The Combat

by Kole Omotoso

The Combat unforgettably recounts the torn friendship between two contenders over the paternity rights of a child they once jointly seem to have fathered by a market girl, now a sophisticated businesswoman.

88 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1972

About the author

Bankole Ajibabi Omotoso, also known as Kole Omotoso, is a Nigerian writer and intellectual best known for his works of fiction and in South Africa as the "Yebo Gogo man" in adverts for the telecommunications company Vodacom. His written work is known for its dedication and commitment to fusing a socio-political reappraisal of Africa and respect for human dignity into most of his works.

Reviews

[Ed Stoddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Military juntas, the Biafra conflict and the Cold War form the background to this short, intense novel. A powerful read.

[Prince Mondise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know I feel about this. It's published under the term 'modern classics', and I had never heard of this Kole Omotoso, until I ran into this short novel at the library three days ago. I'm wondering, how many people know about this book? And on what basis, has it come to be called a classic? The writing is good, however sometimes dragging - narrating every step of the character, even things such as changing a gear from 1 to R, and from 1 to 2. The question is: for what? What is there that we, as the readers, should take from those descriptions?

And then the characters act in such an unbelievable manner, such as that of Ojo Dada leaving the body of a boy who's been run over by a car by his friend Chuku, and chooses to confront his friend instead of helping the boy to the hospital. And when his friend refuses to take responsibility for his actions, he instead challenges him to a combat. But even then he doesn't return to help the boy. No, he leaves the boy behind.

Maybe, it's how satire works - I wouldn't know. Overall, I'm confused as to what I need to extract from this novel.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two black brothers joined in mortal combat in post colonial 1960's Nigeria. Kolo Omotoso's allegoric novel brilliantly parodies the secession and war between the republic of Biafra and Nigeria. (1967-70)
Published in 1972, 'The Combat' documents the political powers of East and West that drive the protagonists to violence. Sharp observation, humour, satire and in just one hundred pages, an altogether profound read.