Diaries of a Dead African

by Chuma Nwokolo Jr.

Diaries of a Dead African is a merciless comedy that explores the life-threatening situations of three protagonists, the farmer Meme Jumai and his two sons - Abel (failed writer) and Calamatus (aspiring conman).

Meme's wife has left him with the bulk of his barn. He has a few tubers to last until harvest. Can he stretch it? Will his friends and relatives help out? Calamatus' break has finally come after an apprenticeship to a con-artist. Can he survive wealth as readily as he did, poverty? Finally Abel's manuscripts are attracting attention, but not, as he discovers, for their literary value... his fondest dreams were on the verge of realisation, yet his father had died at 50 and his brother at 25. How to outlive them both, without fleeing the very opportunities he had craved all his life...

www.diariesofadeadafrican.info

Genres: Nigeria, African Literature

193 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2003

Reviews

[Kingsley Okechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perhaps one of the funniest books to come out of Nigeria. No perhaps. This is the funniest books to come out of Nigeria. Not Nigeria. This is one of the funniest books to come out of Africa. Not one of, this is Africa's funniest books. Not just Africa. This is one of the funniest books ever written. Wow, wow, wow!
I have read this book more than one thousand times. And each time, it was a refreshingly new book. Thoughtful, well-written, tough characters, heavily caricatured without been stereotypical. Powerful insight, sad story and yet never a dull sentence. Poor grammar, rotten grammar, polished grammar all used by the characters and masterfully executed by Chuma.
Chuma Nwokolo is a force to reckon, it is a shame he hasn't gotten half as famous as his art deserves. What are we reading? Have we no eyes? Well, Chuma has written a classic and he can be sure that this novel will outlive his grandchildren's generation and the generation after them.
I recommend this to everyone who wishes to take his reading seriously. With APC ripping Nigeria apart it is good to have this literary bed to fall on, now and again and again.
I recommend this to hospitals. This novel can cure a lot.

[Davidson Ajaegbu · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story, a tragicomedy so beautifully written that the tragedies were nothing but outright hilarious.

Are we supposed to laugh at the tragedies in this book? Because I'm guilty of having laughed all through it all. Of course I felt a bit of pity, but the way the story was told made it all too ridiculous.

[Chipego (pagedbypego) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be the funniest book I've read in a long while. I had moments that I literally laughed out loud. What a hilarious way of portraying the human response to failure, the need for acceptance and poverty.

It progressively got less funny as you read but it was still such a pleasant read.

One who doesn't feel embraced by their community will burn it down to feel it's warmth.

The jumai family was doomed from the start., such a beautiful disaster and I honestly enjoyed watching it unfold.

Highly highly recommend.

[Nasiba · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all. Find this book and read it!

This book is so hilarious. The storytelling, the proverbs , the plot. It just kept cracking me up. I’m so grateful that I found a writer like Chuma Nwokolo. This must be one of the most funniest things I have ever read.


✨✨✨

Imagine that! For five months, a man who died of hunger has been sleeping naked in a dormitory for corpses, where the rental is even higher than Warri hotels!😂😂😂😂😂😂

✨✨✨

I spent an hour after the sponger left, trying to figure out his words. Sorry about my goat! My wife left and he didn’t come to commiserate. My sons left and he didn’t come. Then my goat dies and he turns up. How did he know about my goat to begin with?

✨✨✨

I told him that the womb of a pauper contained many beautiful and still-born dreams.

✨✨✨

They are going to school and they are happy. I that went to school for 13 years only to lose my wife to a vulcaniser 😂

[Sheila Mbadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chuma Nwokolo's "Diaries of a Dead African" is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of life, death, and legacy. Set in Nigeria, the story unfolds through the diaries of three men from the same family - Meme, his son Calamatus, and his grandson, Abel. Each diary offers a unique perspective, weaving a rich tapestry of themes such as poverty, pride, and the pursuit of happiness.

Nwokolo's narrative style is both engaging and insightful. He masterfully portrays the distinct voices of the three protagonists, bringing to life their individual struggles and aspirations. Meme’s diary, filled with humor and irony, explores the depths of human resilience in the face of poverty. Calamatus’s account, more somber and reflective, delves into themes of ambition and the consequences of our choices. Finally, Abel’s narrative offers a fresh, youthful perspective, bridging the past and the present.

The author’s ability to balance dark themes with wit and humor is particularly noteworthy. This not only makes the book an enjoyable read but also deepens the impact of its more serious undertones. Nwokolo's exploration of Nigerian culture and societal issues is both authentic and enlightening, offering readers a glimpse into a world that is both unique and relatable.

While the novel is undeniably engaging, some readers might find the switching between diaries initially challenging to follow. However, as the narratives converge, the brilliance of Nwokolo's structure becomes apparent, revealing a layered and interconnected story.

In conclusion, "Diaries of a Dead African" is a remarkable novel that offers rich insights into the human condition. Nwokolo's storytelling is captivating, making this book a must-read for those interested in contemporary African literature. It will especially appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven narratives and socio-cultural explorations.

