yet to make his mark (of excellence) in English poetry - - poetry
mostly enjoys such a limited readership anyway and you have to be that
popular to get happy birthday wishes just because you are a
poet..... .....
However, he has certainly made it in autobiography, a fascinating
genre that that has such popular appeal, a genre that can contribute
an answer from the horse's mouth - an answer to the question
"Who is this guy Prof Falola?" A genre that has the potential of
teaching so many lessons, as he has done with his "A Mouth Sweeter
Than Salt: An African Memoir" which in my opinion overshadows early
fictional classics about African childhood such as Camara Laye's"
slim/ slight "L'Enfant Noir" and in my considered opinion is on par
with Robert Wellesley Cole's classic, "Kossoh Town Boy" and – take a
deep breath Messrs Harrow & Ikhide - in my estimation it sits well
on my aesthetic scale and at the very least provides some
equilibrium with Soyinka's "Ake" doing a balancing act weighing in on
the other side of the scale.:
The rest - extended readership is a matter of advertisement and
distribution – and affordability - in the absence of good public
libraries – in the absence of gaining recognition/ attention in da
Great Literary Britain, like sisters Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie &
Aminatta Forna since they pen their stuff in the printed words of the
freaking English fkking Mutha tongue, sort of , as Nigerian English
King Farooq Kperogi would say.....
There is a lot more wisdom – and pure reading pleasure to be derived
from "A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt".
Your demands are perhaps getting a little out of bounds when you
expect that apart from playing the role of political commentator on
what has transpired in Nigeria and Africa and the Diapsora's history
we now want to intrude into the very private domain of his personal/
public life with congratulatory messages streaming in or his
birthdays, (such as Wole Soyinka receives every July 13 ) wedding
anniversaries and personal assessments in the public domain of his
life as father, not just scholar but husband, too?
I'm not yet a praise singer but when I finally get round to it I'll
tune the lyrics "Alagba special: Toyin Falola" to my incomparable
guitar and apply some voice, ina English, Soukous style.....
On Aug 10, 11:35 am, Chidi Anthony Opara <pip...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Forum members have been congratulating Professor Toyin
> Falola for another high profile award. The awards keep coming. Who is this
> Professor Toyin Falola, if I may ask?
>
> I am aware that he is a distinguished Professor of History
> in an Ivy League University in the USA. I am also aware that he has written
> over a hundred widely acclaimed books, scholarly articles, etc, including
> poetry. He is on the faculties of many World class Universities and chairs many
> distinguished organizations Worldwide, and so what?
>
> How many chieftaincy titles does he have? During anniversaries
> of his birth, marriage, etc, I do not recall seeing and/or hearing
> congratulatory messages to him by "well wishers" on Nigerian newspapers, television
> and radio stations.
>
> He does not even have a "National Honour Award" like the
> Nollywood comedian, "Aki" of the "Aki and Paw-paw" fame. No Street in Abuja
> have been named after him, soon, a major street in Abuja would be named after
> the late Boko Haram leader.
>
> He was not even nominated in the last ministerial
> nomination, even if he was, I am sure he would not have been able to mobilize "Ghana
> must go" bags to the Senate chamber for his "clearance".
>
> How many times has he dined with his country's President? Something
> Niger Delta militants do on daily basis. The Boko Haram people will soon be
> invited.
>
> Does he have the clout to introduce me to someone who will
> give me a note to someone who will phone my state governor, Chief, Dr., Sir,
> Owelle, etc, Rochas Okorocha,(JP) to appoint me his Special Adviser on Poetry
> Matters? I hear there is a Special
> Adviser on Comedy or something that sounds similar.
>
> Does he……..? Abeg make I hear something jare! Right now I
> feel like joining Boko Haram.
>
> ------- Chidi
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