LITERATORS' CORNER

                                 — Ubaji Isiaka Abubakar Eazy It has been a while since I read a play or wrote a review on one. So, you could say that I was a bit excited to have found Umaru Ladan and Dexter Lyndersay’s Shaihu Umar on my shelf. It is a play adapted from a novel of same title by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Albeit the excitement of seeing the acts come alive on stage is incomparable, I derive pleasure in visualising the scenes and recreating the stage in my mind eyes. In this play set at the period of early establishment of Islam in what is today known as northern Nigeria, the eponymous character; Shaihu Umar; is a young orphan born just a day after the death of his father. Fatimah, his mother, soon remarries into the household of Makau, the Chief warrior of the Village Chief. However, Kwatau; the Chief's younger brother; is envious of Makau's closeness to the Chief, so he frames Makau ...

                                                - Umar Okewu Abdu l The novel follows the journeys of two determined young individuals, Akoji and Ojone, whose dreams propel them beyond the shores of Nigeria into the uncertain terrains of Europe. Akoji embarks on a perilous journey in search of economic prosperity, while Ojone leaves with the noble aspiration of acquiring quality education through a scholarship. Their motivations are relatable, rooted in the shared hopes of many young Africans seeking better opportunities abroad. However, Enemali wastes no time in dismantling the romanticized vision of life overseas. Akoji’s journey becomes a tale of tragedy and loss, marked most poignantly by the death of his friend, Atamah, who falls victim to the unforgiving Mediterranean Sea during their desperate crossing from Libya. This moment stands as a stark reminder of the de...

At a time when the Somali society held tenaciously to beliefs that a good woman's place was in her home and that she had no business engaging in public life or seeking education; as either path would only soil the honour of such a woman's family; 'crazy' Edna was born into the prestigious household of Doctor Adan Ismail and she was determined to change the narrative; not only for herself, but for every Somali female child. The story in her memoir, A Woman of First , is a testament to this very fact.  From a very young age, Edna was quite conscious of the fact that she was different from other girls, for example, she sought the company of boys, participated in their games, attended classes with them, and joined her father on his daily rounds as the first Somali medical doctor. Her father's love for his profession, devotion to treating the sick among his people, and the awful experience of losing two siblings at infancy would inspire Edna's life-long dreams: to pu...