins and this work.

Here he has created some memorable characters, male and female. Craig Osbourne a savvy American agent, for one, and of course the intriguing woman, Genevieve Trevaunce. Yes the story dates back decades ago to the times of the Nazis, which again reminds us of how the western world accretes countless creative writing weaved around their history.

The author does write well despite a rather jaded sceptical western readership. I loved passages like, "Death stared up at them, a skeleton with a scythe mowing not corn, but corpses..." Well Mr Higgins has been a legend for many decades anyway...

- Henry Ozogula

ISHMAEL MZWANDILE SOQAGA - African Author and Publisher

By Henry Ozogula

The impressive South African writer, critic and publisher,  Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga (below) continues to make great strides in the African literary circuit. 

An author of at least five thought provoking books himself, Mr Soqaga believes in the primacy of Africans' rights to be published and assessed on their own terms, hence his forays into publishing: he is the Managing Director of Eselby Jnr Publishers based in South Africa. The firm has issued over 20 titles in recent years. 

Africa must have its own voice, and must not be frustrated or daunted by the usual travails associated with publishing in the continent, Mr Soqaga avows in his varied writings. He has published a number of titles and new authors, including yours truly.

Indeed as an important writer and critic himself, Soqaga reminds us of Eurocentric world class writers like Mark Twain and Virginia Woolf who also ventured into book publishing in their time.  For example, apart from publishing her own books, the distinguished Woolfs also published many other writers, including the first Kikuyu (Kenyan) writer in English, Githendu Parmenas Mockerie. 

In Africa, over the years, prominent writers like Ken Saro Wiwa of Nigeria, and Asare Konadu of Ghana also published books. Soqaga is forging ahead in this wise too.

The writings of I. M Soqaga show clearly that he believes in everything African with a passion - as witness his work, Promoting Quintessential African Writing. It is reassuring that his dedication in this wise is adding more allure to such writing, as he continues to publish his own books and others.

Works by I. M Soqaga

O Bolaji: A Voyage around his literary work (2012)

Promoting Quintessential African Writing (2013)

Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga (2014)

Glimpses into African Literature (2015)

Further Glimpses into African Literature (with O Bolaji). 2018

TEBOGO AND URIAH HEEP. By Omoseye Bolaji

Tebogo and Uriah Heep (2018)
By Omoseye Bolaji
Published by Eselby Jnr Publications (South Africa)

ISBN  978 – 0 – 620 – 79380 – 3  

Review by Leke Giwa

What a thrill it is to see a new Tebogo Mystery book after waiting for years! I just could not put the novella aside and I read it straightaway without pausing, and refusing to be distracted or disturbed in any way. I have many impressions on the new work, but a few comments will suffice here.

In Tebogo and Uriah Heep, Tebogo meets Biggie again, and it is Biggie who directly and/or indirectly sparks off this story. The first chapter is magnificent as we share the grief of "Bra Uriah”. Biggie and Tebogo are perturbed and can empathize with the pathos and melodrama right from the beginning. Biggie, the “classical” man as it were, had appeared in earlier Tebogo books like Tebogo and the epithalamion, and Tebogo and the Bacchae.

Also it struck me that Tebogo the sleuth must have a very pleasant character, at least on the surface! Note how everybody seems to warm to him in all the adventures, take him into their confidences, male and female. In earlier works like Tebogo Fails and Ask Tebogo, we see that even the young ones feel very much at ease with Tebogo. And this is very much the case in this new adventure, where a young girl actually points Tebogo to the solution of the mystery.

Now, come to think of it, it is a bit eerie, isn’t it? The fact that Tebogo has so much charisma but this is never (?) actually stated in any of the books. Probably because most of the adventures are written in the first person - like this new installment. And our Tebogo is so modest and self-deprecating, hence we overlook the fact that somehow he has incredible charisma. Virtually everybody he meets feel like being his friend, women vouchsafe information to him with smiles and subterranean currents of chemistry. It is very much the same here in Tebogo and Uriah Heep.

And even when Tebogo is supposed to be inebriated, or at watering holes he is never repulsive or objectionable – on the contrary that is when he seems to be at his most charming. One remembers he drank like a fish in the beginning of Tebogo and the pantophagist…but he is never far from a drink. This often facilitates a swift entry and acceptance into the communities which he suddenly swoops on. Read the chapter titled “Calamity House” here.

