419: Coming to you by chance

In this much more concise review that deservedly ignores America and its Nigerian diasporians, Ikhide Ikheloa, once again showcases his deep understanding of literature as a work of art, something that needs to be consumed much in the same way you consume a steaming goat-meat pepper soup. I love this review of Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani's novel. Here you go.

You don’t have to swim across the Atlantic

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani dishes out words of encouragement and advice to Nigerian writers at home. Adaobi is really humorous, and her intelligence shines through every one of her sentences. Some readers though, might find her humor a bit mordant, especially her reference to growing hairs in certain ways. She could have left people to their tastes, I think.
Oh, well, here is her insightful piece. ENJOY!

Helene Oyeyemi Interview

Helene Oyeyemi has now published her third novel; she seems to have now established a niche in the macabre genre. Anyway, this is an interested interview granted to Ben Machell.
ENJOY

Nollywood, Nolly what?

Please take time to read if you love the Nigerian mind.

In a deep, soul-searching essay, Eddie Iroh provides an analysis of Nigerian home-video production, otherwise known as Nigerian film industry, or Nollywood. The problem with Nollywood, says Eddie Iroh, is not quit different from that of Nigeria: the love of mediocrity, living in illusion of grandeur because of the failure to compare oneself with the best in the world; the refusal to aim for excellence.
I so love this essay that I posting a link in every blog that I have a control over.
ENJOY!

Jude Dibia - An exciting interview

At the European Association for Commonwealth Language and Literature conference held in Venice in March, 2008, I recommended Jude Dibia's Walking With Shadows to a French professor colleague of mine, interested in Gay/Lesbian stories in Nigeria. I hadn't read the book then (haven't done it even now - shame). But I was highly fascinated by the fact that somebody plucked the courage to write about that very issue in Nigeria. Kudos, Kudos. I stumbled upon this exciting interview by the author while I was searching for his novel on Amazon. Very deep thought. I am in awe.
Read the interview and order the book. ENJOY

Endurance tests: Aminatta Forna finds melancholy and disappointment in Adichie's short stories

Aminatta Forna thinks that Adichie's short story collection is not as brilliant as her novel. I remember that Forna has some issues with Petina Gappah's collection as well. Interesting. Something is going on here. I am however compelled to read Forna's own work.
Anyway, here is her review. ENJOY!

I Do Not Come To You By Chance

Written by Ikhide R. Ikheloa
I Do Not Come to You by Chance
by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
Publisher: Hyperion
416pp

This is an interesting review, I should actually say review-essay, of a book whose author I have already fallen in love with. Boy, hope this doesn't get me into trouble. But believe me, I read Tricia Adaobi Nwaubani's interview on African Writing Online and fell for her. She's got a strong, independent mind. And then adding my favorite reviewer's adulation of her work, my, oh my, I'm dying to get hold of the book.

By the way, read the whole review HERE.