Abiku

by Debo Kotun

Winner of the 1995 Phi Kappa Phi Prize for Fiction, USC " . . . One that puts a stone in a basket of eggs must walk ever so gently." Yoruba Proverb Abiku, a Yoruba word which means "born to die," is an allegorical satire couched within the complex and often convoluted environment of Nigeria's social, traditional and military cultures. It is more than a book about Yoruba mythological beliefs. It extends beyond a clash of modernity and traditional beliefs, treachery, deception, or savage display of brutality among members of Nigeria's military ruling class. It is all of these and more. Above all, it is an interwoven belief of religion and spirituality, about power and its vulnerability, about a misunderstood phenomenon that is universal in scope. -Ayo Akingbemi, Ph.D.

419 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Nico Gourdet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is hidden gem of a book that has just been under the radar. Excellent commentary on (and rebuke of) the impact of military dictatorship. Filled with cultural references and beautiful imagery of the supernatural.

[Neal Fandek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tough book to review, because it is wrapped in the brutal, superstitious, thoroughly corrupt world of Nigeria and its military dictatorships, juntas, bloody coups. The book is meant to be instructional, but falls a bit flat. The characters are one dimensional cliches, the good guys are so excessively good and moral and righteous, and just all around goody good, they smell good, the bad guys are cross eyed and smell bad. And the writing is quite clumsy. But there’s enough intrigue and suspense to keep you going.

Ultimately, don’t let the reviews fool you. This is a good guys versus bad guys thriller, with ugly, bloody, fascinating Third World trappings.

[Raymond Christian]

Good

[Alyasau Umar]

How the author's use of language helps in depicting social and historical realities in debo katuns Abiku.

[africawrites - The RAS' annual festival of African Literature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a book I've read - but it has an evocative opening line - and uses the idea of the Abiku as the leading trope in the book. It's a concept that has been richly explored in African, primarily Nigerian literature - for example, in works by Wole Soyinka, and more famously, in Ben Okri's The Famished Road.

If you like this book or others like it, you may want to join us for Africa Writes. It takes place this year at the British Library from 5-7 July 2013.

For more info on the festival, visit our website: www.royalafricansociety.org/event/afr...

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Dele Meiji Fatunla
Website Editor
Royal African Society

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

breathtaking read...it will transport you to Africa. This is a great read.

[Ollie Eubany · Rating 5 out of 5]

An very good book, well written. I particularly liked the role the military played throughout the book which took away from the title Abiku which are babies who don't come into the world to stay.