[Brenda Kodawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed so hard while reading this. Couldn't read it while using public transport. A tale of a man and his 2 sons set out in a diary form. Showing us the tribulations of cultural practices through the father's story and thereafter the second generation life issues through his sons. I loved Meme Jumai and Calama's narration. It was simple, honest and a pleasure to read. Abel however fell flat for me. I was almost annoyed by his style of narration, but never the less he had an interesting story to tell.
Loved this book.

[Naseeba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading my books the most when i am in road trips, i read this book when i was in a 12 hours road trip .... in the middle of nowhere, i don't know if i can call it black comedy, but i laughed and felt bad while reading it ... i think i will always remember Meme Jumai and his sons ... ❤

[Tosin Adeoti]

Yesterday morning, I finished Chuma Nwokolo's novel - Diaries of a Dead African. Chuma is a lawyer who lives in Jos.

The book is a fictional story about Meme Jumai and his two sons, Calama and Abel. Meme struggles and fails to respond to his pathetic financial conditions, Calama got into wealth via the notorious Advance Fee Fraud and succumbed to the fatal consequence of exerting revenge for an event which happened in his childhood, while Abel strives to makes something out of his directionless existence.

The novel is thus divided in three sections, with each character penning a dairy of events which occurred in a short time frame.

I must confess that the two sections of this book are two of the most humorous writings I have read in my adult life. In several instances, I guffawed so hard one would think I was crazy.

It was difficult to produce as many excerpts as is my custom because you need context to understand why the extracted parts were such strokes of genius. Still a few came through...

"I lay there on my bed assessing my last eleven inches of yam. If there’s one gift we didn’t discuss on the day God made me, it was the gift of fasting. The very thought of a full day without a meal gives me a headache."

"Journeyman’s other children have been peddling the story that their father died of AIDS. What I want to know is: where did Journeyman get AIDS? Do people get AIDS from eating cassava peel? Nonsense and tenpence! People just try to win unnecessary sentiments for nothing’s sake. Posing with a big man’s disease, as if it’s hard to recognise the body of a person who died of hunger."

"If you see a man who is angry all the time, check his pocket very well. If it’s not poverty, it’ his wife who has electric current in her tongue."

The author's humorous use of simile is superb.

"...my hunger was as wicked as a demon."

"...my pots were as empty as the mind of a simpleton."

"Ma Abel used to say that it was bad thinking that made my face squeeze up like an old man’s scrotum."

If Chuma is reading this, you should look to correct the dates and their narrations. For instance, you narrated June 6, 2000 as a Sunday. I checked and it's a Tuesday.

I recommend this novel highly.

[Mutugi Mutegi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read that had me chuckling to myself repeatedly. A tragicomedy, if you like. I really liked how the author totally captured the peculiar diary-like prose with the occasional peeks of Nigerian pidgin, while still keeping a natural sound to it all.

[Sue Zhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem. Knew I was in for a ride when I burst out laughing and couldn’t stop while on transit. Read and reread it a couple of times, won’t be surprised if my record is 100 🤷🏾‍♀️. Chuma wrote a gem of a hilarious book. Highly recommend.

[Jeifa Tackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a fast read, full of laughter? this is the best option.

i listened to it on Scribd and i loved the narration by the author.

"if pe**s would have listened to reasoning, would they have named him pe**s"

[Abijah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A genuinely funny book with quirky characters.

[Joy Eugene-Okorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be one of the funniest books i have read that came out from Nigeria. I highly recommend

[Kofi Dzogbewu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book a lot. Keeps you laughing while telling a tale we cone across in our daily lives. Five Stars for this story.

[Gbolahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird funny sad book.

[Royalsissi_love_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

[Tutu Dawodu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read! i laughed out loud so much and could not put this down. I hated the fact that it was so short! Would have loved to read more about Meme's life.

[Promise Emmanuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply hilarious! So hilarious you cackle at the tragedies.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

24th audiobook
Enjoyed the pace as well as the proverbs.

[Nathan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

so so funny

[Mosunmade Fakunle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was soo funny! As an emerging writer, learnt a lot.

[Raheem Omeiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diaries of a Dead African: A Review

Chuma Nwokolo’s ‘Diaries of a Dead African’ is an enthralling tragicomedy about the lives of three Nigerians that belong to the same family: Meme Jumai, Calama and Abel.

The author’s incredible use of language, the Nigerian-ness of the prose and the sheer hilarity of his narration left me spellbound for hours. He masked the tragedy he was narrating with a humorous dexterity that is difficult to capture with prose. He engages dire, and ultimately fatal situations; the contradictions of human existence, the fragility of family structures and human relationships.

Diaries of a Dead African tucked poverty, fraud, grief, violence, starvation, failed expectations, government dysfunction, and death into clever prose that’s nothing like I have ever read. Nwokolo colored his language with Nigerian expressions, proverbs, slangs and nuances only Nigerians and Africans can fully relate to. Diaries of a Dead African has tragedy and comedy running side by side sometimes, and crisscrossing other times. A typical example was when Meme Jumai, one of the main characters, in his narration said:

“The problems of my life are not the sort that one narrates to a native doctor and he laughs before he starts his treatment. My problems are the sort that the boldest witchdoctor will hear halfway and flee.”

