OMOSEYE BOLAJI AND THE COURSE OF HISTORY

BOOKS BARDS AND BARBS. By Omoseye Bolaji (2022)

At last the book is published! The book Omoseye Bolaji the author admits means a lot to him is out at last. In BOOKS BARDS AND BARBS, Bolaji produces probably his most important book, his "magnum opus" as some pundits have dubbed it. But one will not think so to meet the author again in person. He comes across as diffident, shy, even gloomy and apologetic. I soon find out why. It's because he feels uneasy that in reality two of his new books have been published more or less at the same time! The publication of Books bards and barbs coincides with the publication of another new work of his, titled IYA ALAJE (fiction) IYA ALAJE By Omoseye Bolaji (2022)

Yet, even the other new work, IYA ALAJE is also an important one. One recalls that by a decade ago all Bolaji's major works of fiction had been published and acknowledged, including the many titles in his Tebogo Mystery series. Hence it excites the world to see a new sliver of Bolaji fiction coming out, ie the new Iya Alaje book. Bolaji says simply now: "I'm happy both new books are out...I just wish both of them had not come out at the same time!". Not that the literary world would care much about this. There can be no doubt that his new work, BOOKS BARDS AND BARBS is by far the more important publication, the author's literary apotheosis as it were. And deservedly, many of us are celebrating it! (For early reviews of both new books, see goodreads)

* Henry Ozogula is the author of the book, Omoseye Bolaji: Brief Notes on his Literary work. He also wrote the Introduction to Bolaji's Books Bards and Barbs.