The Bata Dancer

by Rotimi Ogunjobi

He goes away in search of self, but he again finds love. Yomi Bello, scriptwriter at a moribund theatre, leaves for a new town to temporarily teach English at a private school. More importantly, he is seeking escape from the pains of a divorce which has robbed him of access to his only child. He again meets with a legendary Bata dancer, who rekindles his plan to complete a new play, which tells the story of a master Bata dancer and his quest for fame. Yomi embarks on a cultural adventure to study the arcane language of the Bata drums and of the mesmerising Bata dance. He also meets Ajoke, the delightful daughter of his mentor, an enigmatic young woman, who teaches him how to overcome his grief as well as his severe limp and consequently to dance like a master Bata dancer. The reopening of the theatre coincides with the death of his old and frail mentor; but Yomi Bello cannot bear going away without taking his newly found love along.

165 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2019

About the author

Rotimi Ogunjobi, storyteller and folklorist, is the author of more than twenty books.
www.rotimiogunjobi.me.uk