Chuma Nwokolo wields similes like a machete, sharp as the tongue of an angry woman:

“Just as I feared, young idiots with pails as empty as their brains were already hanging around the gate in front of my compound.”

"...my pots were as empty as the mind of a simpleton."

Calamatus, the conman narrates his own failures, expectations and the way society worships money. Here Calama says:

“When they saw the number of fowls I was bringing, the elders showed me all their brown and crooked teeth. They were smiling as if it was a naked woman that I was escorting inside and not ordinary fowls.”

Calama struggles with the demon of his legacy as a conman, the vapidness of his justifications, his insecurity about his botched circumcision, and the transience of the respect that money buys him. His story arc puts a spotlight on the decay of our values as a society, and how we make mockery of our so-called ‘traditions’ and ‘cultures’.

This is shown vividly here:

“They told me that a burial was a very spiritual thing and the absence of a body has never prevented an Ikerre-Oti burial. They said that even Esua who was eaten by crocodiles right down to his shoelaces still got his burial; that what was required was the fifteen cartons of beer for the elders, five bottles of Schnapps, three gourds of kokori and six thousand naira in lieu of the burial feast.”

Abel is an aspiring writer trying to actualize his dreams but has to deal with the reality of being poor. His story arch focuses on the dysfunctional relationship he has with his promiscuous and rather superficial mother. This is shown here:

“She reached the last page of Pa’s diary. She broke off her low-key wail and grabbed me: What happened? I looked at her. Real or fake, her tears had ruined her makeup. Hardest thing for me was to see my mother, real and actual wife of a farmer, losing her eyebrows at age forty-eight.”

All the characters lead tragic lives but the author decided to play a joke on us by making their sadness hilarious. Nwokolo wants his readers to have a great time reading the book and spend even more time agonizing about the sadness of the lives his characters lead and the apparent dysfunction in his fictional world of Ikerre-Oti that looks like a lot of African countries.

Diaries of a Dead African is didactic yet not preachy. It is nuanced enough to show the readers the side of a fraudster and his motivations. It shows us a man slowly dying of starvation, going over his life, and searching for where things went wrong with his family. We see another man fighting with his demons and the insecurity of a botched circumcision. We see a woman who wears her promiscuity on her sleeve. We see another man hoping, struggling to actualize his dreams. He says on time, “I play such harmless games with hope.

Diaries of a Dead African is the most humorous novel I’ve ever read by an African. It’s poignant, funny, nuanced, and tragic at the same time. That takes skill and Mr Nwokolo has lots of it.

[Wale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever come across a book that you read and thoroughly enjoyed, and would recommend to anyone and everyone whether or not they were interested? Well, this is one of them. The best writing I've come across from a Nigerian/African author in a long time- no surprise there since I don't read much from the continent because of my own in-grained suspicions of an archaic writing style and thematic pre-occupations that have failed largely to evolve with changing times and keep pace with socio-cultural changes on the continent.
The writing style and approach are nothing but breaths of fresh air. You should read this book, whoever you are.

[Nana Fredua-Agyeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chuma Nwokolo's Diaries of a Dead African (Villager House, 2003; 193) is a story of two generations - a father and his two sons - spanning over just a month and recorded in one three-authored diary. The story is about their lack and their nothingness and their uselessness in the midst of plenty. It is also about human, and in general societal, behaviour towards the less privileged in society.

continue here http://freduagyeman.blogspot.com/2012...

[Concillier Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a good laugh, this is the book to read. I laughed through it all: from the misfortunes of Meme, his 'gold-digging' ex-wife, his Cornish son Calamatus, his other 'intellectual' son and the villagers- whose opinions on the family shifted depending on whether they had money or not. The ending was rather sad.

[cozy tay ☾π · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. It went through a family written from each person's perspective and everyone's story is related, each entry answers the questions from the previous entry. I totally enjoyed reading this book especially the uncertainty at the end of the book.

[Sari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is roller coaster funny. You'll laugh, cry, cringe, gawk, cower, at almost every page turn. Can I call it very nicely written comedy, I think I can call it that! I'm African I could grasped the references and contexts, but it really is quick easy reading for everyone.

[Felista Wangari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is pretty short, but I made sure to read it slowly, to savour each page, because I just didn't want it to end. It is such a sweet read that takes you through a mix of emotions. It is one of the books you'll enjoy reading again.

[Opeyemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

My real rating is 3.5 stars. It wasn't as funny as most reviewers said it was but I ended the end. It was an unusual end. It's a book I would recommend to anyone who has decided to lock themselves indoors for a weekend.

[Stanley Kinyanjui, · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the undisputed funniest book I have read. I remember reading the diary of Meme Jumai and I laughed my ribs dry.
This books is simply a journal kept by three men. Meme Jumai and his two sons and each talks about life from their own experiences. Fantastic read.