USA Africa Dialogue Series - Book Review: Toyin Falola’s A Mouth Sweeter Than Salt

[Note: Reprinted for archival purposes; first published June 8, 2008]

"A Mouth Sweeter than Salt is an evocative narrative of Falola's world as a child in Yorubaland. In this book we follow Falola as he navigates a most mystical labyrinth of a world that will never be. The closest book that I can remember in terms of richness and depth is Wole Soyinka's Ake: The Years of Childhood. This is not so much a memoir but a rollicking history lesson told by Falola with all his might. If I was a dictator I would decree that every African must buy this book and read it. This boy soldier offered us a long peep into the rich dark corridor of a patriarchy. For this book, Falola employs a folksy narrative richly spiced with Yoruba parables and sayings; the audience is seated stitched to seats, rapt in attention. It is a quaint old paradigm – Falola is the charming sage on the stage waxing eloquent before an attentive audience but it is so effective.  His narrative weaves in some metaphysics and playful hints of Soyinka-esque ruminations emerge. Falola's memoir hearkens to a time in life when thoughts were spare yet deep – a time when people were not really poor, but enjoyed a clarity of choices..."

Enjoy the review here.

- Ikhide