And Tebogo is a master conversationalist, as we see yet again in this new adventure. He never becomes crude, and even the penchant for  being loquacious never matters as people gell at shebeens or taverns. Somehow Tebogo combines a mixture of being a breath of fresh air, being a fine gentleman, handling his drink well, etc – it is a cocktail that often spurs Tebogo into success…but how effortlessly the author pulls it off time and again!

Many readers often wonder: is Tebogo the sleuth an alter ego of the founder and author of the works (ie Omoseye Bolaji, above)? I feel that the answer to this would be a bit complicated, and I won’t dwell on that here….Finally, let me just point out that the author adds a touch of modernity (a modern craze) as the work tapers to an end. Let me quote the relevant portion here:

“…I laughed, and nodded. Who could refuse money these days? I felt a bit of cramp and stood up, walking along the pavements, as it were. Then I saw a group of young men and women, suddenly immobile and “frozen”. A white man beside me saw my reaction and smiled.

“What’s going on here?” I said.

“The Mannequin Challenge.” He replied.

 “What is that?” I asked, feeling like an old man.

He laughed. "Used to be very popular in recent times, especially overseas. Sort of weird posturing, ‘freezing’…and with selfies often used in the process…the world has moved on…” he guffawed again...  "

A fine, new Tebogo Adventure!

The Tebogo Mystery books over the years

Tebogo Investigates (2000)

Tebogo's spot of bother (2001)

Tebogo Fails (2003)

Ask Tebogo (2004)

Tebogo and the Haka (2008)

Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009)

Tebogo and the pantophagist (2010)

Tebogo and the Bacchae (2012).

SIDNEY SHELDON: Larger-than-life!

Book: The Other Side of Me

By Sidney Sheldon

It was a thrill to read this book, considering Sheldon s novels have been a favourite  of mine for decades. What a brilliant, fecund writer! As we learn from this work in the first part of his life he brought entertainment to countless people by being the man behind some great movies, and television series'. He grew up in relative poverty, the fact eg that his family would remorselessly squeeze out any vestiges of toothpaste from the tube resonates with an African like myself. 

He loved the world of reading and writing from an early age. His breakthrough was fortuitous and a close-run thing, as a lady helped him to type a sort of summary, resume of a book. In this work we are frequently reminded of Sheldon the master of the unexpected in his narratives, it often looks like fiction, but it is not,  it is the story of his life. In the early days he does all he can to put together impressive screenplays, and makes a name for himself despite vicissitudes. 

Mr Sheldon unambiguously has what is referred to as "ubuntu" in southern Africa ie he's a humane, good man in essence. Here we read about the bad times when he could not even pay his black "domestic" who helps with the baby at home. He had no choice, she had to go. Yet she refuses, despite the fact her employers cannot pay her! She prefers to stay on. Incredibly, when she hears Mr Sheldon and wife quarrelling about not being able to afford to go out one day, she hands some money over to them to go out, despite being unpaid! No doubt she loved her employers very much.

Later on in this work, quite abruptly, we read about the author becoming a novelist and ultimately a world famous, best selling one.  But it was not so easy for him in the beginning- we laugh as we read about a sort of promotions/launch of his first novel as apparently nobody is interested in the book, and avoid his section...until a lady takes pity on him and chances to buy a copy. "It was an act of mercy"..

What a wonderful life Mr Sheldon lived, creating so many beautiful things, television classics and novels....and the novels were transformed  into superb movies too. Take the early tv series I dream of Jeannie and how it was loved worldwide for many decades. Think of the very first episode with the actor Larry Hagman being kissed by the gorgeous Barbara  Eden "I must have gone further into orbit than I thought"…

In our modern times, snippets from all Sheldon creations can be appreciated anytime.  I for one even now regularly check on youtube Sheldon drama with its supplementary, superb music or sound effects - of my favourite Sheldon movies like If tomorrow comes, Master of the game, and The other side of midnight. Sheldon has brought fizz and excitement to millions around the world and we must always celebrate him! A great, great man. 

Review by O “Eric” Bolaji